Them Poems Alone Won't Save Us

🎙️ Them Poems Alone Won’t Save Us An immersive evening of poetry, music, and reflection Join us for&nbsp;Them Poems Alone Won’t Save Us, an exploration of poetry as a form of radical love and resistance, led by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.castleskins.org/creative-in-residence">Carmin Wong, Castle of our Skins’ Shirley Graham Du Bois Creative in Residence.</a> Carmin Wong is a Guyanese-born poet, playwright, and digital humanist whose work deeply explores themes of homeland, heritage, and community freedom. A dual-title Ph.D. student in English Literature and African American and Diaspora Studies at Pennsylvania State University, Carmin’s work has been recognized by the Academy of American Poetry and performed at leading cultural institutions across the country. Her plays and poetry weave archival research with personal storytelling, reclaiming lost narratives while offering a space for reflection and healing. In this 90-minute experience—part art gallery, part poetry reading—you’ll be immersed in Carmin’s antidisciplinary creative practice, where poetry, music, and dance intersect to create a powerful space for self-reflection and communal connection. Poetry alone won’t save us—but it can open the door to deeper connection and action. &nbsp; 📅&nbsp;Event Details: 📆&nbsp;May 24, 2025 📍&nbsp;Goethe-Institut Boston&nbsp;(170 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02124) 🎟️&nbsp;Tickets:&nbsp;$25 general admission | $10 students &amp; seniors | $5 Card to Culture Limited seating available—secure your spot today! Doors open at 7:00 📅&nbsp;Exhibition Only Viewing (Bonus Addition!): 📆&nbsp;May 30, 2025&nbsp;| 🕐 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM 📍&nbsp;Goethe-Institut Boston 🎟️ Free with suggested donation

Goethe-Boston

And Freedom's Reign

Join us at the historic African Meeting House for And Freedom’s Reign, an immersive event honoring the words, legacy, and spirit of Frederick Douglass. Experience the Museum’s *NEW* AI-powered hologram of Douglass in an interactive pre-event, followed by an activity and a special performance by students from Project STEP. At 3:00 PM, a concert brings Douglass’ timeless speech, <a href="https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/nations-story-what-slave-fourth-july">“What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?”</a>, to life, featuring a live reading with moving string quartet interludes performed by Castle of our Skins’ String Quartet: Matthew Vera, Grant Houston, Ashleigh Gordon, and Francesca McNeeley, alongside youth readers. Presented in partnership with the Museum of African American History, Boston Modern Orchestra Project &amp; Odyssey Opera’s As Told By initiative. Join us June 20th at 7:30 PM for a performance <a href="https://odysseyopera.org/frederick-douglass/">Ulysses Kay’s opera Frederick Douglass</a>, presented by Odyssey Opera and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. This program is made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities, which provided funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC). Don’t miss this fusion of history and music. Reserve your spot today!

Museum of African American History

MassQ Workshop with Daniel Callahan

MassQing is an art-form that uses the human face as a canvas to reveal one’s inner state. In preparation for the return of the MassQ Ball to the Arboretum on October 4th, learn the origin, technique, and meaning of this practice and then engage firsthand in the conception and creation of your own MassQ. Led by transmedia artist Daniel Callahan, the workshop will start with a 10-15 minute presentation on what MassQing is, and then we’ll break out the paints and try it out for ourselves! Inclement weather policy: Participants will be notified via email at least 24 hours in advance if a program needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather, and will be notified by phone if a program must be cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice.&nbsp;<a href="https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events-2/adult-education/">Click here to view our full inclement weather policy.</a>&nbsp;If you have questions about the status of a program, please email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu">publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu</a>&nbsp;or call the Visitor Center desk between 10:00am and 4:00pm at (617) 384-5209.

Arnold Arboretum

Alchemy

Castle of our Skins’ Portrait Concert&nbsp;Alchemy: featuring composer Jonathan Bailey Holland Ensemble-in-Residence Castle of Our Skins returns to the Longy School of Music of Bard College for an immersive three-day residency focused on the music of&nbsp;Jonathan Bailey Holland.&nbsp;Its sixth residency, COOS teams up with Bailey Holland to work with students in master classes, classroom visits, and affinity spaces, and present a capstone portrait concert featuring chamber music from the composer. Post-concert reception to follow.

