The inaugural symposium and fundraiser will bring together Chicago journalists, civic leaders, artists and immigrant community voices for conversations on immigration, identity and belonging.
CHICAGO — Borderless Magazine, Chicago’s nonprofit newsroom dedicated to immigrant-centered journalism, will bring its reporting off the page and onto the stage this fall with the inaugural BorderlessLive!, an evening of conversation, storytelling and community connection at the Chicago History Museum on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 6:30 pm.
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The inaugural symposium and fundraiser will feature conversations with journalists, civic leaders, organizers, artists and community members, including Beatriz Ponce de León, Chicago’s Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights; Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr., Chair of the Chicago City Council Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights; Maudlyne Ihejirika, Director of Journalism & Storytelling at the Field Foundation and retired Chicago Sun-Times columnist; Suzanne Akhras, MedGlobal’s Corporate & Foundation Engagement Specialist and founder of Syrian Community Network; and Xanat Sobrevilla of Organized Communities Against Deportations. Rocio Villalva, a Chicago content creator, business owner and storyteller, will also share her first-person story, bringing to the stage the experiences and perspectives featured in her recent Borderless Magazine “As Told To” story.
VIP guests will also have the opportunity to take part in a private tour of Aquí en Chicago, the Chicago History Museum exhibition exploring Chicago’s Mexican American and Mexican immigrant history. The tour will be led by Nancy Villafranca-Guzman, Executive Director of Borderless Magazine, and Elena Gonzales, curator of the exhibition, offering guests a closer look at the stories and history behind the exhibition.
The evening will be hosted by Jerry Tran, an artist and comedian, and will also feature a performance by Yaoyolotl Tezcatlipoca, an Aztec dance troupe, as well as live harp music by Dany Harp (Dany Rojas), adding to the atmosphere of the reception and celebrating Chicago’s vibrant artistic and cultural community.
BorderlessLive! will also mark a significant moment in Borderless Magazine’s history. Nancy Villafranca-Guzman, who became the organization’s new Executive Director in June, will join Nissa Rhee, Borderless co-founder and former Executive Director, onstage. Rhee recently stepped down from executive leadership after nine years of building Borderless into a leading source of immigration journalism in Chicago.
“At Borderless, we’re deeply committed to sharing trusted information, asking the questions that can lead to change, and making space for immigrant communities to share their stories in their own words,” said Borderless Executive Director, Nancy Villafranca-Guzman. BorderlessLive! is a natural extension of that work — bringing people together for real-time conversations, connection, and community.”
For almost a decade, Borderless has been reporting on immigration and the people, policies and communities shaping Chicago, building a trusted source of independent journalism for and with the city’s immigrant communities. Its bilingual, community-centered journalism reaches millions of people each year across its digital platforms, helping Chicagoans better understand the policies, people, cultures and experiences shaping the city.
BorderlessLive! extends that work beyond the newsroom. The event is designed to create space for the conversations that journalism can start but that communities must continue: Who gets to tell Chicago’s stories? What does belonging look like in a changing city? And what role can independent journalism play in making sure immigrant communities are seen, heard and accurately represented?
The evening will begin with a reception and opportunities for attendees to connect before the program begins at 7:30 p.m., followed by a cocktail reception where conversations can continue.
EVENT DETAILS
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Chicago History Museum located at 1601 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614.
Doors open: 6:30 p.m.
Program: 7:30 p.m.
Get your tickets here.
BorderlessLive! is made possible with support from the MacArthur Foundation, Chicago History Museum, Field Foundation, The Hill Group, The Joyce Foundation, Press Forward Chicago, and Wintrust Bank Chicago.
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Interested in sponsoring? Contact CJ Ortuño, Chief Development Officer, at [email protected].
Press inquiries? Please contact Diane Bou Khalil, Marketing and Engagement Manager, Borderless Magazine [email protected].
About Borderless Magazine
Borderless Magazine is a nonprofit newsroom producing nonpartisan, multilingual journalism with and for Chicago’s immigrant communities. Through community-centered reporting, Borderless covers immigration, policy, labor, culture, health and people shaping Chicago. Its journalism reaches millions of people each year across its digital platforms and community partnerships.
