The Castle We Built

May 16, 2026

On May 16, 2026, Ashleigh Gordon, co-founder of Castles of Our Skins, announced that she would be stepping down as Artistic Director to begin a new chapter and find her next path. She spoke lovingly about the beginnings of Castles of Our Skins with Anthony Greene, composer and pianist, when they were college students, and how their shared vision became the foundation for what Castles of Our Skins is today.

The journey began in 2013 with many projects—yes, many projects! Since then, Castles of Our Skins has grown, evolved, and continued to bloom. Anthony Greene's journey began while listening to a piece by acclaimed pianist Althea Wait, featuring the music of Ed Bland. That experience inspired him to imagine what Black excellence could look like and sound like. That album changed his life. Ashley Gordon's journey began when she met the great composer Jeffrey Mumford and championed his works, along with those of other Black composers.

On March 9, 2014, they received an email from the late Nikki Giovanni granting them permission to use her poem For Nina. The heart of Castles of Our Skins has always been to shine a bright light on as many Black composers as possible. Ashleigh Gordon honored several of the composers who were in attendance.

Reflections were shared, beginning with Lynn Duval Luse, Board Chair, who spoke about the culture and artistic gifts that Black composers have brought to the community through Castles of Our Skins. We honor Gordon and Greene for bringing the rich culture of Black composers to our community and for helping to create a place that will soon become the new home of Castles of Our Skins at what was once the Harriet Tubman House.

The space will preserve and amplify the history of the Black Jazz Quarter of the community while honoring the legacy of Harriet Tubman, the legendary leader and conductor of the Underground Railroad. The space will be known as Tubman Hall, awarded to Castles of Our Skins by the City of Boston with the help of Karen Holmes Ward and others. It honors the promise and legacy of previous Black-owned jazz spaces while creating a new cultural home for future generations.

Guests were entertained by piano selections from musician Zahili Zamora, whose Latin jazz filled the room. Meanwhile, DGK, DeShaun Gordon King, kept us grounded on the upper floor through sound therapy and healing. His vibrational therapy offered a deeply healing and transformative concert experience. Zamora's musical passion, expressed through her piano selections, and DGK's nurturing of our souls through the healing sounds of his flute gave us the very heart of Castles of Our Skins—The Castle We Built.

Curtis Reed Jr. spoke of the more than 500 Black composers from around the world whom Castles of Our Skins has introduced to the community. They have brought together artists, dancers, writers, historians, and so many others. Their countless blessings have been reflected in the joy they have brought to Boston's communities and surrounding areas.

Executive Director Dr. Ciyadh Wells spoke about Castles of Our Skins' new home on the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Columbus Avenue and the $6 million renovation campaign that will transform the space into the permanent home of Castles of Our Skins—Harriet Tubman Hall.

Anthony Greene spoke lovingly of Ashley and reflected on how, after more than a decade, she will finally have the opportunity to step back and look at The Castle You Built—a castle to which he says he had a tiny hand in building.

DeShaun Gordon King highlighted Ashley as a mentor, coach, and big sister. As part of the next chapter, a capital campaign is also launching the Co-Founders' Fund for Artist Innovation, designed to help artistic students like DeShaun continue to grow and develop along their artistic journeys.

Dr. Ciyadh Wells stated that the new home of Castles of Our Skins will stand as a center for Black heritage and culture for years to come. It will be a place where history, music, art, and community continue to meet—a living testament to the vision, dedication, and love that built the castle.