Crossing Borders Music supports the communities we engage by creating programs in direct response to their stated needs, stories, and aspirations. We were founded to address a community-identified need—better representation of Haitians in the media after the 2010 earthquake. This community-guided model continues to define our work.
Since 2011, CBM has shared stories and music of people from suppressed cultural backgrounds. We’ve particularly focused on highlighting diverse cultural identities often overlooked in classical music. Our performances reflect our values of inclusion, affirmation, responsibility, and diversity, telling stories that mainstream programs do not. Always, we represent people as they want to be represented. By celebrating artistic accomplishments and highlighting multi-dimensional, honest, informed, and positive representations of a culture, we challenge stereotypes and affirm and uplift our communities.
CBM’s work is rooted in community dialogue; our programs are created in response to what community members say they want from us. We work in long-lasting partnerships with organizations representing cultural communities, like the Haitian American Museum of Chicago, DuSable Heritage Association, the Société de recherche et de diffusion de la musique Haitiënne, and in partnerships with colleges and universities and Chicago Public Schools, ensuring culturally informed and impactful programming.
Our artistic programs amplify voices seeking justice, peace, and healing.