Usher and Big Sean are putting real money where their roots are with a $1 million investment in a high-tech creative incubator for Detroit youth, set to open inside the new Michigan Central Boys & Girls Club in February 2026.
The Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator will offer young people a gateway into the entertainment and tech industries with access to a virtual production studio, special effects lab, and a creators lounge. The initiative is backed by Usher’s New Look® (UNL), Big Sean’s Sean Anderson Foundation (SAF), Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, and Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Big Sean, who has long been involved in revitalizing Detroit’s creative scene, emphasized the importance of building opportunity at home.
The incubator will be located on the youth-dedicated floor of The Station, a key part of Michigan Central’s 30-acre innovation district. The space is designed to give Detroit’s youth direct exposure to high-growth industries through immersive learning and real-world experience. Shawn H. Wilson, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, called the collaboration a continuation of Detroit’s legacy of innovation.
This project marks the fifth major investment Big Sean and SAF have made in partnership with BGCSM since 2018. His foundation has already launched four Big Sean Studios in club locations across the city, giving over 10,000 youth access to music production, DJing, and other creative tools.