Usher & Big Sean Team Up to Invest $1 Million in Entertainment Production Facility for Detroit Youth
In an inspiring move to uplift the youth of Detroit, music icons Usher and Big Sean have announced a collaborative investment of $1 million to establish the Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator. This exciting initiative will be housed within the Michigan Central Boys & Girls Club and aims to provide young people with cutting-edge resources in the entertainment industry. The facility will feature a virtual production studio, a special effects lab, and a creators lounge, designed to empower local talent and foster creativity. This partnership also includes notable organizations such as Usher’s New Look Foundation, the Sean Anderson Foundation, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, and Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, underscoring a collective commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists and innovators.
Usher expressed his enthusiasm for the project, emphasizing the importance of providing opportunities for youth to succeed in their creative pursuits. “This new Spark Lab in Detroit… will not only minimize the access gap for the youth but also prepare them for greatness,” he stated. Big Sean echoed these sentiments, reflecting on his own journey from humble beginnings in Detroit to achieving global recognition. He highlighted the importance of ensuring that young dreamers in his hometown have access to the tools and mentorship necessary to thrive in creative fields without having to leave the city. With this initiative, youth ages 14 to 24 will gain access to premier programs that cover music, film, television, AI, and special effects, equipping them with vital skills and real-life experiences.
The Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator is set to make a significant impact on the local community, with a tentative ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for February 2026. This project marks Big Sean’s fifth major investment through his foundation since 2018, showcasing his ongoing dedication to improving the lives of young people in Detroit. As Usher and Big Sean join forces to ignite creativity and provide opportunities, they are not only investing in a facility but also in the hopes and dreams of countless young individuals eager to make their mark in the entertainment industry.
Usher
and
Big Sean
are joining forces to give back to the youth of Sean’s hometown Detroit. The pair of music titans teamed up to invest $1 million in an entertainment production facility.
The Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator will be located in the Michigan Central Boys & Girls Club and is set to contain a virtual production studio, special effects lab and creators lounge.
In addition to Usher’s New Look and the Sean Anderson Foundation, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and Emory University’s Goizueta Business School are also on board as partners.
“I’ve always been a true believer in igniting a spark in the next generation to be better and have access to things we didn’t,” Usher said in a statement. “This new Spark Lab in Detroit with my friend and fellow Boys & Girls Club alum Big Sean will not only minimize the access gap for the youth but also prepare them for greatness. It takes just one person to believe in your success, and I’m honored to be one of many in this partnership to help make that happen.”
Big Sean has always remained heavily involved in improving Detroit and assisting the community. This endeavor marks his fifth signicant investment on behalf of the Sean Anderson Foundation since 2018.
“Detroit is where my creativity was born. From freestyling in my mom’s basement to performing on the biggest stages in the world. My mission has always been to make sure the next generation of dreamers and innovators from my city have the access, tools, and mentorship to do the same,” Big Sean added. “The Innovation Incubator is about showing young people that they don’t have to leave Detroit to chase opportunity; they can build it right here.”
Thank you Usher! Detroit!
pic.twitter.com/aKHk4Z6U1T
— Sean Don (@BigSean)
September 14, 2024
Detroit youth ages 14 through 24 will now have access to premier creative programs, technology and gain real-life experience with personal workshops. They will be equipped with the proper skillsets to pursue careers in music, film, TV, AI and special effects.
A tentative ribbon cutting ceremony to open the new Michigan Central Boys & Girls Club is slated for February 2026.
