End drowning and promote safer, cleaner waters

through barrier-destroying education in water safety, first aid / CPR, and community science around water.

Founded in 2016, WaterStrong is a Candid Gold certified nonprofit organization, 1% For the Planet nonprofit partner and a licensed Red Cross Training Provider. We deliver programs and destroy barriers to build core competencies and a deep love for the water. Be the current. Become WaterStrong.

Drowning is preventable. The 3rd leading cause of accidental injury death in the world, drowning kills more than 380,000 children every year. More children die from drowning in the US than nearly any other cause, and in Oregon, almost all drownings occur in rivers, lakes and oceans — where families naturally recreate.

Clean, healthy water is a right. More people die from unsafe water every year than from all forms of violence, including war. Every day, 2 million tons of sewage, industrial and agricultural waste are discharged into the world’s water, the equivalent of the weight of the entire human population. At less than .025% of the water on earth, our freshwater resources are in crisis.

Families are front line. Low-income, under-resourced and marginalized families are at greatest risk.

The more confident in water safety and watershed health you are, the better we all are.

In 2026, WaterStrong has served 2,042 families, delivered 1,960 lifejackets, engaged 322 volunteers, welcomed 215 EcoSwim participants and 45 adult learners, trained 90 community members in First Aid CPR, and certified 32 new lifeguards.

2024 Year End Report

Water safety, survival swimming, waterfront lifeguarding, first aid CPR, community science.

“I truly enjoyed my time with you and your wonderful team. You could see the excitement on their faces before they got in the water, and once in, you could notice their efforts, happiness, and joy…They mentioned it was the only time they truly lived for themselves.” - Habiba

EcoSwim Clinics

Survival swimming and community science

EcoSwim combines survival swimming with environmental education around water. Participants gain water confidence by learning to save themselves and someone else in the water, in swimming pools and open water environments, and understanding water quality indicators like temperature, bacterial load, algal blooms, and industrial pollutants. 

Water Safety Outreach

Lifejackets and water safety education

A community outreach  program in partnership with METRO to deliver free lifejackets into families’ homes and stem the drowning crisis. Volunteers visit community outreach events and public swim locations to offer free lifejackets, provide proper fitting, and talk with families about basic water safety skills like the buddy system, understanding water conditions, practicing basic assists, and situational awareness.

Lifeguarding & First Aid CPR

Essential skills for the water and everywhere else.

Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED certification

Be the help before help arrives
Equips students to recognize and care for a variety of first aid breathing and cardiac emergencies involving adults children and infants.  Successful candidates earn a Red Cross certificate in Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED valid for 2 years. Offered in English, Spanish and Dari Persian.

Lifeguarding w/ Waterfront Skills certification

Professional training for aquatic emergencies
Provides participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies in both shallow water and deeper water non surf, non-whitewater scenarios. Successful candidates earn a Red Cross certificate valid for 2 years in Lifeguarding in Deep Water and Waterfront Skills, and CPR AED for Professional Responders.

Community Science for swimmers

Help track trends that swimmers pay close attention to like temperature, bacterial loads, algal blooms, and nutrient loads. Designed by open water swimmers for anyone who gets in the water, each kit includes the essentials for understanding your water today. Collected data is shared locally and with the global Swim Guide partner network of waterkeepers.

Water safety ambassadors

Friendly community resources where families naturally recreate. Water Safety Ambassadors are friendly community resources at popular swim locations. They are trained in Lifeguarding, First Aid CPR, lifejacket fitting, and citizen science, and distribute lifejackets and share basic water safety information for that location on that day (temperatures, currents, known hazards, water quality considerations, etc).  Water Safety Ambassadors collect water quality data, facilitate beach cleanups, and are able to be the help before help arrives, recognize and respond to most common waterfront emergencies.

WaterStrong Board

Passionate for water, building partnerships, and destroying barriers

• Dena Marshall, Founding Director

• Itzel Spehar Hernandez, Board Member (Director of Housing Services, Bienestar)

• Josue Ramirez, Board Member (Director of Outdoor Education, Helensview School, Multnomah Education Service District)

• Nu Tran, Board Member (Financial Advisor at Ameriprise, retired Manager of Finance at Ford Motor Company)

• Lisa Pettinati, Board Member (Director of Real Estate and Community Development, Prosper Portland)

Past board members & advisors

• Nana Hoerth, Founder, YETI Foundation for Child Safety, currently at City of Portland

• John Graham, former CEO, Speedo USA

• Nathalie Martin, Founder Swim Global Project

• Jennifer Buffin, Head Swim Coach, University of Arizona

• Victor Wales, Head Swim Coach, Marin Aquatics

Why I founded WaterStrong

To build a generation of humans who engage with the water differently: with confidence, core skills, and with care.

I am a mother to daughters, a swimmer, lawyer-mediator, and a lover of science. After spending years in conference rooms navigating hours of seemingly intractable disputes, I founded WaterStrong in 2016, moved to action after a tragic drowning took the lives of four members of the Garcia-Ixtacua family in a lake near my home, at a picnic area I know like the back of my hand. More than ten years later, that incident still sits with communities in Forest Grove and first responders throughout Oregon who remember that day vividly. Hagg Lake has a complex history and it is one of my favorite places to swim, bike and trail run; it’s also a popular gathering place for families and fishers. After the incident, I determined to be part of the solution, to do what I can to rebuild a foundation in the fundamentals of water safety and water stewardship: as we care for the water, the water cares for us.

In WaterStrong’s first years, I delivered programs in 6 countries, with my daughters in tow whenever possible. Then in 2020, the COVID pandemic brought WaterStrong back home to grow partnerships locally. The same dynamics play out at home as anywhere in the world. The barriers to accessing swim lessons and water safety training; the threats to clean water and watershed health; the same drive to survive, be stronger and more confident, to care and to be cared for.

This is the WaterStrong story. It’s about the water, taking care, and it’s about survival

We’re in the WW Give!Guide campaign for nonprofits!

Support WaterStrong through December 31st and celebrate the gifts of partnership

• Sunrise swim & sauna at Ebb & Ember, Portland’s floating sauna on the Columbia, Mt Hood as your backdrop. Every Friday morning, just $25.

• Dinner with exquisite Mexican cuisine at Madrina in the Pearl. Nov 12th & Dec 16th

• Auto service for your hybrid at Atomic Auto (value $140)

• Whitewater or flatwater choose your own adventure with eNRG Kayaking (value up to $500)

• Therapy at Enrich Therapy with Victoria Hafoka (value $225)

• Gift certificates from pFriem Beer and Natural Grocers

• Give, receive!

  Give anything, get a WaterStrong sticker

  Give $75, get a SwimSense water test kit or a WaterStrong t-shirt

  Give $150, get an organic Turkish towel embroidered with our tagline “Swim! Learn! Thrive!” or a cozy WaterStrong hoodie