**Hello Friends and Family!**
I’m Jermaine, a local musician, father, and military veteran based in Portland, OR. I moved here in 2008 and since then, have been performing around the city and surrounding areas. Whether it be performing solo, with multiple bands, busking, singing at weddings I love live music and watching other artists express themselves through music as well. I’ve dedicated myself to booking for various venues and wineries while also collaborating and consulting with the city to develop and enrich music around the city. It’s led me to helping create the Music City Sessions with Music Portland and PBOT, Hosted and ran multiple music programs including The Living Room Sessions, as well as joining the board for musician grants during the pandemic.I’ve always been an advocate for fair pay for musicians. My journey has been fueled by a passion for creating opportunities for fellow musicians and enriching our community through the power of music. Community outreach as always called me. I’m also one of Portland’s black Santas. We’ve donated so many gifts and Christmas Trees to families within our community and it’s motivated me to do even more!
My dream is to establish a unique event space that will serve as a central hub for amazing music and events. I’ve encountered many obstacles over the last few years trying to bring my dream to fruition. I now have a tangible opportunity to bring this to life! While this is in it’s infancy, I know this space will not only showcase incredible talent but also foster a sense of community where people can come together, celebrate, and connect.
In order to bring this community eco system to life, I need support to get it off the ground. Your support means the world to me and will help turn this vision into reality. Together, we can create a place that resonates with creativity, collaboration, and joy. Thank you for believing in this dream!
The overall goal is to raise enough funds to hire support staff, pay the first few months of rent, build a recording studio, get a solid food and beverage program started, and promote it to bring people out to see the magic that’s being created there. I have initial goal markers established to fund the project as it’s developing.
The first tiered goal is for the first months rent and deposit totalling 20k. If we’re able to raise this by the end of november, we can continue to raise the rest of the funds.
I will set micro goals once our first goal is met. I want to stabilize operations in the early months by making sure we’re well padded to pay employees on time and fairly. As revenues increase, the venue will be able to pay its staff and provide any other supplies on it’s own.
****All funds raised will be going directly toward the venue, staffing, and supplies.
The Heights Lounge and Event Space
A Black-owned venue and creative hub built for music, culture, and connection.
We officially opened in April and have already made huge strides — but we’re not quite across the finish line yet.
✅ $61,124 Already Raised!
We’ve already covered:
First month’s rent and deposit
Initial staff wages
Food and beverage inventory
Core Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E)
That early support helped us get off the ground — now we’re raising the final $38,876 to complete the vision.
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What’s Left: $38,876 to Reach $100,000
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1. Operational Stabilization – $20,000
This will keep the venue stable in its early months by helping cover:
Staff payroll
Rent support as revenue builds
This creates a buffer that allows us to focus on quality programming without scrambling to cover basics.
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2. Recording & Content Studio Build-Out – $11,938
We’re building a fully-equipped recording and content creation studio, featuring:
High-quality audio and podcasting gear
Video cameras for capturing performances, interviews, and visual content
Lighting and sound treatment
This will serve local musicians, podcasters, and creatives — a space to create without leaving the community.
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3. Signage, Branding & Social Media – $6,938
Includes:
Interior and exterior signage
Brand identity and design assets
Social media and content setup
This helps build awareness, tell our story, and bring people in the door.
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4. Food & Beverage Expansion – $3,000
Funds additional inventory and bar/kitchen support as foot traffic and events grow.
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Reaching our goal
The Heights is more than just a venue — it’s a place to celebrate community, elevate artists, and create unforgettable moments.
With your help, we can finish strong and build something Portland truly deserves.
Every contribution matters. Every dollar makes a difference.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
—Jermaine