The Commission for Unity and Racial Equality (CURE) will host a series of ?Conversation on Race Forums? over the next month to tie in with the historic visit by the Freedom Schooner, , which is due to arrive in Bermuda this weekend.

The Minister of Community Affairs and Sport, Dale Butler yesterday made the announcement in the House of Assembly.

By 3 p.m. yesterday, the ship was reported to be some 180 nautical miles from Bermuda and making good headway.

This is first international voyage since her launch in 2000 and her visit to Bermuda coincides with the Heritage Month Celebrations. Since her launch, she has visited numerous ports in the United States and has become an ambassador for friendship and goodwill.

The also serves as a floating classroom and two young Bermudian students from CedarBridge Academy have spent the last two weeks on board the historic icon.

Rodrico Bean, 18, and Rajae Woods, 17, joined the crew in Mystic, Connecticut in April for the two-week voyage to Bermuda.

Mr. Butler said the series of public events were aimed at increasing race awareness and promoting leadership and action on addressing racial inequality.

The first of these will take the form of a power breakfast for leaders entitled, ?A Vision for Conversations on Race Equality.?

Mr. Butler said the forum promised to be a thought-provoking experience and executives, community leaders and anyone who believes in themselves to be the driving force behind an organisation?s position on race equality is invited to attend.

The breakfast will be from 8.30 a.m. until 9.45 a.m at La Coquille on May 19.

On Friday, May 20, CURE will host another breakfast session, this time for community leaders.

Mr. Butler said the focus of this session was facilitating community conversations on race and equality.

The forum is intended for managers, human resource professionals, teachers, facilitators and any community member who believes that race and equality issues impact their personal and professional lives.

Participants will be encouraged to embark on conversations on race in their own communities.

The forum runs from 8.30 a.m. to 9.45 a.m. at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

CURE?s third event will feature Youth Leaders.

Members of the Progressive Labour Party?s (Progressive Bermuda) and the United Bermuda Party?s (Young United Bermuda) youth wings have been approached to become involved in this event.

Middle and senior school students, particularly those who participated in CURE?s Awareness Forums and Creativity Contest, will be invited to participate.

The forum will be held on Saturday, May 21 from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at The Carriage House in St. George?s.

This forum ties into the Opening Ceremonies for the port visit in St. George?s.

CURE?s final forum for all community members takes place on Friday, May 27 and will feature a screening of CURE?s short film production, ?The Conversation Project, Bermuda?.

Mr. Butler said there would be a brief presentation followed by discussions.

This final contribution begins at 5.30 p.m. and will take place at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club followed by a dockside discussion on board the

Mr. Butler said child and youth support supervision would be provided on-site during the screening and early discussion period and children would then be allowed to join their parents on board the replica schooner for a light dinner and follow-up discussion.

While there are no charges for CURE?s events, participants have been encouraged to register in advance.

Mr. Butler added that the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs in conjunction with the Bermuda National Gallery will feature Carl Westmoreland in a lunch time lecture at the Gallery on Wednesday, May 18 at 12.30 p.m.

Mr. Westmoreland is a senior advisor of historic presentation at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Centre in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs has produced a brochure for the public to see at a glance, the many and varied activities planned for the month of May.

Mr. Butler said the brochure included additions like ?Telling Tales? in which historians and cultural tradition bearers would visit schools to share with students aspects of culture, traditions and history.

Some of these guest speakers include Ruth Thomas, Grace Rawlins, Charles Jeffers.

The brochure will also include details of the dance festival planned for May 19 at the Rush Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts.

The festival, which begins at 7 p.m. is free to the public and will feature dancers from a variety of schools including the Jackson School of Dance, In Motion and United Dance Productions.

Mr. Butler said the brochure also depicts cultural events being organised by the private sector including the Bermuda Youth Heritage Concert organised by Marjorie Petit.

The West Indian Association have also organised an art exhibit. Brochures are available from banks, post offices, libraries, gas stations and hotels.