Omerge Alliances Produces Inaugural National Gun Violence Prevention Expo Presented by Strides for Peace, Chicago Sept. 24-26

Former Chicago Bears players Matt Forté and Chris Draft, Olympian Tori Franklin, Academy Award^Ⓡ-Winning Filmmakers Lisa Cortés and Joshua Seftel, former Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling & LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, incoming Chicago National Urban League President Karen Wilson-Freeman and gun violence prevention thoughtleaders from Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and New York convene to advance collaborative solutions to gun violence.

CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Omerge Alliances, an independent event programming and production consultancy founded by live event producer Olivia F. Scott, announces its role as lead event production firm for Strides for Peace's inaugural National Gun Violence Prevention Expo, taking place September 24–26, 2026 at Hilton Chicago.

Themed "Prosperity Through Collaboration," Omerge Alliances has constructed a two-day Expo, with a pre-Event Gala, convening national community violence intervention leaders, public-safety leaders, clergy and civic leaders, healthcare professionals, business leaders, and community organizers to evaluate effectiveness and advance gun violence prevention, business involvement, trauma care responses from hospitals, community healing, policing, faith-based involvement, and sports and youth development.

"We believe thoughtfully conceived and expertly produced gatherings have the power to transform lives. Through this Expo, we are bringing together powerful changemakers with intention to exchange ideas, relationships and actions to explore solutions to improve societal wellbeing," says Omerge Alliances CEO, Olivia F. Scott. "Being entrusted with such a multi-dimensional, values-driven, national platform is deeply meaningful to us."

Participants also include Chicago-based Journalists Val Warner, Sonia Blakey, Alison Flowers and Shaun Redwell; New York City's First-Appointed Gun Czar AT Mitchell-Mann; Larry Miller, NOBLE Massachusetts Chapter President Captain Lisa Butner, and University of Chicago Medicine Drs. Kenneth L. Wilson & Selwyn Rogers, amongst others.

"I respect, value and appreciate the professionalism, dedication, creativity and problem solving Omerge Alliances has brought to the table," said Margaret Baczkowski, Founding Executive Director of Strides for Peace. "Olivia and her team have approached this work with care for our mission, partners and the community we serve, while helping us shape a dynamic Expo experience which is bringing many important voices together."

The Expo includes an Arts Expo, National Day of Remembrance of Homicide Victims Ceremony, Chicago feature film premiere of Nothing To See Here: Watts at Venue SIX10, and a Film Festival chaired by Rubye Lane, Founder of Mustard Seed Vision.

Registration is available at stridesforpeace.org/expo2026.

More about Omerge Alliances at omergealliances.com.

About Omerge Alliances

Founded in 2009, by Olivia F. Scott, Omerge Alliances is an independent event programming and production consultancy, which creates, curates, and produces high-impact live experiences such as ESSENCE Festival of Culture and Freedom at The Mat for mission-driven, wellness, and social-impact organizations nationwide.

About Strides for Peace

Strides for Peace is a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to increasing the collective impact of those working to end gun violence.

Contact:
Olivia F. Scott
646-325-3201
[email protected] 

SOURCE Omerge Alliances