DETROIT – Big Sean and Usher, both global entertainment icons and Boys & Girls Clubs alumni, have announced a $1 million investment each in Detroit youth through the creation of the Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator, which will be housed inside the new Michigan Central Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan.
The incubator, developed with Usher’s New Look (UNL) and the Sean Anderson Foundation (SAF), will feature a virtual production studio, special effects lab, creators’ lounge, and more. Key education and industry partners include Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.
Recommended Videos
Big Sean, a Detroit native, has been a key figure in the city’s revival, especially through his involvement with Michigan Central since 2018.
Big Sean helped celebrate Michigan Central’s grand opening in 2024 and now returns to help shape its future by ensuring Detroit’s next generation of creators have the tools, mentorship, and networks to thrive.
This investment marks the fifth major contribution by Big Sean and the Sean Anderson Foundation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan since 2018.
The foundation has already provided four fully operational Big Sean Studios inside BGCSM Clubs, offering hands-on music exploration opportunities to more than 10,000 youth.
The incubator will be located on the dedicated youth floor inside Central BGCSM, part of Michigan Central’s 30-acre innovation district.
This space will serve as a launchpad for Detroit youth, connecting them to emerging industries through hands-on experience, access, and creative technology.
Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, which manages the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers, has partnered with BGCSM for several years.
Since 2020, they have opened five esports lounges at BGCSM Club locations throughout Metro Detroit, enriching the Red Wings’ Learn, Play, Score program.
The Innovation Incubator will offer advanced programming for young people ages 14 to 24, preparing them for careers in film, television, music production, AI, 3D, immersive technologies, and special effects.
Participants will have access to industry-recognized credentials through Emory’s Goizueta Business School and Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, mentorship from leading executives and creators, and seed funding to launch their own ventures.
The incubator is part of the soon-to-open Michigan Central Boys & Girls Club, a 13,000-square-foot space that will also include an autonomous training center and an innovation lab.
These facilities will connect youth to emerging industries like mobility, advanced manufacturing, and AI.
The new Michigan Central BGCSM Club is scheduled to officially open with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in February 2026.