Austin Branch Library

Engage in a ‘Black Panther’ movie discussion  

On Saturday, April 14, 1 p.m., at Loyola Strict School of Medicine’s Tobin Hall, 2160 S. 1st Ave. in Maywood, Village Free Press will co-host a FREE community town hall discussion on the film, “Black Panther.”

Join featured guests John W. Fountain (Chicago Sun-Times columnist), Dr. Stanford Carpenter (noted artist, cultural anthropologist and chairman of the Institute for Comics Studies), Rev. Teddy Matthews (pastor of Empowerment Church), Dr. Marva Hall (government affairs liaison), Darrick Campbell (local author), James Grey, M.A. (engineer, activist and comic enthusiast) and Dr. Rhonda Sherrod (moderator), for this rich, empowering dialogue. 

The FREE event will also feature refreshments, African drumming and resourceful information from sponsors. Along with VFP, this event is co-hosted by Wintrust Community Banks, The Need to Know Group, AKB Events and the Bellwood Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 

Please RSVP on Evenbrite at: eventbrite.com/e/black-pa ther-community-dialogue-registration-44921949761.

Relish more empowering dialogue 

On Wednesday, April 11, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Austin Branch Library, 5615 W. Race Ave., participate in West Side Community Conversations about the Chicago Police Department’s Gang Database and school resource officers. 

Find out how the public safety oversees the Chicago Police Department and police accountability agencies. Share your stories about how the “gang database” and school resource officers affect the community. Hear about the library’s first generation projects.

For more info, contact Jo Anne Willis at (312) 746-5038.

CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com