The Creative Access, Self-Success (CASS) program is the brainchild of Marquise Evans, who serves as the executive director. He knows firsthand about the impact of violence. He was an “at-risk” youth because he was raised in a single parent household in Pittsburgh’s Beltzhoover neighborhood. Guns, gangs, and violence wreaked havoc in the early 1990’s. Marquise woke up one day, and the neighborhood was gang infested like many other minority city neighborhoods.

 

After losing his younger brother, who was fatally shot by a gang member, Marquise took another route. He became immersed in music and began writing lyrics about the violent times surrounding him. He learned how to play instruments and read about his culture. Marquise created a path of positive creativity that lead to him producing several CDs and performing in the Pittsburgh area. He also lived in Germany for three months and explored opportunities to promote his music.

Marquise believes music saved his life because while violence was swirling around in his neighborhood, he was engaged in his craft. He created CASS in 2008 and incorporated it in 2013 to combat the negativity and to pass on a legacy of positive music, knowledge and opportunities to empower the youth.