'Guitars Not Guns' gives at-risk youth free music lessons
WASHINGTON - As people across the country debate solutions to gun violence, a D.C. group is working to bring change through music.
'Guitars Not Guns' seeks to keep at-risk youth on the right track by giving them free music lessons and a free guitar to take home.
"It's just supposed to be an opportunity to keep kids doing positive things," said Shaady Fakhrai, who runs the D.C. chapter of the organization. "And that's probably the most important thing to me."
Fakhrai says since she started the group last summer, she's had about 60 kids go through the program. She says it costs about $100 per student to provide the guitar lessons, a guitar and a graduation ceremony.
To raise money for the next round of classes, Fakhrai organized a fundraiser at Mellow Mushroom pizzeria in Adams Morgan Sunday.
Some of the kids who've taken classes came out to show support and share what the experience meant to them
"I've been studying my little guitar packet," said fifth-grader Tiara Jackson. "Studying the chords and stuff, so I'm getting a little better with the chords."
She said after finishing her eight classes with Guitars Not Guns, she's continued playing on her own.
"My first goal is to first learn how to play my favorite song on the guitar which is Jackson Five 'Want You Back,'" Jackson said.
The goal of the fundraiser was to raise $2,300 and organizers believe they accomplished their mission.