Dr. Matthew Desmond (MacArthur Genius Award recipient, Pulitzer Prize winner, founder of Evicted Lab and Professor of Sociology at Princeton University) will visit Syracuse as part of an initiative led by Legal Services of Central New York to raise awareness and foster dialogue around the critical issues of evictions and housing stability in our community. Desmond's book “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City” was the first book selection by Mayor Ben Walsh's city-wide book club. The event is free and open to the public and will feature Desmond discussing his groundbreaking book highlighting the reality of eviction for families and communities. The multimedia event will be interactive and will include questions from the audience. Free and open to the public, but seating is first come, first served. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The Syracuse Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. and the Syracuse City School District’s Parent University will hold its Annual Golden Alert: Human Trafficking event at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at Syracuse Community Connections. The event will feature a panel of guests from the McMahon Ryan Advocacy Center, Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office and Assembly member Pamela Hunter, ready to answer questions regarding this serious topic and how it impacts Syracuse. This event is Free. Refreshments and child care will be provided.

Refugee Emad Rahim will share his remarkable journey from the Cambodian Killing Fields to Syracuse, where he learned to how just survive, but thrive in “Against the Odds.”

Find out and discuss what you can do in order to protect yourself in case of a zombie outbreak. This entertaining program will focus on the following topics: Basic Zombie Survival Techniques; Combat Weapons; Survival Vehicles, and Common Mistakes, Myths and Generally Bad Ideas about Zombies. The workshop will be led by Marcus Suraci, the volunteer MakerSpace Sound Engineer. No registration necessary. For teens and adults. Meets in MakerSpace, Level 1.

At Syracuse Repair Café, everything centers on making repairs. There will be various experts on hand: electrical, mechanical, carpentry, seamstresses and advice (only) for computer problems and appliance repair. There is no charge or fee, although donations are appreciated, and organizers ask that guests pay for expensive parts. Toasters, lamps, clothes, bikes, toys, wobbly furniture, and crockery ... anything that is broken is welcome and can more than likely be repaired.

Swap or pick up Halloween costumes — free for everyone. At 2:30 p.m., everyone will be able to access the costume closet and choices will be limited to one costume per person. Library staff will also have a treat-bag decorating activity in the teen area.

A family-focused event with illustrator Erin McKenna Nowak and author Lamis Solaim who will do a reading of their dual-language children's book "The Silent Nightingale," inspired by a time-honored Arabic poem.

The Dunbar Association will host an Election Day breakfast fundraiser from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 6, at the center, 1453 S. State St. $20 donation will be collected at the door and funds raised go directly to support the Dunbar Center. The menu catered by Joe's To Go will include: scrambled eggs, creamy cheese grits, sizzling bacon, turkey breakfast sausage, buttery homemade biscuits, country-style sausage gravy, fried fish, cinnamon roll, fruit cup, coffee, juice and Southern Sweet Tea. Eat in or take out.

Under the leadership of NBLCA several nonprofit health organizations will be on hand to share resources and information on AIDS prevention and support services for housing, testing and treatment for persons with chronic diseases. No registration necessary. For teens and adults. Meets on Level 1.

Need help with your legal problems? Volunteer lawyers will answer your questions on a first come, first served basis. Please arrive early and sign in as space is limited. For adults. Meets in the library's CNY Meeting Room, Level 3.