A representative from the new National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, an educator speaking on African history and an Indiana University South Bend graduate who works in behavior management are the three speakers for the Third Annual Black Man’s Think Tank on Feb. 4 and 5 at IU South Bend.

The two-day event invites everyone to campus to explore challenges and find workable solutions for all community members.

The Feb. 4 event will begin with registration at 5 p.m. Carl B. Westmoreland, senior advisor for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati, will speak on the freedom center at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, in Room 1001, Wiekamp Hall. Following the lecture there will be a question and answer period.

Westmoreland is involved in research, writing and field exploration for the center, which opened in mid-summer of 2004.

Following the lecture, the Friday night event will move to the Administration Building cafeteria for an African market and post-Kwanzaa celebration at 7:15 p.m., followed by an African feast at 8 p.m.

Joseph H. Silver Sr., vice-president of academic affairs at Savannah State University, Georgia, will speak at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, in the Administration Building cafeteria. Silver will discuss the rich African history that preceded the slave trade.

Group discussion will follow at 9:45 a.m. and lunch at 11:30 a.m.

The 12:15 p.m. speaker will be Andre Anderson, chief executive officer and president of Positive Redirections of Atlanta. Anderson, who is a graduate of St. Joseph’s High School and IU South Bend, will address redirecting youth to better serve the community.

Anderson received his master’s in clinical/behavior psychology from Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn., and he is working on a doctorate. While at IU South Bend, he initiated the campus poetry jam, which continues as part of the Social Action Project on campus.

Additional small group discussions will follow at 1 p.m. and the closing with traditional drum music from Rhythm Works! will be at 2:30 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the IU South Bend Offices of Campus Diversity and Academic Affairs, the University of Notre Dame Office of Student Affairs, the city of South Bend, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and Memorial Hospital.

All events are free and open to the public. Reservations for the feast and lunch are requested by Jan. 31. Please call (574) 520-5535 for reservations or additional information.