By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

FOREST PARK - A local educational program that teaches the moral code connected with Kwanzaa will honor nine community members today.

The Sankofa Educational Enrichment Program was established in Greater Cincinnati in 1993 to teach leadership and critical thinking through black history and culture to students in Grades 8-12. The volunteer-supported Saturday school teaches through Nguzo Saba, the seven principles celebrated during Kwanzaa.

The school will present an awards ceremony at 6 p.m. today at Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church, 10998 Southland Blvd., Forest Park. Akil Wilder, an honor student and junior class vice president and band captain at Shroder Paideia Academy in the Cincinnati Public School District, will be among the honorees.

"For us, it's a real showcasing of our students and their capabilities, and it showcases member of the community we feel are models for our students to look up to," said Tiffany Hinton, a supporter of the school.

As its guest speaker, Sankofa will have Kenya Jordana James, the 15-year-old publisher, founder and editorial director of blackgirl magazine. In her magazine, she has interviewed India Arie, Lauryn Hill, tennis pros Serena and Venus Williams and other famous figures.

The event serves as a fund-raiser to provide scholarships for its students to travel to Canada, the American South and West Africa. Since its founding, the school has taught more than 125 young people in Greater Cincinnati.

SEDER EXPLAINED: The American Jewish Committee's Cincinnati Chapter will celebrate an Intergroup Seder at noon Wednesday at Plum Street Temple, Eighth and Plum streets, downtown.

It's the 11th year for the event, which works to increase understanding among cultures about the Jewish holiday of Passover, and includes most of the traditional elements of a Seder ritual. Passover, or Pesach, commemorates the Jews' Exodus from Egypt.

"We want to share our festival of freedom because we believe that the value of freedom in the community is universal," said Barbara Glueck, executive director of the local chapter.

"We're trying to demystify our holidays and build relationships with people of different faiths and cultures."

To make reservations, call no later than Monday at 621-4020.

SEX SCANDAL SPEECH: Kathleen McChesney, the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Office of Child and Youth Protection and a former FBI official, will speak on the findings of recent studies of the sex scandal in the Catholic Church at the University of Dayton Monday.

McChesney's talk is the last in a series called, "The Wounded Body of Christ: Sexual Abuse in the Church," that included a talk this month by Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk.

She will speak at 7 p.m. in the Kennedy Union Ballroom, 300 College Park, Dayton.

For information, visit www.udayton.edu.

MUSLIM MEAL: The Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Malik Islamic Center and Ethicon Endo-Surgery is sponsoring a community meal in Over-the-Rhine from 4-7 p.m. today.

The event, which will take place inside a food tent on 15th Street, between Elm and Pleasant streets, is a continuation of the Malik Islamic Center's efforts to share meals with the community for the last two years and an observance of Muslim tradition to share with communities to spread good will and understanding.

To submit religion news, e-mail kvance@fuse.net or send a fax to 755-4150.