OAKLAND: Soldiers & Sailors National Military Museum & Memorial, 4141 Fifth Ave., offers a new, permanent exhibit, "Slave to Soldier," from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The historical display, focused on the African-American's experience, travels a timeline from enslavement, to abolition and the Underground Railroad, and ends with a look at the black soldier and black veteran. Admission is $5 for adults; $3 for veterans, seniors 60 and older, and children 6 to 12; and free for children 5 and younger.

OAKLAND: Imad Moustapha, Syrian ambassador to the United States, presents "U.S., Syria and the New Old Middle East: Confrontation or Cooperation?" at 6:30 p.m. in Carnegie Mellon University's McConomy Auditorium in the University Center, 5000 Forbes Ave. The Arab Student Organization is co-sponsor of the free event.

OAKLAND: Drue Heinz Lectures offers advance tickets for a talk and visual presentation on global warming by acclaimed journalist Elizabeth Kolbert next week at Carnegie Music Hall, Forbes Avenue. Her lecture is at 7:30 p.m. March 3, with introduction by Lisa Schroeder, executive director of the nonprofit Riverlife Task Force. For ticket information, call Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures, 412-622-8866, or visit www.pittsburghlectures.org.

HILL DISTRICT: Lee Willis, a cowboy with the Black Bill Pickett Rodeo, discusses the role the black cowboy played in taming the West during a meeting of AARP Chapter 4706 at noon at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 2001 Wylie Ave. The event, which rounds up Black History Month for the chapter, includes a talk and slide presentation. For more information, call 412-687-8876.

HOMEWOOD/HILL DISTRICT: Northside Leadership Conference and Community College of Allegheny County conduct a free community workshop, "So You Think You Want To Work in a Casino...?" from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the YMCA of Homewood, 7140 Bennett St., and March 4 at Hill House Association, Kaufmann Auditorium, 1835 Centre Ave., Hill District. The sessions are for anyone interested in learning about casino employment, and are to be held at 10 other locations through June 10. No resumes or applications will be accepted at the event. Call 412-330-2551 or e-mail casinocareers@pittsburghnorthside.com for more details.

OAKLAND: The University of Pittsburgh's Matthew B. Ridgway Center and the World Affairs Council co-host a panel discussion titled "National Security for a New Era" at 4 p.m. The discussion, which examines the state of the nation's military, is in Room 630 of the William Pitt Union, 3959 Fifth Ave. Panelists' biographies are available on www.ridgway.pitt.edu. For more information, call Beverly Brizzi at 412-624-7884.

SHERADEN: Sheraden Community Council meets at 7 p.m. at the Sheraden Community and Senior Center, 720 Sherwood Ave., adjacent to the Sheraden branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Residents can meet their neighbors and discuss issues affecting Sheraden. For more information, call 412-937-1634.

DOWNTOWN: Guest John Canning presents "The Immigrant Experience: An Overview," the first of three classes celebrating the legacy of immigration in Pittsburgh, at 10:30 a.m. at OASIS, an educational program for mature adults based on the 10th floor of Macy's, 400 Fifth Ave. Fee is $5. Call 412-232-2020.

DOWNTOWN: First Lutheran Church, 615 Grant St., presents a free recital by organist David Billings at 12:30 p.m. as part of the free Lenten series, Music at Midday. For more information, call 412-471-8125.

HOMEWOOD: Jazz Workshop Inc., an educational program, sponsors a Family Night jazz performance by jazz and blues singer Shawnee Lake from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Homewood branch, 7101 Hamilton Ave., in its Jazz on the Steps 2007 series. Call 412-731-3080 or 412-244-0480.

NORTH SIDE: Community House Presbyterian Church, 120 Parkhurst St., across from Allegheny General Hospital, presents a 7 p.m. viewing of "The Story We Tell," the second episode of the PBS documentary by California Newsreel titled "Race: The Power of an Illusion." The film provides a historical context for race in North America. Discussion, coffee and dessert follow. This is free parking and child care for children younger than 10. For more, visit www.communityhousepittsburgh.org or call 412-321-3900.

HILL DISTRICT: A+ Schools and Pittsburgh Public Schools, along with co-sponsors, hold the first in a series of community meetings concerning Excel.9-12--Community Input Into the Plan for High School Excellence today. The meeting, titled "University Prep 6-12," is from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Wesley Center African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, 2701 Centre Ave. Dinner and child care, for children 1 and older, are available. To register, visit www.aplusschools.org or call 412-258-2660, ext. 101.

OAKLAND: Thomas Shapiro, professor of law and social policy at Brandeis University, delivers a lecture from noon to 1:30 p.m. on "Closing the Racial Wealth Gap, Assets for Change" in the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning, Room 2017, 4200 Fifth Ave. This free event is part of the Reed Smith Spring 2008 Speaker Series at Pitt and includes lunch. For more information, call 412-624-7382 or visit www.crsp.pitt.edu.

OAKLAND: John Kiriakou, a former Central Intelligence Agency officer who participated in the capture and questioning of the first al-Qaida terrorist suspect to be waterboarded, delivers a free talk on "Ethics in Intelligence" at the University of Pittsburgh from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. in Room 120, David Lawrence Hall, 3942 Forbes Ave.

NORTH SHORE: Carnegie Science Center visitors can explore the science of extreme weather at StormFest, a hands-on, interactive educational festival of the Earth sciences today through Sunday at 1 Allegheny Ave., next to Heinz Field. Designed in partnership with California University of Pennsylvania's meteorology program, StormFest helps dispel weather myths while exploring the real science behind common and uncommon weather and natural phenomena. For daily activities, visit www.CarnegieScienceCenter.org or call 412-237-3400.

HILL DISTRICT: The Pittsburgh District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church presents its annual Lenten Gospel Explosion Concert at 3 p.m. at Bethel AME Church, 2720 Webster Ave. It features choirs from churches around the Pittsburgh region. Tickets, in advance or at the door, are available for a $10 donation. Call 412-390-0313.

SOUTH SIDE: Today is the deadline for signing up for the Christian Educators Network's 13th annual Prayer Breakfast, set for 8:30 a.m. March 18 at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel. The theme is "With God All Things Are Possible" and guest speaker is the Rev. Herbert H. Lusk II, pastor of Greater Exodus Baptist Church in Philadelphia and adviser to President Bush on faith-based initiatives. For a registration form, call 412-338-1447 or visit www.ChristianEducatorsNetwork.org.

LINCOLN PLACE: Pittsburgh Elks Lodge 11, 5800 Buttermilk Hollow Road, holds its spring craft and vendor show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with more than 70 tables. Admission is free.

To list events happening within the city limits, please fax information to City Calendar, 412-391-8452, or send e-mail to localnews@post-gazette.com, for consideration. Include specific event location, street address, city neighborhood, time, day and cost. Indicate the daytime or evening phone number of the sponsor with all submissions and a phone number readers may call for more information. Or mail information to City Calendar, c/o Kathy Samudovsky, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. The calendar is published Mondays and events appear during the week they occur. Submissions must be received by the Wednesday preceding publication.