Music has the power to heal. We instill a love and appreciation for music that children can carry with them for the rest of their lives.
How Our Program Works
In the GNG Classroom
Our program is targeted to foster kids and at-risk youth ages 8-18 using high teacher-to-student ratios. Each class consists of a maximum of 10 students with three adult instructors. Each program is 8 weeks long with a one hour session each week.
In addition to learning how to master changing from one chord to another, children learn perseverance & discipline and build self-esteem. More importantly, the kids learn to enjoy the interaction and have fun in a group setting.
Those kids who complete the full 8 week program have earned the right to keep the guitar and are invited to return for a second 8-week session of more advanced instruction. They’ve earned it!
Meet The Marin Guitars Not Guns Board
and Jr. Board members
Board Members
Holly Hollenbeck - Board Chair
Holly Snow Hollenbeck is the CEO and Principal Designer of HSH Interiors, a luxury residential design firm located in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe.
Holly holds a BA from UCLA in Mass Communications, and subsequently attended design school at UC Berkeley Extension.
Holly’s prior non-profit experience includes 5 years on the Board of Directors of WildCare in San Rafael, where Holly was the Chair of WildCare’s Gala and Dining for Wildlife events for multiple years. Holly also served on the San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary, and was the Chair of the American Conservatory Theater’s MFA Program Gala.
With three musical children, a pianist, a guitarist and a drummer, Holly’s love of music runs deep.
Miki Sakata - Treasurer
Miki is a corporate retirement plan consultant for Newfront Retirement Services. She partners with investment committees to guide fiduciaries in creating and maintaining the ideal retirement program for its employees. She holds several financial industry licenses as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Musical Arts from the College of Music at The Florida State University.
Miki was previously chairperson of zSharp, a music education focused non profit organization. She is currently a volunteer usher for Cal Performances at the University of California. She is a Guitars Not Guns Marin founding board member and its Treasurer.
Miki has a teenage son, who is a musician, with a focus on both piano and guitar. Together, they share a passion for music and music education.
Beatriz Meija - Recording Secretary
Meredith Deason - Community Outreach
Meredith graduated from the University of Southern California with a BS in Business Administration with a Marketing focus and an Economics minor. After working in advertising agencies for nearly 10 years she decided to hang up her briefcase and be a stay at home mom.
She has enjoyed the last several years volunteering at her kids’ schools on many fundraising, staff appreciation and admission events. This is her first time serving on a board and is looking forward to growing the Guitars Not Guns Marin Chapter.
Meredith lives in Marin County with her two kids and husband. Both of her kids have discovered a love of drumming so many conversations around the dinner table are focused on music. One of her favorite songs is ‘I Want it That Way’ by The Backstreet Boys and also self identifies as a ‘Swiftie.’
