{"id":23029,"date":"2019-04-08T21:00:14","date_gmt":"2019-04-08T21:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/miamifoundation.org\/?p=23029"},"modified":"2019-04-09T00:29:29","modified_gmt":"2019-04-09T00:29:29","slug":"guitars-over-guns-chad-bernstein-receives-2019-ruth-shack-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/miamifoundation.org\/blog\/guitars-over-guns-chad-bernstein-receives-2019-ruth-shack-award\/","title":{"rendered":"GUITARS OVER GUNS\u2019 CHAD BERNSTEIN RECEIVES 2019 RUTH SHACK AWARD"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s Note: Chad Bernstein, a Miami Fellows<\/a> Class X alum and co-founder of Guitars Over Guns, is the 2019 <\/em><\/strong>Ruth Shack Leadership Award<\/em><\/strong><\/a> honoree.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

As a kid, Dr. Chad Bernstein struggled with self-esteem, bullying and a desire to fit in. He found the trombone, and music became the place that he could do that. \u201cMusic has always been my identity, even when there didn\u2019t feel like there was anything else in the mirror that I could hold onto,\u201d Chad recalled. \u201cIt gave me refuge and a voice.\u201d<\/p>\n

It also provided him the opportunity to attend the college of his dreams \u2013 the University of Miami Frost School of Music<\/a>, where he went on to receive his master\u2019s degree and doctorate. Music has taken him all over the world since then, playing and recording with top artists like Pharrell, The Temptations and Pitbull. Moreover, music has allowed him to connect with other people and his community. In Miami, that manifested in an opportunity to co-author the sound of the city with his two bands Su\u00e9nalo and the Spam Allstars. <\/p>\n

Chad and his bandmates visited a juvenile detention center to talk about starting a career in music as a favor to a friend. As they talked, the kids eyes started to glaze over, he said. It wasn\u2019t until the band started playing that the kids tuned in and started listening. This moment and his experience with the impact music had on his life led Chad to formalize the ad-hoc music mentoring project they\u2019d started into the Miami-based nonprofit Guitars Over Guns<\/a> in 2008.<\/p>\n

Today, the organization provides music instruction and mentorship to students in Miami and Chicago. Over the past 10 years, they\u2019ve reached more than 3,000 students. Supported by our Community Grants<\/a> program, Guitars Over Guns pairs mentors \u2013 all of whom are working musicians \u2013 with schools to help the students find their voice. Of those students, 99% graduated on time and more than 90% reported improved decision-making skills and self-esteem.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best part about our program is watching these kids transform,\u201d Chad told us. Guitars Over Guns mentors students like Junior Pierre. Junior grew up without a father and frequently came close to failing out of school. A teacher encouraged him to join Guitars Over Guns. Junior\u2019s grades and behavior improved. He graduated and received scholarship offers to prestigious music schools. He credits Chad as his mentor: \u201cChad has seen something in me that I probably would have never seen. Guitars Over Guns has shaped my future desires and what I want to get accomplished,\u201d Junior noted.<\/p>\n\n\n

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