Big Sean and Usher global superstars and proud Boys & Girls Clubs alumni are investing $1 million each to empower the next generation of Detroit creators. Their combined $2 million commitment will establish the Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator, a new hub for youth creativity and tech-driven career development housed inside the upcoming Michigan Central Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM).
The incubator, a collaboration between Usher’s New Look (UNL) and the Sean Anderson Foundation (SAF), will include a virtual production studio, special effects lab, creators’ lounge, and other hands-on learning spaces. Key partners include Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, which will provide industry-recognized credentials and real-world pathways into entertainment and emerging technologies.
Big Sean, who has played a significant role in Detroit’s revitalization through his work with Michigan Central since 2018, helped celebrate its grand opening in 2024. Now, he’s returning to help shape its future by ensuring Detroit youth have access to tools, mentorship, and networks that can launch creative careers. This latest investment marks his fifth major contribution to BGCSM since 2018. Through the Sean Anderson Foundation, he has already opened four Big Sean Studios across Metro Detroit, giving more than 10,000 young people access to hands-on music and media learning.
The Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator will be located on the dedicated youth floor at Central BGCSM within Michigan Central’s 30-acre innovation district. It will connect young people ages 14–24 to careers in film, television, music production, AI, 3D and immersive tech, special effects, and more.
Participants will receive mentorship from top creators and executives, access to industry credentials, and even seed funding to launch their own ventures.
Ilitch Sports + Entertainment — long-standing partners of BGCSM and operators of the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers — have supported youth innovation for years, including opening five esports lounges across Detroit and enhancing the Red Wings’ Learn, Play, Score program.
The incubator is part of the new 13,000-square-foot Michigan Central Boys & Girls Club, which will also feature an autonomous training center and innovation lab designed to connect Detroit youth to emerging industries such as mobility, advanced manufacturing, and AI.