Pérez Art Museum Miami will kick off a new night of programming, PAMM Free Community Night, with an evening of live music performances courtesy of the students of the Guitars Over Guns program.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, WSVN 7 Reporter Ann Keil and Commander Francisco Fernandez of the City of Miami Police Department will offer words of encouragement to the students, whose music and performances are a direct response to the gun violence that has impacted their lives.
The night will close with the debut of a music video the students made for their remake of the hit song “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa.
Students of the Guitars Over Guns program remade “See You Again” in response to the tragic loss of their peer Jakyri Fleurimar (age 15).
Replacing verses of the original song with their own lyrics, GOGO students such as Xavier Gustave, cousin of Fleurimar, had the opportunity to express themselves in honor of Fleurimar’s memory and the many others lost to senseless gun violence. The song and video remake, which involved more than 80 Miami-Dade County Public School students, is a community call-to-action; a platform for those who can still speak up, want to be heard and want to make a difference.
About Guitars Over Guns
The Guitars Over Guns Organization (GOGO) believes that all young people should have the opportunity to reach their full potential through the transformative nature of music and the arts and the power of mentorship. GOGO delivers high impact arts-based youth development to at-risk youth as an alternative to the negative and harmful influences that typically dominate their environments. Since 2008, GOGO has increased the academic achievement and engagement for over 1,000 students. The GOGO program is designed to engage youth through culturally relevant artistic mediums, using a hands-on approach to learn music, dance, and visual arts. Professional artists are paired with small groups of students for the school-year, using GOGO’s unique research-based curriculum to build strong mentoring relationships. Through this connection, mentors are able to help their students navigate and overcome the obstacles standing between them and their success. For more information, please visit www.guitarsoverguns.org or follow @guitarsoverguns on social media.
