ABOUT LIFEBUILDERS
The challenges faced by the residents of Regent Park are far greater than can be solved by city or state government and are far too great to be ignored.
Our strategy is to empower the youth, make strategic investments to reduce the blight and abandonment and its effects on the lives of families and to build a strong community through resident engagement and shared values. We further believe that this can only be made possible through the extension of God's love and grace that is found in Jesus Christ.
The mission of LifeBUILDERS is to restore dignity and provide hope to the residents of Regent Park, a Northeast Detroit neighborhood. This is accomplished in three ways: by empowering our youth with life skills and providing opportunities to grow and learn in a safe environment, by reclaiming an entire neighborhood from the effects of disinvestment by providing high quality affordable housing, and by building a community of shared values, trust and hope for the future, all grounded in the truth of God’s Word.
LifeBUILDERS is a 501c-3 for impact organization.
ABOUT REGENT PARK
Decades ago, Regent Park was a thriving, working-class neighborhood in northeast Detroit.
It was home to many of Detroit’s firefighters, police officers and teachers. It was a 97 block neighborhood comprised of over 3000 homes filled with families and seniors. It boasted two public schools that brought education and opportunity to the neighborhood’s youth.
In recent years, Regent Park has become
known for its poverty and hopelessness.
Decades of disinvestment has plagued the community. The quality of educational alternatives, availability of safe, affordable housing, and even access to healthy food choices and good jobs has diminished along with public safety. Over 20% of those homes have been abandoned or occupied by squatters and often drug dealers. The greater 48205 zip code which includes Regent Park has been recognized as Detroit’s deadliest neighborhood. The two public schools are now boarded up and the high school graduation rate is less than 60%. Despite this decaying environment, the neighborhood is still teeming with children and youth. However, the hope and opportunity has faded.