Dreams come true.(FROM THE EDITOR)

It seems only appropriate in our Dream Facilities Issue that I share the fruition of a dream at Aquatics International.

That dream was to do a series that would not only shine a spotlight on the underreported issue of minority drowning, but also serve as the definitive source of information about the scope of the problem--and, importantly, what the industry can do about it.

From the moment I presented the idea, writer Shabnam Mogharabi recognized this was no ordinary article. With the passion of a revolutionary, she attacked the issue, contacting more than 50 aquatics experts and combing through reams of government data. Among other points, the series revealed that black children are nearly three times more likely to drown than white children.

Upon its publication in the October and November/December 2005 issues, readers responded with almost as much fervor as Shabnam put into the series. In fact, few articles have evoked a more passionate response. I was particularly proud of the numerous letters and offers of help.

Now the series is garnering renewed attention in the mainstream media. The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, National Public Radio and a host of other media outlets have picked up the story and spread the word about this important issue to thousands of others.

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