Big Sean, Usher Celebrate Opening of New Boys & Girls Club in Detroit

Pair bring Detroit and Atlanta together at new Michigan Central facility, as Big Sean enters the Boys & Girls Club's Hall of Fame.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:39pm

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Big Sean and Usher were on hand for the opening of the new 15,000-square-foot Boys & Girls Club at Michigan Central in Detroit. During the ceremony, Big Sean was surprised with an induction into the Boys and Girls Club's Hall of Fame. The new facility features an entertainment production hub, FX lab, drone training spaces, a youth-run retail marketplace, and a literary and storytelling lounge.

Why it matters

The new Boys & Girls Club at Michigan Central aims to educate and empower youth in Detroit, providing them with resources and opportunities to develop their skills and creativity. The involvement of celebrities like Big Sean and Usher, as well as corporate partners, highlights the importance of investing in community-based youth programs.

The details

The new Boys & Girls Club facility is located on the 5th floor of the rehabilitated Michigan Central train station. It features a variety of educational and creative spaces, including an entertainment production hub, FX lab, drone training spaces, a youth-run retail marketplace, and a literary and storytelling lounge. Big Sean and Usher, both Boys & Girls Club Hall of Famers, donated $1 million towards the new entertainment production hub. Programming at the space is scheduled to begin on February 9.

  • The new Boys & Girls Club facility opened on February 4, 2026.
  • Big Sean was inducted into the Boys and Girls Club's Hall of Fame during the opening ceremony on February 4, 2026.

The players

Big Sean

A Detroit rapper who was a member of the Boys & Girls Club and has now partnered with the organization to open a new facility at Michigan Central.

Usher

A music superstar and Boys & Girls Club Hall of Famer who joined Big Sean in donating $1 million towards the new entertainment production hub at the Detroit facility.

Mary Sheffield

The mayor of Detroit who attended the opening ceremony.

Gretchen Whitmer

The governor of Michigan who visited the new Boys & Girls Club facility earlier in the day.

Garlin Gilchrist

The lieutenant governor of Michigan who also visited the new Boys & Girls Club facility earlier in the day.

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What they’re saying

“What a journey, right? It's been a long journey, but it's a new beginning.”

— Big Sean (Detroit News)

“An investment like this does not happen by accident. It happens with intentionality. Why? Because our youth deserve it.”

— Roderick Hardamon, Board Chair, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Detroit (Detroit News)

“To say I'm honored to be here today would be an understatement.”

— Shaka Senghor, New York Times Bestselling Author (Detroit News)

“This is not my last time here, and it absolutely should not be your last time here.”

— Usher (Detroit News)

“It's so inspiring, because it's living proof that it's never over. You get to the end, and the end is just the beginning of something else.”

— Big Sean (Detroit News)

What’s next

Programming at the new Boys & Girls Club facility is scheduled to begin on February 9, 2026.

The takeaway

The opening of the new Boys & Girls Club at Michigan Central in Detroit showcases the power of community investment and celebrity involvement in empowering youth. The facility's diverse educational and creative spaces aim to provide opportunities for local young people to develop their skills and reach their full potential.