“It all started the summer after I graduated,” recalls Jermaine Stringer, who recently was named pool manager here at the Levite Jewish Community Center. His mother had come across The J as a place that could keep him busy before he started at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Kirsten “Coach K” Thomas, now director of athletics and aquatics programming, first hired Jermaine in 2016. Under her mentorship he worked his way up to head lifeguard and eventually started teaching his own swim lessons and teaching young children from the Cohn Early Childhood Learning Center.
And in case all that isn’t enough, he’s also helped coach the LJCC Dive Team and is currently the U8 soccer coach.
“This place has so much to offer our members… and me,” Jermaine says.
He grew up in Vestavia and attended Spain Park High School before majoring in business and management at UAB and earning a master’s degree in life and health from the University of Alabama. His pool management certification means he keeps busy checking chemicals for the pools (including the outdoor when it’s open) and keeping the water clean and the pool decks tidy.
Jermaine credits another mentor, swim coach John Besse, with “playing a huge role” in his growth. “Jermaine loves to put a smile on people’s faces,” John says. “Kids look up to him and adults have always appreciated the hard work he puts in every day. He’s a good friend and a solid employee and he will only become an even greater asset to this organization.”
Reaching all ages
On a typical fall morning you’ll find the indoor pool full of mostly young children and their instructors. A group of adults doing aqua aerobics in the corner could be members of a group fitness class or veterans getting therapy — the Birmingham VA’s most sought-after therapy program. Throughout the day (typically starting at 5 a.m.) you’ll also see some serious lap swimming.
Stick around long enough and you’ll catch a swim team practice and even a special Swim School session for underserved students from I3 Academy and Girls Inc. of Central Alabama. And of course the pool is a popular venue for weekend pool parties (“Launch the giant inflatable!”).
“Swimming is such an important life skill and great exercise,” Jermaine says. “Our aquatics program reaches so many people from all ages — from teaching very young children water skills to providing life-changing therapy to our VA members.
“I’ve been around water ever since my crazy uncles taught me how to swim in the ocean, and I’ve spent a lot of time in the water here at The J,” he says. “We have the size, the heart, and the trust to grow. And we also have the right people with the passion and drive to make our program bigger and better than ever.”
Jermaine’s office is right off the indoor pool, and you can reach him at jermaines@bhamjcc.org.