Brown Girls Swim Staff!
CEO & Founder: Amani Khabeer
Brown Girls Swim Founder and Lead Swim Instructor, Amani Khabeer, is an African-American former collegiate swimmer who has swam competitively for a total of eighteen years. Amani was a former USA Club Swimmer (ten years), Philadelphia Public League Champion (four years), and a NCAA Collegiate Swimmer (four Years). Amani brings extensive knowledge and experience of competitive coaching and swim instruction to Brown Girls Swim. After competitively swimming for eighteen years, Amani has shared her love of swimming by founding Brown Girls Swim an organization that aims to eliminate the minority gap in swimming and Amani is dedicated to ensuring there is a sacred space for swimmers of color within the aquatic community.
Specialty Events: 50 Yard Freestyle & 100 Yard Backstroke
Favorite Stroke: Butterfly
Administrator & Coach: Kayla Moore
At the age of 5, Kayla learned how to swim in Houston, Texas at Cancerian Swim Academy. Not long after, she moved to New Orleans and continued her passion for swimming. Crescent City Swim Club, NORD Jets and Crew are swim schools that Kayla swam for. Kayla Joined BGS in October 2021 to express, in/out of the water, her gratitude for swimming!
Favorite Strokes: Freestyle & Breaststroke
Coach: Amari Shepherd
Amari is a member of Fredrick Douglass High School’s Class of 2024 where she is dually enrolled in Bard Early College. She maintains a 5.0 GPA. Although very passionate about her academic studies, Amari is equally passionate about swimming and ensuring that all children have an opportunity to learn how to swim. Amari began her swimming journey at 2 years old. She began swimming competitively during her elementary school years at South Louisiana swim team which she continued at Edward Hynes Lakeview School. She has also swam with the Crew Swim League as well as the Nord Jets. Amari has now joined Brown Girls Swim as an instructor and loves working with young people, while teaching them water safety and helping them develop a love for swimming.
Coach: Toni Dangerfield
Brown Girls Swim alumna, Toni, is a swim instructor working with youth and adult classes. After many years away from swimming, she’s excited to be able to invest more time strengthening her skills and assisting others with becoming comfortable in water and learning to swim. She’s passionate about the mission of Brown Girls Swim and making swimming accessible to all.
Favorite Stroke: Likes them all!
Coach: Peyton White
Peyton started swimming when she was 8 years old. In 2019 her family moved from Louisville, KY to New Orleans. Her mom read an article about BGS and signed Peyton up for lessons. She has been training with BGS ever since. She loves being in the water and seeing swimmers who look like her is extra special. Peyton's goal is to swim at the collegiate level. For now, She will continue to learn and help coach other kids gain confidence through swimming.
Favorite Stroke: Freestyle