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.

Do you love Oreos? If yes, visit Betts Branch Library for an Oreo Taste Test Challenge. Try different flavors of Oreos and see if you can figure out the flavor.

Middle and high school youth along with college writers, ages 12 to 21, are invited for an engaging day of writing workshops focused on the power of images and words - Visual Voices. The day will include interactive session with Syracuse community writers, authors and teaching artists that honor the legacy of Professor Stephen Mahan, the founder and director the Photography and Literacy (PAL) Project. Registration beings at 8:30 a.m. The conference runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All materials and lunch provided. To register visit www.believeinsyracuse.org/wol by Nov. 4.

Rise Above Poverty will host a benefit brunch to raise funds to provide new winter coats to 60 to 75 students in need to ensure they are prepared for the harsh Syracuse winter. Rise Above Poverty’s mission is to bring community awareness to the socio-economic issues of poverty and homelessness in the Syracuse City School District, and the group works to distribute toiletries and apparel for students in need. The menu for the benefit brunch will include choice of Belgian waffles with fruit topping or French toast; scrambled eggs or egg casserole; hash brown casserole; fresh fruit bowl; bacon, ham or sausage; choice of beef burgundy, baked chicken or fried chicken; choice of assorted Danish, muffins or bagels; Italian toast, and coffee, tea and juice. Tickets to the brunch are $50. For tickets: contact Reggie Kelly at (315) 863- 6496 or email Reggie.Kelley@riseabovepovertysyr.org, or Troy Gray at Troy.Gray@riseabovepovertysyr.org.

Hope for US Housing is offering a free carpentry training workshop for young men and women in the Syracuse area. An open house orientation will be offered from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Hope for US Housing Corp. Open to youth ages 12 to 17. The program offers youth in the community a chance to work hands-on with dedicated mentors. This is a six-week program where youth will learn the basics of the carpentry trade, as well as life skills needed to be successful in the workforce. For more information or to pre-register, contact Lamar Middleton at (315) 876-7079 or Asean Malik Bey at (315) 863-5570.

Planned Parenthood educator Mallory will distribute brochures, fact sheets and give-a-ways, answer questions and talk to teens one-on-one about family planning, sexual health, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS, minors’ rights and much more. All materials include information about where to access low-cost reproductive health care. If appropriate, referrals will be made to partner agencies for additional service needs. Office hours are held in the library's TeenSpace, Level 1.

Do you know why we eat turkey on Thanksgiving? Come learn about the history of how the turkey became the Thanksgiving meal’s traditional main course, make a turkey craft and listen to a Thanksgiving story. Open to youth ages 5 to 12.

Turkey day fun at Central Library's KidSpace, Level 2 will include pin the tail on the turkey, decorating a place mat, bowling games and more. No registration required. Open to children of all ages

An OCC representative will be on hand to answer questions about applying to college, financial aid, degree programs and other questions related to attending college. No registration necessary. For teens and adults. Meets on Level 1.

Youth are invited to Betts for an afternoon of building and construction with Big Blue Blocks.

Planned Parenthood educator Mallory will distribute brochures, fact sheets and give-a-ways, answer questions and talk to teens one-on-one about family planning, sexual health, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS, minors’ rights and much more. All materials include information about where to access low-cost reproductive health care. If appropriate, referrals will be made to partner agencies for additional service needs. Office hours are held in the library's TeenSpace, Level 1.

Use Sharpies to create your own tie-dye pattern on handkerchiefs. Feel free to bring in your own white clothing to dye.

Painter Robert Shetterly will be coming to Syracuse University with all 235 pieces from his portrait series “Americans Who Tell the Truth: Models of Courageous Citizenship.” The portraits consist of historical figures who fought courageously for social justice such as Susan B. Anthony and Malcolm X. It also consists of contemporary heroes, such as Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha who was the first to bring attention to the presence of lead in Flint Michigan’s drinking water. The portraits will hang in the Panasci Lounge as a public exhibition from Nov. 26 to Nov. 30. The lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 in Setnor Auditorium in Crouse College.

ACR Health commemorates World AIDS Day, Friday, Nov. 30, with a service of Hope and Remembrance at Panasci Chapel at Le Moyne College in Syracuse. The service begins at 7:30 a.m. and lasts about 30 minutes. A continental breakfast follows. Service is open to all.

There will be a moderated panel discussion on Aretha Franklin’s community involvement, activism, spirituality and career in the music business. The event will take place at the Community Folk Art Center. The event is sponsored by the Department of African American Studies, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, Community Folk Art Center and the Student African American Society. For more information about the event, contact Cedric T. Bolton at ctbolton@syr.edu.

The Syracuse Police Accountability and Reform Coalition along with the New York Civil Liberties Union will host a panel and community conversation on the Syracuse Police Department’s use of force policy from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at Central Library. The conversation will focus on the impact of the SPD’s use of force policy on the Syracuse community, ongoing litigation and advocacy efforts around the issue and specific policy recommendations to reform the current policy.