Progress, Racial Justice in African American Communities Topic of Freedom Weekend Events

Event: The second annual Freedom Weekend, hosted by the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies, and the John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies at The University of Texas at Austin.

When: Thursday, April 29 to Sunday, May 2.

Where: "Bringing Human Rights Home" roundtable discussion will be held at The University of Texas at Austin, School of Pharmacy. Freedom Film screenings will be held at Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex, 1156 Hargrave St. The Sunday Sermon and community workshops will be held at Huston Tillotson University, 900 Chicon St.

Background: Austin community leaders, scholars and human rights activists will discuss sweeping improvements for underserved African American communities and share new ideas for social change at a series of workshops, discussion forums and film screenings.

Reaching out to community groups and nonprofit organizers, this year's Freedom Weekend will focus on spreading awareness about major issues affecting black communities in Austin and throughout Texas.

This year's lineup of events includes:

• "Freedom Films," screenings of documentaries, shorts and feature films on the struggle for dignity from East Austin to Brooklyn, 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, April 29 in the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex.
• "Bringing Human Rights Home," a roundtable discussion on activist scholarship featuring a keynote address from Ajamu Baraka, executive director of the U.S. Human Rights Network, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday, May 1 at The University of Texas at Austin School of Pharmacy.
• "Sunday Sermon," mini sermons on the link between faith and justice, 2 to 3:15 p.m., Sunday, May 2 at Huston Tillotson University Seabrook Chapel.
• "People Get Ready," community workshops focusing on strategies for creating change, 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, May 2 at Huston Tillotson University, various classrooms.

Admission is free and open to the public. For more details, call the information line at 877-846-2619.

The event is co-sponsored by the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Huston Tillotson University and various organizations in Austin.

Excellent visuals and photo opportunities.