When ASM teen, Brandon, was a freshman at Kenwood Academy, he admits he wasn’t on the best path. Everything changed when he joined a songwriting and music production program in partnership with Guitars Over Guns.
Now, four years later, he’s preparing to graduate high school after spending his spring break in Italy studying fashion and art with the Virgil Abloh Foundation.
“This program has been pivotal in my life and career,” he shared. “Programs like these give young people hope.”
Through the program, teens create their own music by learning to write lyrics and produce beats while building leadership, collaboration, and self-expression skills.
For Andre “Add-2” Daniels, Guitars Over Guns Regional Director Chicago, stories like this are exactly why this work matters.
Guitars Over Guns is an arts-based youth development organization that uses the power of music, mentorship, and the arts to unlock possibilities for young people.
“There’s a ripple effect that happens when you help change just one person,” Andre said. “Not only are they transformed internally, but so are the people around them — their friends, siblings, parents, and community. When young people are encouraged to explore their talents and do what they love, it inspires others to do the same.”
Born on the South Side of Chicago, Andre has used music, mentorship, and community activism to create opportunities for young people across the city. As a rapper and educator, he founded Haven Studios, a free recording studio and mentoring program that helps teens and young adults develop their creative voices while connecting them with career pathways in entertainment.
Andre’s impact extends far beyond Chicago’s music scene. He won a Telly Award through work with When We All Vote, serves as President of the Chicago Chapter of The Recording Academy, delivered a TEDx Talk titled “The Power of Music,” and became the first Rap Consultant for Goodman Theatre, among many other accolades.
Despite his success, Andre remains deeply committed to investing in the next generation of Chicago youth. He is one of hundreds of expert instructors and community partners who work with ASM to ensure teens learn directly from industry professionals and mentors who help prepare them for success in their futures.
For years, ASM and Guitars Over Guns have partnered to meet the moment for Chicago teens by creating safe, supportive spaces where young people can express themselves through the arts while building confidence, skills, and community.
As ASM celebrates 35 years of serving Chicago teens, partnerships with organizations like Guitars Over Guns continue to play a critical role in expanding access to high-quality programs across all 77 Chicago neighborhoods. These partnerships ensure teens can participate in transformative opportunities close to home while earning a stipend and developing skills that will stay with them for a lifetime.
In 2025 alone, ASM reinvested more than $20 million back into Chicago communities through community-based partnerships and programs that continue to empower the next generation of young people.
Since 1991, ASM has seen what’s possible when teens are given the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to discover their potential. Through partnerships like Guitars Over Guns, Chicago teens are not only creating music; they are building confidence, finding community, and shaping futures filled with possibility.