Briefs: Education alliance holds meeting

Tennessean 2/15/2008 The next meeting of the Community Education Alliance is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, in room C407 on the fourth floor of the Metro Nashville Public Schools' building, 2601 Bransford Ave. The meeting will be a joint meeting of the alliance and the Central Community Council and is being held to bring everyone up to date on community education activities. Guests are asked to enter through the Customer Service Center entrance from the Berry Road parking lot. Red Cross needs blood donations after tornadoes The recent tornadoes that ripped through Middle Tennessee caused numerous injuries, sending many people to area hospitals for treatment. Many of these patients will require donated blood to treat their injuries. The American Red Cross continues to receive requests from area hospitals for units of type O-negative blood. As a result, the supply of type O-negative blood is low and expected to drop to even lower levels. Although every blood type is important, type O donors play a critical role in maintaining the blood supply. Type O negative is often called the universal blood type, because it can be transfused to a person with any blood type. The American Red Cross is encouraging people with type O-negative and type O-positive blood to donate as soon as possible. A blood drive is scheduled for 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, at Ezell-Harding Christian School, 574 Bell Road. For more information, call 250-4300. Edmondson library hosts Umoja bingo The Edmondson Pike Branch Library, 5501 Edmondson Pike, invites children of all ages to have fun with history and learn about famous African-Americans during a game called "Umoja: African-American History Bingo!" Umoja is a Swahili word meaning "unity." The event will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16. For details, call 880-3957.