Big Sean’s D.O.N. Weekend (Detroit On Now) aims to celebrate all the neighborhoods that make Detroit great while paying tribute to the teachers, activists, business owners, community leaders and citizens who make it happen in the city. The five-day extravaganza will kick off on Thursday, June 21 with the Puma and Charles H. Wright Museum-sponsored Fashion Mogul Challenge and a Motown Museum fundraiser before concluding on Monday, June 25 with an invite-only shindig for students and their families. The Grammy Award-nominated rapper and songwriter wants to make the D.O.N. Weekend an annual event.
“I always love giving back to the city that gave me so much. I just want to start the summer off right and invite everybody in Detroit and the surrounding areas to come out and enjoy the festivities,” the “Pull Up N Wreck” rapper said in a statement.
All Detroiters are invited to get in on the fun Saturday, June 23 during the D.O.N Weekend’s free block party at the Ford Resource and Engagement Center. Complete with food trucks, basketball, and movies, the block party is open to the public. It is just one part of the festival’s community outreach events designed to give back to Detroiters, especially the youth. Big Sean’s fondness for Motor City youth has been interwoven throughout his already impressive career. From contributing $15K to help out homeless Wayne State students to recently surprising 900 DPS students with a free Black Panther screening, Big Sean is one of Detroit’s biggest advocates and one of hip-hop’s biggest philanthropists.
In addition to making an appearance at the Motown Museum’s $50M expansion benefit, during D.O.N. Weekend, the Cass Tech High school graduate is literally giving voice to improving the enrollment rates in Detroit Public Schools. DPS is tapping into Big Sean’s star power as the primary voice-over artist for an upcoming marketing video promoting student enrollment, premiering this summer.
According to the Detroit Free Press, declines in student enrollment have hit the district hard to the tune of a 71 percent drop over the last 15 years. It is the district’s hope that the Billboard Music Award nominee’s involvement will be the extra boost needed to elevate the city’s aggressive marketing campaign to revitalize Detroit schools. In 2013, the artist, who is sometimes known as Sean Don, played an integral role in DPS’ back-to-school initiative. His participation in this year’s push is just another shining example of his commitment to the Motor City.
For more information on the D.O.N. Weekend, visit www.donweekend.org. Follow Big Sean and the Sean Anderson Foundation on social media at @bigsean on Instagram and Twitter, @uknowbisean on Facebook and @seanandersonorg on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
D.O.N. Weekend schedule of events
June 21
Fashion Mogul Challenge (event not open to the general public), 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
The Motown Jam, 7 p.m., Motown Museum, 2648 W. Grand Blvd.
June 22
Fashion Mogul Challenge (event not open to the general public), 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
June 23
Block Party, noon-10 p.m., Ford Resource and Engagement Center Eastside, 15491 Maddelein, Detroit
June 24
Occupy the Corner Detroit, 5 p.m., Dueweke Park, 4975 Sheridan, Detroit
June 25
3rd Annual L.I.T.E. Fest (invite-only for students and families), 4-11 p.m., West Riverfront Park
