Grammy-winning artist Usher has unveiled a new content studio at the Joseph B. Whitehead Boys & Girls Club in Atlanta. The studio is part of Usher’s Social Impact Tour, a nationwide initiative aimed at empowering young people in various cities.
“I’m happy that the work that I’ve put in has led me to become an inspiration to so many people,” Usher said. “The most important part of all of this starts with a spark. An idea. A concept that says, ‘I can have a definition and an idea of what I found passion in.’ And that’s really what New Look started. But the catch is it had to start somewhere before it became a spark. And what was that? The Boys & Girls Club.”
Over the past 100 days, the Social Impact Tour, in collaboration with Usher’s New Look (UNL) foundation, has reached more than 4,800 youth in 11 cities. The program offers career-focused workshops, wellness initiatives, and skill-building sessions in partnership with IBM, equipping young people with tools for success.
The president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club expressed hope that the new studio will inspire music careers and open other doors of opportunity for participants. The facility will provide hands-on training in the entertainment industry, giving youth valuable experience and exposure.
Usher’s efforts to support Atlanta’s youth coincide with his performances tonight and Thursday at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta.
Usher’s New Look® (UNL) is a non-profit organization that transforms the lives of under-resourced youth through a comprehensive program which develops passion-driven, global leaders. Founded in 1999 by Usher Raymond IV and his mother Jonetta Patton, who were inspired after witnessing the dire narratives of Atlanta teens in a courtroom. As a result, UNL was created to tackle systemic barriers that prevent teens from graduating from high school and college.
Since its formation, Usher’s New Look has become a catalyst for under-resourced youth around the world to find their spark (passion), graduate, and reach their full potential. With unique mentorship and leadership programming designed to help teens see past their circumstances, discover their potential and unlock their purpose, UNL is creating a global network of leaders. “To date, we’ve touched the lives of more than 50,000 youth!” S: New Look (UNL) foundation
