Arthur Jones, editor-at-large of The National Catholic Reporter, will present a talk based on his research into the life of Pierre Toussaint March 24 at Our Lady of Grace parish hall in Encino starting at 7:30 p.m.

Toussaint was born a slave in Haiti in 1781 and brought to New York City when he was 16 years old, receiving his freedom in his mid-20s. He managed to move gracefully among three different worlds: the white, upper class families of New York whom he served as hairdresser, the community of French émigrés who were loyal to the king and the black community where he lived as a family man and business owner. Currently, the church is in the process of reviewing Toussaint's life for beatification and canonization.