Pickman Concert Hall

Sonic Journeys

Join Castle of our Skins for&nbsp;Sonic Journeys, an immersive and interactive edutainment experience that blends music, meditation, and audience participation. Led by flutist&nbsp;DeShaun Gordon-King&nbsp;and percussionist&nbsp;Steph Davis, this one-hour journey explores soundscapes across time and geography, weaving together influences from the blues, Afro-Latino traditions, African rhythms, and African American improvisation. Through dynamic storytelling, breathwork, and rhythmic call-and-response, audiences of all ages will be invited to engage with the music—breaking the fourth wall and becoming part of the experience. This is not just a concert; it’s a shared exploration of sound, culture, and history, designed to uplift, inspire, and connect. 📍&nbsp;When:&nbsp;April 6, 2025 | 3:00 PM 📍&nbsp;Where:&nbsp;Conservatory Lab Charter School, Dorchester, MA 🎶&nbsp;Featuring:&nbsp;DeShaun Gordon-King (flute) &amp; Steph Davis (marimba/gyil) 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦&nbsp;Family-friendly | Interactive | Engaging

Conservatory Lab Charter School

"I Said What I Said"

Join Castle of our Skins for&nbsp;“I Said What I Said,”&nbsp;a concert presented at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bethelame.org/">Bethel AME Church</a>&nbsp;celebrating Black artistry through music and spoken word. Presented in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.celebrityseries.org/productions/castle-of-our-skins-wind-quintet/">Celebrity Series’&nbsp;Solo(s) Together</a>&nbsp;project, this event highlights the power of individuality and community in the face of historical and contemporary challenges. The program features: World Premieres&nbsp;of “Sketches from The Movement” by Brian Raphael Nabors, celebrating resilience and freedom through the lens of the Civil Rights Movement. Works by&nbsp;Mason Bynes,&nbsp;Fred Onovwerosuoke,&nbsp;William Grant Still, and&nbsp;Damien Geter, exploring themes of heritage, healing, and creative expression. Poetry by&nbsp;Carmin Wong, Castle of our Skins’ Shirley Graham Du Bois Creative-in-Residence for 2024-2025, offering profound reflections on agency and self-expression. Through a dynamic blend of solo and ensemble performances, “I Said What I Said” invites audiences to engage with music and words that resonate personally and universally.

Bethel AME Church,  Jamaica Plain

Castle of our Skins BSU Fellowship presents: Renaissance 

Join us for the grand finale of Castle of our Skins’ 4th Annual BSU Intercollegiate Fellowship, where talented Black student musicians from Boston-area music institutions will co-curate and perform a concert inspired by the theme of Renaissance. Featuring works by African diasporic composers, this event celebrates a new generation of artists as they showcase their creative growth and collaboration following two weeks of intensive exploration with each other. Don’t miss this unique celebration of cultural revival and artistic expression! Accessibility Info: <ul><li>Lift access available for a patron in a wheelchair or for patron with mobility issues (must otherwise descend nine steps to reach the level of the theatre)</li><li>Accessible box office: a patron in a wheelchair can comfortably reach the vent to pass items back and forth, and to communicate via the microphone</li><li>Wheelchair/accessible needs positions available</li><li>Accessible restrooms are located on the lower level, same level as theatre</li><li>Assisted Listening Devices are only available when a presenting company equips the theatre with an FM hearing enhancement system (This is rare; ask per performance)</li><li>ASL-interpreted and Audio-described performances are only offered when a presenting company makes arrangements for such a performance (This is rare; ask per performance)</li></ul>

Boston Center for the Arts Plaza Theater

Portraits of Spirituals

For children of all ages Portraits of Spirituals is a 60-minute performance that explores the world of Negro spirituals as arranged for marimba. Audiences will have the opportunity to engage in traditional songs, melodies, and the culture and communities from which they come.  Free! Preregistration encouraged!

Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library

A Juneteenth Celebration

This concert is FREE to attend - registration through Eventbrite is required to attend this event. Celebrating Juneteenth, Landmarks Orchestra, in collaboration with Castle of Our Skins, starts the 2024 summer season with a performance at the Kroc Center! Featuring works from Florence Price, William Grant Still, Jessie Montgomery and more, this concert will be a wonderful way to kick off our season and celebrate the works of iconic Black composers. Featuring Castle of Our Skins String Quartet, violinist Maxwell Fairman, and soprano Brianna J. Robinson! Christopher Wilkins, conductor Brianna J. Robinson, soprano Maxwell Fairman, violin Thomas Cooper, violin Ashleigh Gordon, viola Francesca McNeeley, cello Digital Program: A link to a digital program will be announced shortly. Venue Information: The Chapel of the Kroc Center is where the concert will take place. This is located on the 2nd floor of the Kroc Center. There is both stairs and an elevator available. Please note that The Kroc Center security staff conducts bag searches and has each guest walk through a metal detector. Please allow additional time to arrive in your commute for this. Transit Information: The 15 or 41 bus is the closest transit option to the Kroc Center, a 400ft distance from the venue. The 15 bus connects from Ruggles on the Orange Line and the 41 connects from Jackson Sq. on the Orange Line. There is also a commuter rail stop, Uphams Corner which is a 0.1 mile distance from the venue. Parking: There is street parking in front of the Kroc Center as well as a parking lot behind the venue. Run Time: The total run time of this concert is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, with no intermission. Event recording notice: By attending this event, you agree to be photographed and/or filmed and give permission to use your likeness in promotional and/or marketing materials.

The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center

The Flea and The Fly

"The Flea and the Fly" is a 30-minute, fun-filled, music + storytime experience for youth 4-8 years of age. Using music by Black women composers, including Maible Bailey, Florence Price, and Margaret Bonds, this original storybook tale written by Ashleigh Gordon teaches friendship and belonging in a way that both children and parents can enjoy.&nbsp; Join us January-June 2024 as Castle of our Skins presents a series of interactive, intergenerational, educational programs designed for youth and families. All programs highlight Black history, culture, music, and arts in our signature mix of education and entertainment. Supported by the The Fellowes Fund of the Boston Public Library

Roots

CASTLE OF OUR SKINS KYLE P. WALKER, PIANO PROGRAM David Baker – “Roots II” piano trio (1992) Trevor Weston – “Eurythmy Variations” for solo piano (2007) Shelley Washington – “Middleground” String Quartet (2016) Hannah Kendall – “Network Bed” for piano quartet (2018) Brian Raphael Nabors – new piano quintet (2024) From Castle of our Skins: “Roots” explores the origins of inspiration, the anchors from where creativity is born. Castle of our Skins, Boston’s concert and education series dedicated to celebrating Black artistry through music, teams up with critically acclaimed pianist Kyle P. Walker to explore this concept highlighting music from the African diaspora. Color, memory, history, and culture serve as the thread that binds this program featuring a breadth of fresh voices rooted in folk, jazz, classical and contemporary.

Isabella Stewart GArdner Museum

Love & Justice

Castle of our Skins is excited to be back in residence at the Longy School of Music of Bard College! As part of their fifth annual residency, COOS will feature an immersive three-day residency focused on the music of prolific composer Adolphus Hailstork culminating in this portrait concert: Love &amp; Justice All music writted by Adolphus Hailstork

Longy's Pickman Hall

Voices of Black Madonna

Voices of Black Madonna is a free educational presentation for young audiences (12 and under) that celebrates the lives and artistry of three legendary singers who raised their voices as part of the liberation movements of the 20th century: Marian Anderson, Leontyne Price, &amp; Mahalia Jackson. Geared towards families and kids (ages 12 and under),&nbsp;Voices of Black Madonna&nbsp;will highlight the power, voices, and importance of these women through performance, storytelling and audience engagement.

Play Songs & Games

The songs and games we played as children helped us learn cultural stories and understood the rhythms and textures of our world. Join us for&nbsp;PLAY SONGS &amp; GAMES&nbsp;as we remember, celebrate, learn, and relearn Afro-American and Caribbean play songs and games! ​ FREE! Family-friendly/youth ages 12 and under. Saturday,&nbsp;March&nbsp;9, 2004 ﻿For more information please contact:&nbsp;info@castleskins.org Sponsored by: Fellowes Athenaeum Trust Fund ********* Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, contact&nbsp;roxbury@bpl.org.&nbsp;Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.24,&nbsp;12:30-1:00pm &amp; 1:00-1:30pm

