Guitars United / Guitarras Unidas of Monterey County is a non-profit corporation recently formed by a group of volunteer guitar instructors that were a part of the Monterey County Chapter of Guitars Not Guns. The Monterey County Chapter of GNG was forced to cease and desist by the National Chapter in August of 2025 because they (along with 3 other chapters) were not willing to pay a retroactive 20% assessment fee on all monies raised in 2025 without any discussion nor the ability to meet and confer. The local chapter’s funds were subsequently drained.

The former Monterey County Chapter of Guitars Not Guns started in 2009 and during the last 16 years Monterey County volunteer instructors served over 2,800 children (free guitar classes and guitars) and donated over 650 additional acoustic and electric guitars to our advanced students and underserved schools in Monterey County.

The Monterey County GNG year after year was the most active chapter in the national organization and received numerous awards. In 2017 the Monterey chapter was named the California 17th District Non-Profit of the year. In 2015 the national organization presented Stephen Vagnini, the Chapter Director, with their first ever Vision Award. The Monterey County Chapter was also the only chapter to continue holding online classes during the COVID pandemic.

Using music as a catalyst Guitars Not Guns encouraged children and teens to use their creativity to foster personal development and to help divert them from self-destructive influences such as drugs, alcohol and gang-related activities. By providing free guitars and lessons GNG hoped to engage their creative potential and help them achieve their dreams.

Programs are for children and teens ages 8 – 18 using low teacher-to-student ratios. Most classes consist of 4-12 students with two to three adult instructors. In addition to learning how to master changing from one chord to another, children learn perseverance, discipline and self-esteem.
More importantly, the kids learn to enjoy the interaction and have fun in a group setting.
Those who complete the full 8-week program are allowed to keep the guitar and are encouraged to return for Level 2.

Classes have been held at the Rancho Cielo Youth Campus (Silver Star and the Culinary Institute), the Boys and Girls Club in Seaside; the Marina Teen Center, Monterey County Youth Center, Monterey County Juvenile Hall; Ohana Center for Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health; Marina High School, Salvation Army in Salinas, Alisal Center for Fine Arts in Salinas, CHISPA Housing programs, Ord Terrace Elementary School through the Community Partnership for Youth in Seaside, Fairview Middle School in Gonzales, CSUMB Upward Bound Program, Steinbeck Library in Salinas, the Mary Chapa Academy in Greenfield. Castroville Middle School, and Harden Middle School in Salinas.

The new non-profit, which filed its Articles of Incorporation on September 9, 2025, will seek to continue the work that it did through Guitars Not Guns and will expand their scope to include all ages. The Mission of Guitars United / Guitarras Unidas of Monterey County is to empower Monterey County residents of all ages through introductory and advanced (guitar) classes offered by compassionate and competent volunteer instructors.

אנא תרמו בנדיבות לארגון ראוי זה.