The University of Louisville offers the weekly western Louisville program about black history, issues and culture. Sessions begin with an 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. seminar about African world and black history and continue with a 12:45 p.m.-2 p.m. discussion of designated topics. UofL faculty and community representatives are the speakers, and the sessions are open to adults and high school students.

The free, public sessions will run on Saturdays from Oct. 2 to May 28, 2011, at DuValle Education Center, 3610 Bohne Ave., in the Park DuValle community. Here is the initial lineup of fall speakers:

  • Oct. 2, “Misrepresenting History: Two Marches on Washington,” Tracy K’Meyer, history; John Johnson, Kentucky Commission on Human Rights; and Martina Kunnecke, Neighborhood Planning and Evaluation
  • Oct. 9, “What’s at Stake for African Americans in the Midterm Elections,” Dewey Clayton, political science; Ricky Jones, Pan-African studies; Eleanor Jordan, Kentucky Commission on Women; and Roger Wilson, Yearlings Club
  • Oct. 16, “African American Adolescents and Substance Abuse.” Sharon Moore, Kent School of Social Work
  • Oct. 23, “Climate Change as a Social Justice Issue,” Keith Mountain, geography and geosciences
  • Oct. 30, “StudentSpeak: College Success – What Gets in Our Way,” UofL graduate students Tiffany Caesar, Melvin Wilson, Wesley Smith and Tamara Spiller

Besides UofL’s College of Arts and Sciences and Signature Partnership Initiative, Saturday Academy sponsors include Jefferson County Public Schools, Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, 5th District Council Member Cheri Bryant Hamilton and the Louisville Urban League.