PRESS RELEASE: Work & Reentry: World-Class Jazz Meets Cleveland Stories
Video provided by The Modern Warrior EXPERIENCE and Towards Employment from Work & Reentry EXPERIENCE, Fall 2023 performance.
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Adaora Schmiedl
216-401-6883
aschmiedl@towardsemployment.org
CLEVELAND, September 25, 2025 – On Tuesday, October 7, internationally acclaimed jazz artist and Cleveland native Dominick Farinacci brings a Modern Warrior EXPERIENCE to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Campus of Cleveland Public Library (10601 Euclid Ave.), spotlighting powerful stories of Work and Reentry from three Clevelanders.
The performance, created in partnership with Towards Employment, features Towards Employment alumni and staff. Ronnie Cannon, Greg Reaves, and Linda Butts share their journeys of reentry, renewal and career success. Backed by live jazz, multimedia, and visual storytelling, their voices highlight the courage, skills and tenacity of Cleveland’s workforce.
Schedule:
- 6:00 PM – Light refreshments & networking
- 7:00 PM – Performance, followed by a panel moderated by Judge Suzan Sweeney (Cleveland Municipal Court) with storytellers and local legal leaders.
This is the third year Towards Employment and Modern Warrior EXPERIENCE have collaborated to spotlight reentry stories, with support from The George Gund Foundation.
“Stories of work and transformation inspire change,” said Jill Rizika, President & CEO of Towards Employment. “This collaboration lifts up the strength and hope that lies within our community.”
“We’re excited to welcome Modern Warrior EXPERIENCE to Cleveland Public Library. It’s a powerful way to share real stories of resilience and reminds us how much strength and hope exist in our community," adds Dr. Shenise Johnson-Thomas, Chief of External Relations and Development of Cleveland Public Library.
Farinacci, recipient of the 2022 Cleveland Arts Prize and a TED Speaker, co-created Modern Warrior LIVE, a national touring production that blends music and storytelling to spark dialogue about stigma, resilience, and healing.
Tickets are free but reservations are required: Reserve Here. Free parking and refreshments included.
Media Resources:
Towards Employment champions the potential of every person to succeed in a rewarding career and work to strengthen policies that provide pathways to opportunity for all workers. The organization connects 2,000 Clevelanders each year to opportunity through in-demand job training, career coaching, comprehensive support, and direct employer connections, while advocating for policies that expand pathways to economic mobility. Learn more at www.towardsemployment.org
Modern Warrior LIVE, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit, offers an innovative platform for individuals to share their stories of trauma and resilience through a powerful integration of storytelling, music, and multimedia. Programs empower, inform, connect, and activate, inspiring individuals and communities to break down stigma and seek healing.
