A Place to Call Home

Photo: Andy Shelter

Underneath the newspaper’s name, the Swarthmorean banner reads “Serving Swarthmore and Surrounding Communities Since 1893.” This publication seeks to support and lift up the community it represents. I find that a noble mission and ambition for a local paper. When I learned that the position of associate editor was available, that mission drew me in. 

My passions lie at the intersection of storytelling and community-building. Becoming part of a newspaper that prides itself on serving feels like an excellent way to honor those passions.

I moved to Swarthmore in the spring of 2007 with my husband and 1-year-old daughter, with another daughter on the way. Swarthmore was foreign to me, but my husband is a local. His family boasts seven generations of Swarthmoreans. I am a New Yorker at heart, but I only lived there for eight years. The rest of my life was spread out between the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Hawaii. 

After 13 years in Swarthmore, I have officially never lived anywhere as long as I’ve lived here. But it took me years to feel I could claim Swarthmore as my own. I quickly learned that “How long have you lived in Swarthmore?” is a standard small-talk question around town, and I was initially intimidated by people who’d spent decades in this place. 

Over the years, I have learned more about this town that feels special to so many who live here. I have done my best to be a good neighbor and to engage with our community in meaningful ways. I have facilitated conversations around race, discrimination, privilege, and allyship. I helped plan and organize last year’s first One Book, One Swarthmore program, and this year’s virtual version. I was once even a judge at the Golden Gnome Awards. 

I look forward to serving as the associate editor of our paper and representing this place I now confidently call home.

Satya Nelms
Associate Editor