The annual Black History month celebration at Keystone Apartments typically draws a crowd of seniors and — over the years— draws supportive politicians eager to greet the Neponset building’s highly-engaged residents, who also happen to live in one of the city's highest voter turnout precincts.

So it was that both Mayor Michelle Wu and her newest political rival, Josh Kraft, were both on hand in the building’s Sawtelle Room on Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 19) for the senior community’s 10th annual “Future of Unity, Perseverance, and Hope” gathering.

Mayor Wu arrived with her baby Mira a little after 2 p.m. and was quickly invited to the podium to speak to the crowd of close to 75 seniors.

“I am so honored, always, to be with the incredible leaders here at Keystone,” said Wu. “You all not only keep us grounded in the history and what's right and where we've been as a community, you keep us headed in the right direction for the future, you keep us on our toes for all the city services that we need to make sure are going right.”

Many Keystone residents, including Gwen Porter, were thrilled to meet Wu.

“It's exciting. I didn’t realize this event was going to be this big,” said Porter. “I was surprised cause this is my first time meeting her in person.”

Porter thinks Wu is “doing a good job, especially with housing,” but doesn’t “know too much about Kraft’s campaign.”

Kraft said that was exactly why he was there.

“We found out about this this morning, and I wanted to stop by and meet voters,” Kraft told The Reporter. “I want to meet people that matter, and to me, every person in the city matters, so we thought there'd be a great crowd here and just to say hello.”

Josh Kraft, above, did not get the podium invite, but chatted with residents and took selfies with several residents. Cassidy McNeeley photo

Six-year Keystone resident Ann Foy felt that the visit from the two mayoral rivals sent “a positive message” to the seniors. She said with the addition of the two politicians, the event was “fantastic” and that she was “enjoying it.”

Rev. Barbara Dulin, who organized the event for the building’s Black History Team Committee, said that while the candidates need to know what's going on at Keystone and other buildings. She hoped the event would stayed “focused on the residents, because it's for the residents.”

She added, “I want them to know that it is important people understand the true meaning of Black history. We’re here to educate, encourage, and inspire people to know the truth about Black history.”

Keystone residents who are registered to vote and go to the polls in person will vote at Florian Hall, which historically boasts one of the highest-percentage voter turnouts in the city of Boston. Keystone is a former camera factory that was converted into an apartment community for senior citizens in the late 1970s.

Mayor Wu with members of the Black History Month committee that organized this week's event at Keystone Apartments in Dorchester. Cassidy McNeeley photo