Evolutionary Aquatics

Reclaiming heritage and health

aka Mahogany Mermaids   |   Charlotte, NC   |  https://www.evolutionaryaquatics.org

Mission

Evolutionary Aquatics (EA) is a healthy, educated, and equitable community that creates opportunities by celebrating diversity and inclusion through recreational aquatics. We shift the frame to correct historical inequalities and empower our Black and Indigenous communities to reclaim our underwater heritage.

Notes from the nonprofit

Black and Indigenous people do swim. EA, the younger sibling to USMS' Mahogany Mermaids Swim Club, main focus is to destroy the myth that we don't. We work to encourage truth, inclusion, and honest education within the swim community. We encourage people to change their inner landscape by changiing their outward language. There is no "can't"..there are only challenges that once faced, can be conqured.

Ruling year info

2021

Executive Director

Elaine Nadine Ford

Main address

1327 moretz ave

Charlotte, NC 28206 USA

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EIN

86-2312803

NTEE code info

Swimming, Water Recreation (N67)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990-N.

Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

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Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Adult Learn To Swim

More than a third of adults in the United States can’t swim the length of a pool, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which puts them at risk of being one of the 10 people who drown every day in this country.
Evolutionary Aquatics’ Adult-Learn-to-Swim program uses U.S. Masters Swimming ALTS curriculum, taught by experienced ALTS certified instructors and coaches, some of whom were once ALTS graduates. Each class consists of at least 3 instructors and no more than 10 students. We have taught over 200 adults to swim and currently have a waitlist of 200 more.

Our small group classes are scheduled weekly on a perpetual basis in 4-week sessions (same day and time each week). We maintain a 3:1 student:teacher ratio and follow the US Masters Swimming Adult Learn to Swim curriculum. Each class is 45 minutes long. Upon successful completion of this program, you can continue to Beginner Swim.

Population(s) Served
Age groups
Ethnic and racial groups
Low-income people

Where we work

Videos

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    Non aquatic and aquatic Black adults.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    open conversations,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    Added lifeguards to staff

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    The people we serve, Our staff, Our board,

  • How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?

    It has made us more professional.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,

Financials

Evolutionary Aquatics
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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Evolutionary Aquatics

Board of directors
as of 3/7/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Ex-officio Celeste Thompson


Board co-chair

Ex-officio Dawn Patton

BOA/EA

Term: 2021 - 2023

Nadine Ford

Ex-officio

Kellyne Williams

At-large

Faith Samples

At-Large

Kia Thacker

Ex-officio

Denise Dampier

EA(treasurer)

Donneka Byrd

AT-Large

Michelle Kirby

At-large

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 1/30/2022,

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Black/African American/African
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 11/17/2021

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.