Jim Ellis: podcast appearances and interviews

James Ellis, born in 1947, is an American swim coach known for founding the PDR (Philadelphia Department of Recreation, or Pride, Determination, Resilience) swim team in the Nicetown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He led the team from 1971 to 2008 at Nicetown's Marcus Foster Recreation Center and later moved the team to the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, where it was affiliated from 2010 through 2023. The team was notable for being one of the few predominantly Black swim teams, largely serving intercity youth. Ellis’s coaching and the team's accomplishments gained broader recognition through the 2007 feature film Pride, which was based on his life story. His work in developing the swim team highlighted the importance of community engagement, resilience, and opportunity for youth in underserved areas.