The kids in BGCSM come from many different backgrounds, but when they enter any BGCSM club they all have one thing in common: They will be given an opportunity to succeed and chase their dreams. “We don’t coddle them, we say, ‘Here’s your opportunity,’ ” Wilson told rolling out. “And so if you want to step up, here is your opportunity, and 90% of them take it.”
And the scope of their influence goes beyond just music. For example, the Saturday evening reception for distinguished contributors to BGCSM and DON Weekend took place inside Detroit is the New Black, a local fashion boutique that features clothing made by adult Detroit designers, and by some of the kids who are members of BGCSM. This was made possible by BGCSM being the first and only Boys & Girls Clubs location in the United States to provide the “Industry Club” model, which provides paid workforce experience for young people interested in pursuing careers in fashion and merchandising, risk management, etc.
Such diversity is right in line with the city’s legacy of having worldwide impact across almost every industry, and because of the work that BGCSM, Big Sean, and the Sean Anderson Foundation are doing to raise young entrepreneurs, that legacy is in great hands for many years to come.
