Usher and Big Sean are investing real money, investing $1 million in a high-tech creative incubator for Detroit youth that will open in February 2026 inside the new Boys & Girls Club of Central Michigan.
The Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator will provide young people with a gateway into the entertainment and technology industries, including a virtual production studio, special effects lab and creators lounge.
The program is supported by Usher’s New Look® (UNL), Big Sean’s Sean Anderson Foundation (SAF), Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and Emory University’s Goizueta School of Business.
“I’ve always believed in igniting a spark in the next generation to be better and gain something that we didn’t gain,” Arthur said. “The new Spark Lab in Detroit built with my friend and Boys & Girls Club alumnus Big Sean will not only minimize the access gap for young people, but also help prepare them for greatness. It only takes one person to believe in your success, and I am honored to be one of the many in this partnership to help make it happen.”
Big Sean, who has long worked to revitalize Detroit’s creative scene, emphasized the importance of creating opportunities at home.
“Detroit is the birthplace of my creativity. From jamming in my mom’s basement to performing on the biggest stages in the world,” he said. “My mission has always been to ensure that the next generation of dreamers and innovators in my city have the opportunities, tools and guidance to achieve the same goals. The Innovation Incubator is designed to show young people that they don’t have to leave Detroit to chase opportunity, they can build it here.”
The incubator will be located on a dedicated youth floor of The Station, a key component of the 30-acre Innovation District in the heart of Michigan. The space is designed to give Detroit’s youth direct exposure to high-growth industries through immersive learning and real-world experiences.
Shawn H. Wilson, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Michigan, called the partnership a continuation of Detroit’s tradition of innovation.
“From the assembly line to Motown, Detroit has been a blueprint for innovation,” Wilson said. “This collaboration—especially with two heavyweight alumni—extends that legacy by demonstrating that the creative economy can be a path to ownership and equity.”
The project is the fifth major investment Big Sean and SAF have made in partnership with BGCSM since 2018.
His foundation has opened four Big Sean Studios in club locations across the city, providing more than 10,000 young people with access to music production, DJing and other creative tools.
The incubator will also offer programming for teens and young adults aged 14 to 24, covering everything from film and music production to artificial intelligence, 3D design and immersive technology.
Participants will be able to earn certificates through Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, receive mentorship from industry leaders and even receive startup capital for their own businesses.
“Our goal is to provide Detroit’s next generation of creators with the tools to lead emerging industries,” said Carolina Pluszczynski, chief operating officer of the Michigan Center. “Through our partnership with BGCSM, and now with the additional support of Usher and Big Sean, we will continue to open up new pathways and opportunities to develop the next generation of innovators—from creators to makers to technologists—who will drive our city forward for decades to come.”
Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, which operates the business units of the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings, has been a long-time partner of BGCSM. Since 2020, the organization has helped open five esports lounges in the Detroit metro area as part of the Red Wings’ Learn, Play, Score initiative.
The 13,000-square-foot Boys & Girls Club of Central Michigan will also include an autonomous training center and an innovation lab focused on mobility, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for February 2026.
