Where did you learn to swim? For thousands of Angelenos, the answer is simple and mononymous: Conrad.
For nearly 30 years, Conrad Cooper and his wife, Londa Parks, have run Swim to Me, a swimming instruction program that has taught over 35,000 children and adults.
Their journey from an idea in their exquisite backyard pool in the View Park area of Los Angeles to a renowned business – still in the backyard pool – is a testament to their passion and shared commitment to fostering water safety and confidence, especially within the Black community.
The roots of Swim to Me trace back to a pivotal moment when Londa observed a traveling swim teacher working with his niece in their home pool. Intrigued, Londa called Conrad, who was working as a traveling salesman, to come back home and observe the classes. For Londa, the idea was obvious because Conrad has always loved the water.
“I don’t have a memory of not swimming,” he shared with the Sentinel.
Conversely, Londa’s relationship with water began with fear. Growing up in Michigan, Londa lost a brother to drowning and had a near-drowning experience while trying to save her sister in the water. These experiences deeply shaped her perspective. “It’s important for kids to learn water safety early,” she shared.
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“At the time, I couldn’t stand what I was doing [in sales],” Conrad said of his former job. Inspired by the classes he watched over the course of a few days, Conrad asked if the traveling teacher could teach him methods. After more convincing, the teacher eventually agreed.
Conrad decided to adopt some of the teacher’s approaches but softened them slightly to align with his own personality. “I wanted the kids to enjoy learning, not just endure it.” With that, they began their own swim in the ocean of entrepreneurship.
The business grew organically, driven predominantly by word of mouth for the last three decades and, more recently, through social media.
“It started with me driving all around Los Angeles to teach in other people’s homes, changing back into my suit to go back to my job as a salesman afterwards. Once I started teaching in Black Hollywood, I started really getting passed around, and slowly started teaching mainly at my own home,” Conrad recalled.
Building the business took extreme sacrifices, especially because they both juggled their separate day jobs for nearly a decade while establishing Swim to Me.
“For the first 25 years of Swim to Me, Londa and I worked every summer, no vacations, with one day off every month.”
Initially hesitant to join the business, Londa stepped in as Swim to Me grew, managing logistics, handling calls, and bringing much-needed organization to the expanding program.
What sets Swim to Meapart is its focus on trust, safety, and making swimming accessible to all children, especially those from underrepresented communities. Their five-day program immerses kids ages 3-10 in swimming fundamentals, emphasizing the need for comfort in every part of the pool.
“By day two or three, the tears stop,” Conrad noted. “By Friday, they don’t want to leave.” Parents rave about the transformation, with many students returning as adults to enroll their own children.
The couple also had to navigate challenges, namely, establishing trust with both the young students and the parents. Conrad recalls setting firm boundaries while earning parents’ trust.
“They didn’t always like seeing their kids struggle, but they appreciated the results,” he said. Londa added, “Creating a relaxed environment with music and even incense helped everyone feel at ease.”
Looking ahead, Conrad and Londa hope to mentor someone to carry on their legacy. “It’s important to have someone from our community teaching kids to swim,” Conrad said.
“This summer, I was approached by someone, and he really loves what I’m doing. We spent a lot of time in the pool this summer, and [the business] may end up getting passed to him,” Conrad foreshadowed.
While they certainly have students who have achieved competitive success in high school and collegiate swim teams, their main goal is not to coach children toward a medal. Rather, Swim to Me’s mission is to ensure children feel safe and confident in the water.
As they approach their 30th anniversary, Conrad and Londa reflect with pride on the lives they’ve touched. Their work has not only taught swimming skills, but also built a stronger, safer, and closer community, one swimmer at a time.
