Psychology professor and author Daniel Gilbert will be the keynote speaker for the Annual Campaign Kickoff on Saturday for the Jewish Federation of Durham and Chapel Hill, 1937 W. Cornwallis Road.

During the 6:30 p.m. event, the Federation will honor contributions of Eric Meyers and Perri Shalom-Liberty. Dr. Meyers, a long-time volunteer for the Jewish community and current member of the Federation Board, will receive the Sarah and Mutt Evans Leadership Award.

Shalom-Liberty, incoming chair of the Federation's Israel Center, will receive the Earl and Gladys Siegal Young Leadership Award.

The keynote speaker is the author of the New York Times best seller “Stumbling on Happiness.” He is professor of psychology at Harvard and is a Guggenheim Fellow and appears before Dizzy Gillespie on the list of the “Most Famous High School Dropouts.”

For further information, call Penny Rich at 919-354-4944.

“Bull City Survivor”

Durham Friends Meetinghouse is hosting a dinner, reading, discussion and signing of a new book “Bull City Survivor” from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at 404 Alexander Ave.

Emma Johnston is a black resident of Durham whose son was murdered in 2007. The book tells the postwar history of one of the South's fastest-growing communities through the eyes of one of its most disadvantaged residents.

In the process, the book examines the social and economic conditions that led to the murder of Emma's son, one of 25 to 30 people, many of them young black men, who fall victim to gun violence each year in Durham. The book is co-written by Emma Johnston (a pseudonym) and Simon Partner, a history professor at Duke University and a member of the Durham Friends Meeting (Quakers).

This event is sponsored by the Peace and Social Concerns Committee of the Durham Friends Meeting and the Religious Coalition for a Non-Violent Durham.

Interfaith celebration

An Interfaith Celebration for Community, Spirit and Change is set for Saturday at Beth El Synagogue, corner of Watts Street and Markham Avenue.

All are welcome and are asked to bring a candle.

Sponsored by the Resource Center for Women Ministry in the South, the event begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Christmas concert

Duke Memorial United Methodist is inviting all to celebrate Christmas in a program Sunday at 4 p.m., featuring Lois Deloatch. She will perform hymns, spirituals and standards.

Noted for her rich, smoky contralto voice, Deloatch was deeply influenced by jazz, blues and spirituals. She has shared the stage with Ella Marsalia, Freddy Cole, Roberta Flack and Arturo Sandoval, among others. She is an Independent Weekly winner for Best Jazz Artist.

A $10 donation is suggested.

The church is located at 504 W. Chapel Hill St.

Quilts on display

Newport Splendor, a handcrafted quilt resplendent with shades of blue and gold, will be star attraction at Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, 102 Tryon St., from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Other quilts, both vintage and contemporary, will be displayed and a variety of handcrafted decorations and gifts will be on sale.

The featured quilt derives its name from Newport, Tenn., an impoverished community in the Appalachian mountains. For the past 11 years, a work crew from Hillsborough Presbyterian has made an annual mission trip to Newport to make home repairs and build housing for the area's low income, elderly or disabled members.

The quilt show is a free events that will include up to 40 quilts and quilted items. While the quilts are not for sale, visitors will have the option to buy exotic ornaments and hangings, aprons, potholders, table runners and other items, all created by church artisans to support the annual mission trip.

Kol Haskalah will hold a Humanistic Hanukkah Potluck and Auction from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4907 Garrett Road.

Members and guests are asked to bring a dish for eight people or more. Members will make latkes to serve. A nonperishable food item is also requested to feed the hungry.

Youth showcase

A Youth Talent Showcase is set Dec. 14 at White Rock Baptist Church, 3400 Fayetteville, St.

The event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. will feature songs, dance and spoken word by the Youth Ministry of the church, along with youth from Durham's First Calvary Baptist, and White Rock's sister church, Mt. Vernon Christian Church in Clayton.

Refreshments will be served.

RSVP no later than Dec. 9 by contacting the church office at 919-688-8136 to register.

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