Zahra Glenda Baker

Zahra is a Teaching Artist, Arts Coordinator, Music Director, and Performer. She is an accomplished musician recognized for her performance work as a folk and jazz vocalist, dramatic actor, an engaging storyteller and teaching artist. She has coordinated and facilitated Arts in Education programs in the Chicago Public Schools for over 30 years. 

As a teaching artist at the Old Town School of Folk Music, Zahra developed and implemented a music residency highlighting African American a cappella community singing. She has also trained as a circle keeper and has co- facilitated circles with teens and adults.

Currently, Zahra is Program Director for Harmony, Hope and Healing, which provides music and healing sessions to families and children in shelters, as well as incarcerated people and adults in recovery.

Zahra is co-founder of storytelling duo In the Spirit, and communal singing ensemble Freedom Song Leaders. Her performance history includes being a vocalist with Sitarsys, Shanta Nurullah’s spiritual jazz band, and she has performed at venues such as The Old Town School of Folk, The Chicago Jazz Festival, The National Association of Black Storytellers Conference and Festival, and countless Schools, Museums and Festivals for the past 30 years. 
Creating Freedom Movements nurtures visionary grassroots leaders who build beloved community, cross-issue solidarity and infrastructures of justice & joy. We heal people and the planet by moving from cultures of separation & domination to cultures of connection & reciprocity.