Black to the Future: An Afrofuturist Soiree

Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Afrofuturistic ideals as we draw inspiration from the boundless realms of imagination to envisions a future where we thrive! Dress to Impress: Channel your inner cosmic explorer and don your most avant-garde Afrofuturist attire. Whether you’re inspired by the cosmic jazz of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCDzkMYVnOg">Sun Ra</a> or the poetic brilliance of <a href="https://futuristicallyancient.com/2017/07/22/the-mnstry-phillis-wheatley-and-the-imagination-of-the-enslaved/">Phillis Wheatley</a>, let your imagination run wild. Time and Space: Prepare to transcend the ordinary as we transport you through time and space with live performances, captivating visuals, and an atmosphere that echoes the interstellar vibes of Afrofuturism. Your presence at the soiree supports a brilliant future for Castle of our Skins. Help us raise funds to continue promoting Black artistry, history, and culture through innovative programs and initiatives. Get ready to be a part of something extraordinary!

Black Market

A Far Cry at St. Paul's Cathedral

Join the Grammy-Nominated <a href="AFarCry.org">A Far Cry</a> for a casual late-afternoon concert at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, located right across from Boston Common. Because summer is a time to relax, we’ve invited <a href="https://www.rasbrewhouse.com/">Rushford &amp; Sons Brewhouse</a> to be on-hand with a selection of signature brews and we’ll be relaxing house rules. That means you and your kiddos can feel free to get up and move around the space during the performance. We hope to see you there! ﻿PROGRAM Osvaldo Golijov (b. 1960), Un día Bom, (2021) III. Arum dem Fayer, arr. Alex Fortes (2023) Jessie Montgomery (b. 1981), Banner, (2014) BREAK Juantio Becenti (b. 1983), The Glittering World, (2023) BREAK Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904), String Quartet no.12, Op.96, “American”, (1893), arr. by Sarah Darling (2017) Tickets: $10 for students; $25 for adults. Kids under 5 free.

Cathedral Church of St. Paul

Castle of our Skins

A Harlem Renaissance-Inspired Rent Party

We're throwing a Rent Party*! Join Castle of our Skins and poet Angel C. Dye on Friday June 30th at 7 pm for a Harlem Renaissance-themed Social Whist Party at Black Market Nubain, to raise money for the <a href="https://www.lwcsboston.org/" target="_blank">League of Women for Community Service.</a> Founded in 1919 <a href="https://youtu.be/fa4OkV7YGcM?t=5" target="_blank">The League</a> is one of the oldest womens' service organizations in the country.&nbsp;From the start and to this day, it has been a Black women-run space rich with legacy, action, and community building. In the 40s and 50's the League's 558 Mass Ave. headquarters hosted opera singer Marian Anderson during a performance in Boston, and even housed Corretta Scott King while she attended New England Conservatory. Proceeds from this rent party will go directly towards supporting their organization. Don't miss live performances from <a href="https://www.vladance.com/" target="_blank">VLA Dance</a>, <a href="https://kevinharrisproject.com/" target="_blank">Kevin Harris Project</a>, <a href="https://www.ayshaupchurch.com/" target="_blank">Aysha Upchurch</a>, <a href="https://linktr.ee/angeldye" target="_blank"> Angel C. Dye</a>, and <a href="http://www.regiegibson.com/" target="_blank">Regie Gibson</a>, along with food from <a href="https://www.zazrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Zaz Restaurant</a>, mocktails, a raffle, and much more! Doors open at 7pm with performances (aka the “good times”) beginning at 7:45pm and wrapping up at 10pm. Bring cash for the raffle and make donations on site (cash or card) to support the League! <a href="https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/03/rent-parties-langston-hughes-collection-of-rent-party-cards-photo.html" target="_blank">*Rent Parties</a>&nbsp;(a.k.a. social whist parties, breakdowns, struggles, too-bad parties) were informal and semiprivate gatherings hosted in individual apartments, and made popular in Harlem following the Great Migration. During the 1920s Black families would charge a modest entry fee to their patrons and use the money to pay their rent for the month (which was often much higher than that charged to white families). The hosts also provided southern cooking, music, and space for dancing the night away!

Black Market Nubian

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S19: interest based

WBUR’s 75th birthday celebrations 💫

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.