Meet Torrence Thomas | Co-Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Torrence Thomas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Torrence, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Tankproof focuses on giving swimming lessons and food security to kids and communities who need it most! Since 2011 we’ve given the life-saving gift of swimming to over 2,500 youth and counting! Historically communities of color have not had the same access and opportunity to enjoy the outdoor space. Tankproof solves this issue by giving 100% zero-cost lessons to kids all over the country.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My brother and I are full time musicians performing under the artist moniker, THEBROSFRESH. Music was really the catalyst for our organization. We were inspired by the “LIVE 8” concerts that used music to create change in the world. We thought, “Maybe we can use music to create change in ‘our’ world (southeast rural Louisiana)?” Subsequently after, a tragedy rocked our home state where six family members (all black) drowned in one setting, trying to rescue the other from struggling in the water. We did our research and found truth to the stereotype, black people (and other people of color) don’t swim, and there were factors set in place politically and economically that will exacerbate this problem. We sold band merch to pay for kids swimming lessons and 12 years later our organization has evolved into something beyond our wildest imaginations.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If our best friends were visiting our home now (Austin, TX), we’d send them to Nixta Taqueria, Canje, VeganNom, and J. Leonardi’s BBQ. We’d suggest an afternoon swim at Barton Springs and a night out in one of the many great spots we have in town.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This is a tough one, but we wanted to shout out where it all began for my brother and I, our mother. Sounds cliche but we’re sure that the way that we love people was learned. Through our mother’s actions for others and for the people she cared about we learned compassion and most importantly consistent compassion.

Website: www.tankproof.org

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tankproof

Image Credits
Shot by Hannah Koeher