That’s right! President Obama stopped by during a writing and recording session with our students to learn more about our program. He took the time to hear from each of our students, asked them what our studio space on the South Side of Chicago meant to them, and listened in as they showcased their art through music.
The Obama Foundation’s support of Guitars over Guns goes beyond this meaningful visit. Last year, we received a grant through the My Brother Keeper’s Alliance Freedom Summer initiative that helped our program expand and innovate.
With the funds, we were able to add additional staff and host open mics in our courtyard. Those events helped us connect with new students who might benefit from our programs and showed off our kids’ creativity to the larger community.
To learn more about our work at Guitars over Guns, check out our website here.
Summer is a challenging time for boys and young men in our community. With school out of session, they have more time to fill, and Guitars over Guns offers a safe and productive place where they can learn and have fun.
We provide them with exposure to equipment and experiences they wouldn’t otherwise have access to, and with our mentors’ help, they leave Guitars over Guns with the knowledge they need to go on and become musicians, managers, sound engineers, and more.
The Obama Foundation and the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance have been a key partner in our work and the work of other organizations that help keep boys and young men of color safe and productive during the summer months.
Thanks for taking a moment to learn more about our work.
–Andre
Andre Daniels
Regional Director, Chicago
Guitars over Guns
