By Cleveland Urban News. Com and the Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog, Ohio's Most Read Online Black Newspaper and Newspaper Blog. Tel: 216-659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com. (www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com).

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) (pictured), a Warrensville Heights Democrat who leads Ohio's largely Black 11th congressional district, which includes the city of Cleveland and several of its eastern suburbs, will host a closed-door session on violence with some 300 high school students across her congressional district on Friday, October 16 from 10:30 am -noon at  the Cleveland Public Library Nottingham Branch Auditorium, 17109 Lakeshore Blvd, in Cleveland, according to a press statement issued yesterday.

Fudge will discuss pervasive violence in Northeast Ohio,  and will announce a new initiative aimed at providing area youth a voice in legislative activities, community programming, and other local prevention initiatives.

She will ultimately choose 12 students from her congressional district to serve on a youth council on violence.

The gathering is closed to the media, said  Fudge, an effort on her part to give young people an opportunity to express their views freely.

Fudge said that the prevalence of violent crime, including, gun violence, domestic violence,

and rape and sexual violence, has reached an all-time high in cities like Cleveland.

This violence, she said, is affecting every faction of our community, especially the youth,

The federal lawmaker said that conversations are needed to help develop effective solutions for those greatly affected by the prevailing issue.

Media , however, can interview Fudge on the issue prior to the meeting beginning at

9:30 am.

While violence against women and children is escalating in greater Cleveland, including drive-by shootings in Cleveland in recent months that have claimed the lives of three children under the age of six-year-old, and police murders in Cleveland of unarmed Blacks, including 12-year-old Tamir Rice, young people have not been called to the forum to give their viewpoints.

(www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com).