Black Surf Santa Cruz

10/08/2026

🌊 WE’RE BACK IN THE POOL! 🏊🏾‍♀️

Our second Swim Program session kicked off Sunday, 10/4 at Harvey West Pool! 💙

Earlier this year, we launched our first adult swim pilot to create more opportunities for BIPOC community members to build swimming skills, water confidence, and a stronger relationship with the water. Now, we’re back for another season and continuing to build on what we learned together.

We now have over 20 participants across two cohorts, from folks building foundational skills and comfort in the water to those working on endurance, stroke development, and deep-water confidence. 🐟🐠

A huge thank you to Harvey West Pool, our incredible swim coaches, and all of our participants for trusting us with this work and helping us continue to build this program alongside our community. 🖤

Want to learn more about how you can support programs like this? Head to our website to learn more. 🌊

09/23/2026

WE’RE BACK AT THE BEACH‼️🌊🖤

Our Fall Pop-Up Program (PUP) season starts this weekend and we are READY to be back outside. 😭🌊

Back in the water. Back on the sand. Back in community. Back to the joy. 🖤

Let’s get this PUP season started!! 🌊🏄🏿‍♂️🏄🏿‍♀️🦦

📸: Techboogie - Video Production and Content Agency JJ Harris

09/16/2026

The Beach Ball photo gallery is LIVE!!! 📸🖤🌊

What a night. Our first-ever fundraiser at the The MAH was such a beautiful celebration of Black Surf Santa Cruz, our community, and everything we’ve been building together since 2020.

From getting dressed up and dancing, to good food, stories, the photo booth, our history gallery, silent auction, and all the little moments in between, there was so much joy in the room.

Thank you to everyone who showed up, celebrated with us, and helped make The Beach Ball so special. Together we raised over $35,000 to support our programs! 🖤

The gallery will be live until October 16! Email [email protected] for the link and password.

📸: Nikki Brooks

09/14/2026

🌊 WE’RE HEADED BACK TO THE POOL! 🏊🏾‍♀️

We’re getting ready for another season of the Black Surf Santa Cruz Swim Program, happening Sundays from September 27–November 15 at Harvey West Pool in Santa Cruz!

Earlier this year, we launched our first adult swim pilot to create more opportunities for BIPOC community members to build swimming skills, water confidence, and a stronger relationship with the water in a supportive, community-centered environment. We learned so much from our first season, and we’re excited to keep building. 💙

This season, we’ll have two small cohorts:

🐟 Guppies — Foundations
For folks with little to no swimming experience, including those navigating fear or anxiety around the water. We’ll focus on breath control, floating, supported movement, comfort in the water + more.

🐠 Goldfish — Emerging Skills
For folks who can swim short distances and want to build confidence and endurance. We’ll work on stroke development, treading water, breath timing, deep-water confidence + more.

📅 Sundays, 11am–1pm
Sept 27 • Oct 4 • Oct 11 • Oct 18 • Oct 25 • Nov 1 • Nov 8 • Nov 15

Participants must be able to attend at least 6 sessions. The program is completely FREE to participants. ✨

We believe cost shouldn’t be a barrier to building swimming skills, water confidence, and connection to the water. Keeping this program free takes community support — especially during a challenging funding landscape for small nonprofits.

WAYS TO TAP IN:

🏊🏾 Register to join the program — space is limited!

🤝 Volunteer as a swim coach or in a support role.

💙 Donate to help us keep the program free and going for the long haul.

📣 Share this post with someone who’s been waiting for something like this!

🔗 Registration, volunteer + donation links in bio.

We’re so excited to get back in the pool and continue building this program alongside our community. See you in the water! 🌊💙

09/10/2026

We completed our very first swim/pool pilot program earlier this month! It’s hard to believe that all 8 weeks are already over, but we’re so grateful for everything we accomplished and learned together. 

Introducing swim lessons into BSSC’s programming has been an amazing step in increasing access and confidence surrounding water within Black communities. 

Thanks to our amazing team of coaches who showed up week after week and Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation for creating intentional access to Harvey West Pool, we were able to create a safe and supportive environment in which participants were able to focus on and develop their swimming skills!

📸: Harley 🌙 Hudson

09/04/2026

Thank you so much for coming to Black Surf Santa Cruz’s first Beach Ball fundraising event! We couldn’t be more stoked on the community we have built surrounding this organization. We truly couldn’t accomplish the work that we do without your ongoing support and active community participation. 🖤🪩

Major gratitude to the incredible team of volunteers who help power this event and infuse it with love!!!

Having the chance to celebrate with all of the people who make this organization and community so special was truly magical. 🪼🐠🐬✨

A huge thank you from the BSSC team to our amazing sponsors! ➡️ The MAH Troy Chasey, REALTOR Treehouse Dispensary and Art Gallery Pacific Catch Humble Sea Brewing Co. Bay Photo Lab

Til next time 🖤🌊🪩

Photos by Brandon 📸

09/01/2026

Silent Auction is still on! 🏄🏿‍♂️🌊🏄🏿‍♀️

Here’s how it works:
👉🏿 Head to the link in our bio — it’s the same link where you can purchase Beach Ball tickets.
👉🏿 Click the “Auction” button at the top.
👉🏿 Browse the amazing bundles, place your bids, and start dreaming about what you’re going to win. 😎

Please place your bids, share widely, and tell your friends! Every bid is a chance to take home something incredible and support the transformative work of Black Surf Santa Cruz. Let’s make some waves together🌊🖤

The best part?! The auction is virtual, so anyone, anywhere can bid!

