Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit Create New Pathways for Detroit’s Young Innovators

Ahead of the Detroit Tigers’ Black in Baseball Weekend, students from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit (BGC) gathered at the BGC Spark Lab inside Michigan Central Station for an opportunity to witness firsthand how storytelling, creativity and collaboration bring a campaign to life.

The project centered around Detroit native and self-taught artist Jon Genius, who designed a special-edition T-shirt to be sold in The D Shop during Black in Baseball Weekend at Comerica Park. But for the students in attendance, the day was about much more than the final product.

Colleagues from Ilitch Sports + Entertainment’s Creative, Retail and Brand Marketing teams shared the work behind the scenes, showing how an idea evolves from concept to execution. The students from Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit had the opportunity to ask questions about career paths in sports and entertainment, learn about the technical aspects of the production process and observe as the Creative team directed and captured content throughout the day. To cap off the experience, students received the featured Jon Genius T-shirt, Detroit Stars hats and Tigers game tickets during Black in Baseball weekend.

For many students, exposure to careers in sports and entertainment begins with the athletes they watch on the field or ice. Experiences like these at the BGC Spark Lab can expand that perspective, introducing students to the wide range of opportunities that exist beyond the game itself.

That philosophy is at the heart of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment’s partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit.

Opened in February 2026 inside the historic Michigan Central Station, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit serves as a 13,000-square-foot youth innovation hub designed to inspire Detroit’s next generation of creators, innovators and entrepreneurs.

One of the facility’s cornerstone initiatives is the Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator, supported by a $1 million investment from Usher, Big Sean, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and Emory University. Focused on workplace development and creative career readiness, the incubator provides skill-building opportunities and connections to internships and real-world career experiences in Detroit.

Within the incubator, Spark Lab, supported by Usher’s New Look Foundation and Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, provides access to professional tools, training and mentorship in music production, digital media and entertainment-focused career pathways. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit Spark Lab location is only the second in the country.

Ilitch Sports + Entertainment’s involvement extends beyond financial support. Through mentorship opportunities and workforce development initiatives, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment is helping build a pipeline for Detroit students to prepare for and pursue careers in the industries shaping the city’s future.

The collaboration builds upon a longstanding relationship between Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit, including support through Play Ball Detroit youth baseball and softball programming, Red Wings eSports lounges and continued philanthropic investments from the Detroit Tigers Foundation and the Detroit Red Wings Foundation.

The experience with Jon Genius and the Tigers offered a glimpse into what this partnership is ultimately designed to achieve; creating moments of inspiration that help students envision new possibilities for themselves.

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