You are invited to participate in the Greater Philadelphia Roundtable, a series of meetings to promote dialogue and greater understanding of the Philadelphia region’s recent history. These discussions will help shape the content of The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia.

Striving for Equality: LGBT Activism in Greater Philadelphia -- 6-8 p.m., March 18 at the William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce St., Philadelphia

As part of the Philagrafika 2010 festival, five Philadelphia organizations with historical collections were paired with contemporary artists, and this partnership spawned unique and varied works of art. This panel discussion will bring together artists, historians, curators, and community leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities of these innovative collaborations.

Everyone has a story to tell. Learn how to share yours at PhilaPlace.org, an interactive Web site that connects stories to places across time in Philadelphia neighborhoods. At this workshop, PhilaPlace project director Joan Saverino will discuss PhilaPlace and show visitors how to log their own memories, use the interactive map, access audio and video clips, create tours, and view historical records.

December 2 marks the 150th anniversary of the hanging of John Brown, a radical abolitionist who organized a raid on an arsenal in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. After his death, John Brown’s body traveled through Philadelphia. The mayor worried about riots in the streets, so a plan was devised to sneak Brown’s body away safely. Learn about this story and commemorate the anniversary of this pivotal moment in the struggle for civil rights. The guest speaker will be Dr. Louis A. DeCaro Jr., author of Fire from the Midst of You: A Religious Life of John Brown.