SWAMPSCOTT — For Charlotte Daher de Garcia, who stepped into the role of Recreation Director in August, her goals aren’t just about providing fun programs for residents; it’s about uniting people from every corner of the community.
Daher de Garcia sat down to speak with The Item, where she talked about how her background has prepared her to take on the role.
“I graduated with a degree in Public relations, and I started my career as a marketing coordinator. … From there, I did lots of events, a lot of branding — from there, I moved into Public relations, where I worked for a tech agency in Boston for about four years,” she recalled. “After I had my daughter, we moved to Swampscott, where I worked at Common Ground Public Relations (CGPR).”
She said it was a great job that enabled her to work with global brands like Adidas, down to smaller local businesses. From there, she learned everything from crafting a compelling story to planning large-scale events down to intimate dinners, as well as brand messaging and developing content.
From there, she went on to become a Vice President at CGPR. Though after ten years in the position, she felt like she wanted to give back to her community.
“When I saw the announcement that (former Recreation Director) Danielle Strauss was retiring, I thought it would be a great fit for me. … Taking the skills that I’ve learned and honed in on, and applying those directly to the community,” she said, citing how her skills could help her make an impact on the community.
She added that she’s done “a lot of volunteering.” She served as co-president of Hadley PTO, was on the Board of Directors for the Swampscott Yacht Club, and is also an active Town Meeting member.
“I care a lot about the town, and I just felt like this position was a perfect fit for me as a next step,” she said.
One of the most exciting elements of stepping into the role, she explained, was getting busy figuring out programs for the community to enjoy. She cited Strauss and former Assistant Recreation Director Jackie Camerlengo for creating numerous long-lasting activities (such as the movie series on Town Hall Lawn and summer concerts), saying that over-time they built an amazing department.
“But then to build upon that, and to be coming out with new ideas and bringing a different, fresh lens to it. … I’m also excited about focusing on being inclusive in terms of gender and ages and abilities, so making sure that it’s not just about kids, but going all the way up to adult programs, too,” she added.
Daher de Garcia included that she feels very privileged to extend what Strauss created. She feels lucky that the department has a solid following in the community, and that “sky’s the limit” in terms of what it plans to offer residents in the future.
She referenced “Mahjong Mondays,” an event that she said sold out in less than 24-hours. Kid’s roller skating is another new program they plan to unveil this fall. Also “No School Fun Days,” which will see events and activities for kids at the Clark School on days where there’s no school.
She said she’s felt supported by her colleagues at Town Hall and residents throughout the community. “I’m just really excited for what’s next,” she said.
Daher de Garcia explained what it means to her personally to be able to make a positive impact in the lives of youth and their families.
“I’m really privileged to come up with programming that not only helps families, but also coming up with activities that cater to all types of kids, whether they’re interested in sports or art, or have needs that need to be met. … I think we can do all that.
“As a mom, I know how hard it can be to find activities that cater to all kids, but also thinking about adults,” Daher de Garcia said. “I think that’s what’s most exciting for me, and I feel very privileged to be able to do that.”
Daher de Garcia continued on that point, noting that she aims to bridge connections between “all types of different demographics in town.”
“I’ve met with the Senior Center, and we’re hoping to collaborate together, also the library, Swampscott Police and Fire Departments. … I want to connect all the dots to make sure the town is working together, and seen as a true community,” she said.
