Dulye & Co. President Initiates Community Partnership to Stop Youth Drowning
PITTSFIELD — In response to a troubling rise in youth drownings in Berkshire County, a coalition of local partners has launched the Stop Youth Drowning: Safe Swim Berkshire Initiative, a pilot program designed to equip middle-school students with essential water-safety skills and life-saving knowledge.
A collaboration between the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center (GABCC), Berkshire Family YMCA (BFYMCA), and local business Dulye & Co., with critical support from Pittsfield Public Schools (PPS), the free, week-long program will run April 21-25 during spring break.
Participants will receive personal instruction from trained aquatic professionals from GABCC and BFYMCA and will be provided with swimsuits, daily lunch, and a safe, supportive learning environment. In addition to skills development, the program encourages youths to serve as peer advocates for water safety, sharing their knowledge and experiences with fellow students to promote drowning prevention.
This initiative was inspired by the tragic drowning of a local young woman during a school trip last summer. Deeply affected by the incident, Linda Dulye, president and founder of Berkshire-based Dulye & Co. and an active local philanthropist, dedicated her time and personal funds to developing the pilot program in honor of the young woman’s memory.
“I instantly felt the need to take action and approached the Y and Gladys Allen leadership with an idea to help our community’s youth build confidence and competence around water. These are life-saving skills — and they also give young people the chance to grow as leaders and peer advocates for safety, inspiring others to shed fears and learn to swim,” said Dulye, who, in addition to operating her consultancy, underwrites and manages the Dulye Leadership Experience based in Pittsfield.
Jennifer Roccabruna, a physical-education teacher at Pittsfield Public Schools, has been instrumental in the program’s development, assisting with student recruitment and communication with families. PPS has played a key role in providing logistical support for the pilot.
The program curriculum has been shaped by aquatics professionals, including GABCC Aquatics Director Prashad Abeysinghe, who has worked closely with Roccabruna and Claire Langlois from BFYMCA to emphasize safety, skill building, and youth development. “While we offer swim lessons year-round, we’ve found that teens often miss out on these critical opportunities. This program is about changing that,” Abeysinghe said.
The Stop Youth Drowning: Safe Swim Berkshire Initiative marks the beginning of a community-driven movement to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to learn life-saving water-safety skills. With greater investment, the program aims to expand to reach more youth, remove barriers to access, and build a generation of confident, capable swimmers and safety advocates.
“We believe no child should lose their life due to a lack of access to water-safety education,” Roccabruna said. “This program builds the knowledge and skills to stay safe and support one another — and it’s all thanks to a powerful team of partners who care deeply about our young people.”