MISSY LANE’S CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Expanding the audience for jazz and soul music through education, performance, and preservation.
The work of the Charitable Foundation is inspired and guided by the artists who lend their talents as part of Missy Lane’s Assembly Room, a social hub for music lovers located in the heart of downtown Durham, North Carolina.
WHO WE SERVE
We serve Durham’s students, working artists, and jazz-curious neighbors. Creating access to arts education and community concerts in the heart of downtown.
PROGRAMS
Masterclasses & Workshops
Hands-on learning experiences led by professional jazz artists for students and emerging musicians. These sessions emphasize improvisation, ensemble playing, and mentorship, creating a bridge between classroom and stage. Artists we’ve worked with include Jonathan Barber (pictured here), Derrick Hodge, Etienne Charles and Chelsey Green.Community Performances
Free and low-cost concerts and jam sessions that bring together musicians and audiences of all ages. We’ve worked with NCCU Jazz Studies Program in 2024-2025 school season.
Our marquee event, the Missy Lane’s Block Party, activated the Durham County Library plaza and surrounding streets with multiple stages, family programming, and community collaborations that celebrate jazz, soul, and the spirit of Durham. The event hosted 1300 people on October 4, 2025.Preservation & Archive
A living record of Durham’s jazz story, capturing performances, oral histories, and behind-the-scenes moments to preserve the culture for generations to come. We aspire to launch a video archive by 2027.
oUR IMPACT
Residents reached: 3,000+
Students engaged: 75+
Artists paid (paid engagements): ≈440
Free programs delivered: ≈86
Small print: “Totals reflect 2024–present.”
Photo: Brown Sugar Strings
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Governance & Transparency: Unmanageable serves as fiscal sponsor for Missy Lane’s Charitable Foundation. All donations made are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
