- President Pro-Tem Mary Sheffield adds “Occupy the Corner-Detroit” to D.O.N. Weekend activities, and offered vaccines, expungement of records services, unemployment support and more.
- Celebrity Kickball game of Team Big Sean vs. Team Sheffield to take place for youth featured Michigan’s Lieutenant Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, WJLB’s Dr Darrius, and surprise celebrity guests.
- Sunday’s activities focused on mental health and included Yoga on the Beach and Industry Club Fashion Show.
DETROIT – August 30, 2021 – Multi-platinum artist, philanthropist and BGCSM Alumni Big Sean was excited to return to Detroit for his 3rd Annual Detroit’s On Now (D.O.N.) Weekend Saturday, August 28 – Sunday, August 29. The weekend was presented by the Sean Anderson Foundation (SAF) and hosted by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) and City Council President Pro-Tem Mary Sheffield and offered free activities for all ages.
“This past year and a half has been challenging for everyone. I’m glad we can bring D.O.N. Weekend back and celebrate the people who make this city great,” said Big Sean. “With all the hurdles Detroit has faced during the pandemic, it’s so important to bring the city together in a positive way.”
The new Reimagined Club is another strategic step to ensure Detroit youth have the tools and skills to become career, start-up and homeowner ready before leaving the Clubs at 18. The facility includes not only the new fully functional SAF content and production studio, but updated buildouts of the Ponyride co-working space for area entrepreneurs, computer lab, art gallery, 3D and laser printers, and a retail pop-up shop, similar to BGCSM’s Dauch Club on Tireman, which unveiled its Reimagined space with Big Sean in 2019.
“Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan is proud to be the anchor partner bringing DON Weekend to Detroit neighborhoods,” said Shawn H. Wilson, president & CEO BGCSM. “On behalf of the youth and families of Detroit, we want to thank Myra and Sean for their continued support and love for the city.”
The special weekend celebrates the Detroit artists, creatives, entrepreneurs, families and long-standing institutions that are the backbone of the city. Along with the special unveiling of the SAF Studio, there was a community block party and “Occupy the Corner” led by President Pro-Tem Mary Sheffield. Activities included live DJ, free food, live performances, COVID-19 vaccines, free haircuts and braiding, workforce one jobs, felony expungement, apprenticeship opportunities, carnival rides, gaming stations and a celebrity kickball game.
“During these difficult times it’s more important than ever to stay consistent in our service to others. Combining forces with the Sean Anderson Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern for the D.O.N. Weekend and Occupy the Corner – Detroit collaboration is a perfect way to show the community, especially those in need, that there are people who care and resources available,” exclaimed Detroit City Council President Pro Tempore Mary Sheffield. “Additionally with the new reality resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s nice to help the community we serve and love to get a little slice of normalcy, interaction, and fun.”
On Sunday, to continue strong focus on mental and physical wellness, BGCSM hosted Yoga on the Beach with Jamel Randall, owner of the Trap Yoga and Massage Studio Detroit and an Industry Club Fashion Show.
The weekend’s events were made possible by presenting sponsors Duo, Detroit Pistons, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Mercy Primary Care Center, Foot Locker, Fratarcangeli Wealth Management, The Mullick Foundation and TKG Business Management LLC.
Event tickets were limited due to COVID precautions but free to the public. BGCSM continues to be a safe space for youth, families and the community amid the current pandemic. Strict safety measures will be actively enforced during weekend activities.
D.O.N. Weekend 2021 Schedule
Saturday, August 28 – Location: Lloyd H. Diehl Boys and Girls Club, 4242 Collingwood St, Detroit, MI 48204
Detroit Block Party and Occupy the Corner (12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.)
VIP Unveiling of Sean Anderson Foundation Production Studio (1:30 p.m. – Press Only)
Art Gallery Opens in the content studio featuring local Detroit artists and youth artwork (3:00 p.m.)
Celebrity Kickball game, featuring Team Big Sean and Team Sheffield (4:00 p.m.)
Sunday, August 29 – Location: Robert C. Valade Park, 2670 Atwater St, Detroit, MI 48207
Yoga on the Beach (11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.)
Industry Club Fashion Show (1:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.)
For media requests and DON Weekend media passes please email Antonice.strickland@bgcsm.org
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About Sean Anderson Foundation
The mission of the Sean Anderson Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)3, is to assist in the education, health, safety, and well-being of school-age youth and their families. The Foundation partners with established charitable organizations and corporate sponsors to support its signature program, Mogul Prep.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan
Founded in 1926, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) has over 95 years of experience serving youth ages 6-18 by providing a safe, fun place that inspires, while offering high quality programs that provide real-world learning from caring adult mentors. Serving nearly 21,000 youth, families and entrepreneurs annually in Clubs throughout southeastern Michigan, BGCSM works every day to provide a world-class experience, empowering youth to become change agents through economic mobility. By providing high quality youth development programs, BGCSM has reimagined the future of afterschool learning and continues to stay agile and expand to better support the needs of our changing youth, ensuring that they are career, start-up and homeowner ready. To learn more about BGCSM visit www.bgcsm.org and follow us on social media on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!
About Big Sean
Big Sean consistently asserts himself as an elite rapper and a vital voice for the culture, at large, since he emerged in 2011, with his debut album Finally Famous on Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music / Def Jam imprint. The album spun off consecutive top-charted pop/R&B/rap crossover smashes with “My Last” featuring Chris Brown (platinum), “Marvin & Chardonnay” featuring Kanye West and Roscoe Dash (platinum), and “Dance (A$$)” featuring Nicki Minaj (4x-platinum). Sean was a major collaborator on Kanye’s groundbreaking Cruel Summer album in 2012, and shared multi-platinum success with Kanye on the Grammy®-nominated “Mercy” (also featuring Pusha T and 2 Chainz), and “Clique” (with Jay-Z). Sean’s Hall Of Fame album followed in 2013, including “Guap” (platinum) and “Beware” featuring Lil Wayne and Jhené Aiko (2x-platinum). Dark Sky Paradise (2015) was Sean’s first platinum and first album to debut #1 on Soundscan. It reigned on the charts with the #1 “IDFWU” featuring E-40 (6x-platinum), “Blessings” featuring Drake and Kanye West (3x-platinum), and “One Man Can Change the World” featuring Kanye West and John Legend (platinum). I Decided. (released Feb 2017, platinum) debuted at #1 on the momentum of the two pre-order instant great tracks that turned into smash singles, “Bounce Back” (5x-platinum with over 300 million streams globally), and “Moves” (2x-platinum). In 2020, he logged his third consecutive #1 debut on the Billboard Top 200 and fifth straight #1 entry on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart with the critically acclaimed Detroit 2.
Beyond selling out worldwide tours, the Detroit native was recently appointed Creative Director of Innovation for the Detroit Pistons. Sean has also made a successful foray into film/TV – starring in the animated film Dog Gone Trouble, which hit #1 on Netflix, as well as appearing in Lena Waithe’s comedy series Twenties on BET. Attracting an audience of nearly 50 million across channels, Sean leverages his platform to give back. He runs his own 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the Sean Anderson Foundation, which assists in the education, health, safety and well-being of school aged youth in underserved communities across the country.