Thank you again to the incredibly generous humans and businesses for their solidarity in contributing items for our silent auction. We need every one of us working to create the world that we want to live in and we are so very grateful to be in community with all of you.

Bay Federal Credit Union Outerknown Dream Inn Santa Cruz Pacific Catch Chardonnay Sailing Charters Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Hess Surfboards Santa Cruz Warriors Copal Bookshop Santa Cruz 📚 Jasmine Nájera Jill Susskind Año Nuevo State Park Pacific Edge Climbing Gym botanic + luxe | santa cruz Bayo Beauregard Vineyards Annieglass

09/01/2026

As of Saturday our sixth Prepare to Pop-Up (P2PUP) cohort is complete!!! 

During our second Breakfast & Breaks session, we walked West Cliff and ended at Cowell’s for an ocean dip! We floated and swam around with swim fins and boogie boards and enjoyed the beautiful sunny weather. ☀️ 

We used this session as an opportunity to talk water safety and practice a safe stair entry into the ocean. It was the first time doing a stair entry for many and the first time in the ocean for some. 🖤🌊

Thank you to our amazing participants and volunteer coaches for making this program so special! We are so grateful for our wonderful BSSC community 🖤

This is just a small glimpse into some of the incredible work that will be celebrated at our Beach Ball event this Thursday! See you there! 🥳 🪩

08/28/2026

🌊🏄🏿‍♀️ Silent Auction is LIVE! 🏄🏿‍♂️🌊

We are SO STOKED to finally share all of the incredible auction bundles we’ve put together for you! The auction is open now through the end of the Beach Ball, and there are some seriously good prizes up for grabs.

Here’s how it works:
👉🏿 Head to the link in our bio — it’s the same link where you can purchase Beach Ball tickets.�👉🏿 Click the “Auction” button at the top.�👉🏿 Browse the amazing bundles, place your bids, and start dreaming about what you’re going to win. 😎

And when we say there’s something for everyone, we mean it. We’ve got a full trip to Costa Rica — flights for two + a gorgeous 5-bedroom house! ✈️🌴 A Firewire surfboard 🏄🏿‍♀️, art, jewelry, date nights, experiences, and SO much more.

So please bid, share widely, and tell your friends! Every bid is a chance to take home something incredible and support the transformative work of Black Surf Santa Cruz.
Let’s make some waves together. 🌊🖤

The best part?! The auction is virtual, so anyone, anywhere can bid!

That said… COME TO THE BEACH BALL. 😉 It’s going to be EPIC, and we’d love to celebrate with you in person.

And, of course, sending the BIGGEST gratitude to the unbelievably generous humans and businesses for their solidarity in contributing items for our silent auction. We need every one of us working to create the world that we want to live in and we are so very grateful to be in community with all of you.



.santacruz .vineyards

Join us for The Beach Ball, Black Surf Santa Cruz's first-ever fundraising celebration! Spend an unforgettable evening enjoying art, music, food, and community while getting to know the people, stories, and vision behind BSSC.

08/28/2026

🌊🏄🏿‍♀️ Silent Auction is LIVE! 🏄🏿‍♂️🌊

We are SO STOKED to finally share all of the incredible auction bundles we’ve put together for you! The auction is open now through the end of the Beach Ball, and there are some seriously good prizes up for grabs.

Here’s how it works:
👉🏿 Head to the link in our bio — it’s the same link where you can purchase Beach Ball tickets.
👉🏿 Click the “Auction” button at the top.
👉🏿 Browse the amazing bundles, place your bids, and start dreaming about what you’re going to win. 😎

And when we say there’s something for everyone, we mean it. We’ve got a full trip to Costa Rica — flights for two + a gorgeous 5-bedroom house! ✈️🌴 A Firewire surfboard 🏄🏿‍♀️, art, jewelry, date nights, experiences, and SO much more.

So please bid, share widely, and tell your friends! Every bid is a chance to take home something incredible and support the transformative work of Black Surf Santa Cruz.
Let’s make some waves together. 🌊🖤

The best part?! The auction is virtual, so anyone, anywhere can bid!

That said… COME TO THE BEACH BALL. 😉 It’s going to be EPIC, and we’d love to celebrate with you in person.

And, of course, sending the BIGGEST gratitude to the unbelievably generous humans and businesses for their solidarity in contributing items for our silent auction. We need every one of us working to create the world that we want to live in and we are so very grateful to be in community with all of you. THANK YOU Emma Ledvina for being an incredible community mobilizer and prize queen 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

Outerknown Dream Inn Santa Cruz Pacific Catch Chardonnay Sailing Charters Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Hess Surfboards Santa Cruz Warriors Copal Bookshop Santa Cruz 📚 Jasmine Nájera Jill Susskind Año Nuevo State Park Pacific Edge Climbing Gym botanic + luxe | santa cruz Bayo Beauregard Vineyards Annieglass