Big Sean, Usher Drop $1M Donation to Build Production Hub for Detroit Youth
Big Sean and Usher just flipped a $1 million donation into real access for Detroit teens chasing creative and tech dreams.
By D.M.Dec. 4 2025, Published 9:01 p.m. ET
Teens in Detroit are about to get a major tech glow-up. Big Sean and Usher have teamed up on a $1 million donation to build a state-of-the-art production facility for young people inside the new Michigan Central Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan.
The project, called the Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator, will anchor a 13,000-square-foot space on the youth floor of Michigan Central’s 30-acre innovation district. According to The Michigan Chronicle, the center is set to open in February 2026. It will serve as a training hub for Detroit youth interested in creative and tech careers.
Big Sean and Usher’s donation will fund a huge facility.
Usher’s New Look Foundation and Big Sean’s Sean Anderson Foundation lead the effort, with support from Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Together, they aim to connect Detroit teens and young adults directly to the future of entertainment and technology.
“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,” Sean said in a release, per The Michigan Chronicle. “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.”
The program will serve youth ages 14 to 24. It will offer hands-on training in film and TV production, music production, artificial intelligence and 3D design. Participants can earn industry-recognized credentials, connect with top mentors and apply for seed funding to launch their own creative ventures.
Usher also spoke on the vision behind the project. He called himself "a true believer in igniting a spark in the next generation." "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," the singer said. "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."
Usher and Big Sean are no strangers to philanthropy.
If you’ve been watching Big Sean over the last decade, this move is no surprise. Since 2012, his Sean Anderson Foundation has focused on supporting kids and families in Detroit with education, wellness and real-world opportunities. The foundation has funded four fully operational Big Sean Studios inside Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan clubs, giving youth access to music recording, production and DJ equipment.
His giving also shows up on the ground. According to Midland Daily News, Big Sean partnered with social media philanthropist Zachery “MDMotivator” Dereniowski and local businesses last Thanksgiving season to distribute $25,000 in gas, three cars, 100 turkeys, and 500 hot meals across Detroit’s east side.
Usher’s not new to this lane either. His New Look nonprofit has been working with youth since the mid-2000s. The nonprofit operates chapters in several cities, including Detroit, where it provides long-term mentoring and training for teens preparing to enter the workforce.
