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Thursday, January 31, 2002

The Beaver Race Initiative Development Group Effort (BRIDGE) will host civil rights activist Johnnie Carr at 8:30 a.m. at Beaver Falls High School and at 10 a.m. at Big Beaver Elementary, Beaver County. Carr then will be honored at a dinner in Alexander Hall on the campus of Geneva College. Call Todd Allen at 724-843-1677 for details.

"A Birthday Tribute to Langston Hughes" featuring Anthony Thompson will be at 8 tonight and tomorrow at the Kingsley Center Association, 6118 Penn Circle, East Liberty. A reception will follow. Cost is $10. For information, call Thomas Chapman, 412-661-8751.

Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center, 1212 Smallman St., Strip District, presents "Journey to Freedom: The Underground Railroad." The program details the African-American struggle for freedom through artifacts, documents, paintings, books and maps. Festivities include special tours at the beginning of each hour between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. From 3 to 4:30 p.m., visitors can hear author William J. Switala discuss "Mapping the Underground," program director John L. Ford talk about "The Underground Railroad: The Larger Story," and music by the Perry Traditional Academy Gospel Choir. This is a permanent addition to the History Center's signature "Points in Time" exhibit. For more information, call 412-454-6000.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh presents former Alexandria, Va., high school football coach Herman Boone from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the main library, Oakland. Boone was Coach of the Year six times, and his life is the story line for the film "Remember the Titans," starring Denzel Washington. The evening begins with a pep rally featuring a high school sports trivia contest and prizes, marching bands, drill teams and cheerleaders. The event is free, but seating is limited. Call 412-622-8872.

Workshops in performance art, drama, African dance and drumming by guest artists will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kingsley Center Association, 6118 Penn Circle, East Liberty. A performance by the African Grove Performance Ensemble, one of the sponsors of the day's free activities, will start at 8 p.m. Call Thomas Chapman, 412-661-8751 for details.

The Greater Pittsburgh Council, Boy Scouts of America, will host Guion Steward Bluford, the first African-American astronaut to travel into space, at the Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Awards Dinner, at 5 tonight at the Sheraton at Station Square. Bluford served as a mission specialist on four space shuttle missions. Tickets are $50. Call James Hamlin at 412-471-2927.

California University of Pennsylvania will sponsor a pottery exhibit by Sharif Bey through Feb. 28 at the Eberly Science and Technology Center's Gallery, Room 142. Opening reception is from 4 to 6 p.m. Exhibition is free. The center's hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.

Ogle Duff, University of Pittsburgh professor of education, will host "African American Read-In Chain" at 2 p.m. in the library of Oakland's First Baptist Church, Bellefield and Bayard streets. To participate in the Read-In, holding your own reading, receiving recommendations on reading selections or to volunteer to read at the church or register, call 412-648-7194 or 412-648-7327.

Fiber Artists Associated will sponsor African quilting classes taught by fiber artist Ruth Ward from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Selma Burke Arts Gallery, 6118 Penn Circle, East Liberty. Registration required. Call Bonnie Young Laing, 412-661-8751.

Greensburg Garden and Civic Center presents William J. Switala and "Mapping the Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania" at 7:30 p.m. The program is free for members and $2 for others. Call 724-836-1800.

"The African American Family," a free art exhibit and reception, will be held 6:30 p.m. in Carnegie Library, Oakland. The exhibit features work by student artists from the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild and the Pittsburgh Public Schools' After School programs. The reception will feature a performance by Imotep. Details: 412-622-8872.

Actor Greg Kenney will present the one-man show "Rosa, Keep Your Seat!" at 5 p.m. in the Frable Conference Center, Penn State, McKeesport. Call 412-675-9180 for details.

Penn State McKeesport's Academic and Career Excellence staff will host a Black History Bowl at 12:15 p.m. in the Frable Conference Center. Student organizations will compete in answering questions about black history. For information, call 412-675-9180.

The African American Jazz History Preservation Society of Pittsburgh will hold a lecture and performance, featuring Chuck Austin, at 8 p.m. in the auditorium of the Allied Health Building No. 6, Community College of Beaver County. Call John Kelly at 724-843-3057 or Rep. Mike Veon's district office at 724-847-1352 for more information.

Nego Gato will sponsor classes in Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian blend of martial arts and dance, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Selma Burke Arts Gallery, 6118 Penn Circle, East Liberty. Registration is required. Contact Bonnie Young Laing, 412-661-8751.

Christian Tabernacle will sponsor a Heritage 2002 Fashion Show featuring Nancy's Heritage Fashions, 2601 Centre Ave. Free; show begins at 4 p.m. Information: 412-381-7846.

Safarace, a West African drum ensemble, will perform at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the Student Learning Center of Penn State University's Beaver campus. Call John Kelly at 724-843-3057 or Rep. Mike Veon's district office at 724-847-1352 for more information.

Members of the Negro Baseball League will sign autographs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Alexander Hall, Geneva College. Admission is free. Call Todd Allen at 724-843-1677 or Rep. Mike Veon's district office at 724-847-1352.

The Small Business Administration's Information Center will sponsor a free Minority Business Fair from 9 a.m. to noon at 700 River Ave., North Shore. Entrepreneurs interested in starting or expanding a business can meet with local lenders, SBA staff and other business resources to find out about financing or to get assistance with a business plan. Pre-registration is required. Call Donald Nemchick, 412- 322-6441.

The Black Student Union will host a Black History Month Celebration with a program of performance and music at 12:15 p.m. in the Frable Conference Center of Penn State, McKeesport. Call David Day, 412-675-9493.

The Black Law Students Association of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law will hold the Ujima Brunch to "Celebrate the Faces of the Diaspora in the Legal Community," at 11 a.m. in the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, Oakland. The guest speaker is Timothy Lewis. He is the association's Outstanding Lawyer 2001-02, a partner with the law firm of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis and a former judge of the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Tickets are $45 or $450 for a table of 10. Call 412-296-3971.

The Kingsley Association will sponsor a free Spirit of King student reception with educational workshops on black memorabilia by local artist Emory Biko, 9:39 a.m. at Selma Burke Arts Gallery, Kingsley Association, East Liberty. Call Carl Redwood, 412-661-8751.

John Ford of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania will be the featured speaker at the Knoxville branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

California University of Pennsylvania will sponsor a free two-day pottery workshop (Feb. 28 and March 1) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the university's ceramics studio. Call 724-938-4155 to register.

Duquesne Light, WQED Pittsburgh and The National Black Programming Consortium will hold their annual Black History Month celebration and African American Leadership Awards presentation from 6 to 8 p.m. at WQED studios, 4802 Fifth Ave. Oakland. Honored guests include Dr. John W. Thompson, William E. Strickland Jr., the Rev. Dr. William Curtis and Gregory R. Spencer, the Duquesne Light Scholarship recipients. For tickets, RSVP by Feb. 18 at 412-622-1514.

Kaufmann's and the Pittsburgh Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs Inc. will hold their 26th annual benefit dinner and fashion show at 5 p.m. in the 11th-floor dining rooms and auditorium of Kaufmann's, Downtown. Tickets are $25, and all proceeds benefit the NANBPW Educational Scholarship. Master of ceremonies is Gina Redmond, WPXI-TV news anchor. Kehonia Koncept from the Afro-American Music Institute will provide the music. For reservations and information call: 412-232-2038.