SWAMPSCOTT — During the Special Town Meeting held on Tuesday evening, Kelly Khatib, chair of S.U.R.E (Swampscott Unites, Respects, Embraces) Diversity, spoke before residents about the organization’s recent efforts to generate more diversity within the community.
S.U.R.E Diversity was formed in 2016 and acts a volunteer community group that aspires to educate and collaborate on making Swampscott a more inclusive, respectful community, according to its website.
“For many, diversity is the color of their skin, or a place of origin — but diversity encompasses so much more,” Khatib said. “Simply put, diversity is about the things that make us different, and the things that bring us together.”
Khatib said the organization’s mission is to celebrate “all aspects of diversity.”
For the past nine years, the organization has hosted its own and partnered with other organizations on numerous events, she said.
In 2019, S.U.R.E Diversity held a screening of the film “Intelligent Lives” — a film that covers the reality of having intellectual disabilities. In order to facilitate more effective dialogue among the community, the organization partnered with Swampscott Public Schools, Student Services, and Tash New England.
The event included a question and answer session open to viewers, during which a relative of a person suffering from disabilities shared their personal experience.
In February 2025, S.U.R.E is aiming for its upcoming event during Black History Month to be one of its biggest, most impactful events thus far, Khatib said. The theme will be “Black History is Our History,” which explores how different parts of American history are connected and blended together.
Khatib also shared another of the organization’s ongoing program, called “S.U.R.E. Diversity Book Club,” that meets the third Monday of every month and reads books based on monthly celebrations. The last book to be read was Roz Chast’s, “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?” The graphic novel covers an elderly couple grappling with the struggles of aging and the impact it has on family members.
S.U.R.E. is also developing a program with Swampscott Public Library, titled “Tell Us Your Story.”
“This is one of our most engaging activities,” Khatib said. “Where community members can share stories about how their ancestors first came to America.” The stories will be published on S.U.R.E.’s website, but archived at Swampscott Library.
Khatib finished off the presentation by encouraging community members to get involved. “Come attend the events, or share your family’s story, we’d love to hear from you,” Khatib said.