'It's a Labor of Love': S.U.R.E. Celebrates 10 Years

The current image has no alternative text. The file name is: IMG_3888.jpeg — Singing and dancing. | Brendan Cassidy

As the sound of drumming filled the Swampscott Performing Arts Center on Saturday afternoon, Swampscott Unites, Respects, Embraces Diversity (S.U.R.E.) Chair Keli Khatib took a moment to reflect.

The drumming was part of a Community Connections Festival celebrating S.U.R.E.’s 10th anniversary. A drum circle, musical performances, arts and crafts, and opportunities to learn about local organizations highlighted the event.

As Khatib watched, she reflected on the many events S.U.R.E. has helped organize over the past decade, as well as the people, groups and organizations it has collaborated with along the way.

“This is what we want to do,” Khatib said as attendees cheered and danced along to the music. “We want to build community.”

Khatib said the event was intended not only to celebrate S.U.R.E.’s 10 years of work, but also to introduce residents to what she called the “beautiful” Center for Performing Arts and to the community partners with whom the organization has worked.

The event was held at the Swampscott Performing Arts Center. | Brendan Cassidy

Community groups – including the Swampscott Historical Society, which was promoting its “Save the Glover” campaign – set up booths to meet attendees and share information about their work.

“We wanted to encourage people to get involved,” said Khatib. “Our third goal was to get the community together and meet their neighbors.”

Following a mariachi performance featuring singing and traditional dancing, audience members joined hands and took to the floor for one final song.

Elsewhere in the Center for Performing Arts, attendees contributed pieces of string to a vision board, using them to represent what community meant to them.

A drum/instrument circle roars on. | Brendan Cassidy

“I am thrilled,” said Khatib. “We had hoped that everyone would be interested in coming.”

Khatib said serving on S.U.R.E.’s board for the past decade has been a labor of love for her and her fellow board members.

“I think it’s amazing that we’ve made it ten years,” said Khatib. “We started off with a lot of people, then in the middle we had about five board members, now we have eight amazing people on the board with lots of great ideas.”

Looking toward the future, Khatib said S.U.R.E. welcomes community input on the events and programming residents would like to see

“Our mission is to celebrate all aspects of diversity, so that means everything,” said Khatib.