Media Contacts: Angela Mitchell, angela.rose.mitchell@gmail.com Jennifer Thorne, jthorne@ohioceasefire.org * THE OHIO COALITION AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE ANNOUNCES PARTICIPATION IN “CONCERT* *ACROSS AMERICA TO END GUN VIOLENCE”* * CLEVELAND, OH* – The Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence (OCAGV) has announced its participation in the nationwide Concert Across America to End Gun Violence. The performance will take place on *Sunday,* *September 25, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. *at *U.S. Bank Plaza in Playhouse Square *in downtown Cleveland. Performers include musicians from The Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, Cleveland Institute of Music, Classical Revolution Cleveland, In2ative, and Quire Cleveland. The program will feature a mix of classical and popular selections. It will be hosted by Jeff Kurkjian, host of “The Jeff Show” on Q104, and Angela Mitchell, host/announcer for WCLV Classical 104.9. Both hosts will also be performing on the program. Ms. Mitchell is a board member of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence and is organizing the event. The concert is *free*, though donations to OCAGV will be accepted. Preceding the downtown Cleveland concert will be an event on *Thursday, September 22 *at *La Fiesta Restaurant*’s Viva Stage in Richmond Heights. *Evil Ways**, a Tribute to Santana*, will perform while attendees enjoy the Mexican cuisine and beverages in a club setting. *Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the music begins at 7:30 p.m. *The cover charge for this event is *$10.* OCAGV board member Steve Ritchey is organizing that evening’s activities. These are two of the more than 250 concerts to be held across the U.S., each connected via social media (#ConcertAcrossAmerica #EndGunViolence) and online at www.ConcertAcrossAmerica.org. “Gun violence is a serious issue that affects communities right here in Cuyahoga County,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish. “No matter the zip code, parents should not feel afraid to let their kids outside to play. Concert Across America is a great way to find purpose in working to make our communities safer.” "Community events like the Concert Across America are so critical to raising awareness about gun violence and the common sense solutions to this epidemic. When we work together, we can save lives and foster culture change," said Jennifer Thorne, Executive Director of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence. “Dozens of musical artists from multiple genres will come together in these two Cleveland performances intended to call attention to the epidemic of gun violence in America,” said organizer Angela Mitchell. “We dedicate our performance to the memory of the tens of thousands of victims of gun violence every year.” For more information about the Concert Across America to End Gun Violence, visit www.remembersept25.org. For more on the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, visit www.ohioceasefire.org. Find La Fiesta information and directions at lafiestacleveland.com. U.S. Bank Plaza is located in the area bordered by Euclid Ave., E. 14th Street and Huron Road in Playhouse Square. La Fiesta Restaurant is at 5115 Wilson Mills Road, Richmond Heights. In the event of severe weather, the September 25th concert will be held at the Old Stone Church, located at 91 Public Square in downtown Cleveland. Keep up with the latest details on the Cleveland concert at the official Facebook event page, https://www.facebook.com/events/631444637029677/. MUSICIAN WEBSITES www.factoryseconds.org www.in2ativeduo.com www.quirecleveland.org classicalrevolutioncleveland.wordpress.com www.clevelandorchestra.com www.cim.edu www.brettmitchellconductor.com www.angelamitchellsoprano.com q104.cbslocal.com/personality/jeff-kurkjian evilwaysband.com <http://www.evilwaysband.com/> ### *About the Concert Across America * *The Concert Across America will take place on September 25, the date designated by Congress in 2007 as a day of remembrance for murder victims. This nationwide event will bring together a network of organizations, activists and artists with the dual goals of keeping guns out of dangerous hands and making the issue of illegal guns top of mind for members of Congress, the presidential candidates, and the American people as they go to the polls in November 2016. Boston was the first city to announce, spearheaded by **Stop Handgun Violence* <http://www.stophandgunviolence.org/>*. For more information visit* *www.concertacrossamerica.org <http://www.concertacrossamerica.org>. * * About the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence * *Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing gun violence through education, advocacy, and public awareness. Our culture change programs flip the script on the gun lobby’s culture of fear as we work towards common sense gun regulations. Learn more at **www.ohioceasefire.org* <http://www.ohioceasefire.org/>*. * -- Angela Mitchell www.angelamitchellsoprano.com