Q&A with Larry Johnson, Executive Director and Founder of Life Builders

The following interview was conducted by Win Warfield of citybiz.co on October 14th, 2025

Larry Johnson never expected to end up on Detroit’s northeast side, transforming one of the city’s most challenged neighborhoods. After successful business careers and what many would call realizing the “American dream,” Larry and his wife Marilyn began volunteering, starting with a Thanksgiving dinner at a local rescue mission. That simple act sparked a journey that led to the founding of LifeBUILDERS, a nonprofit that has spent nearly two decades changing the Regent Park community. Despite skepticism from friends and family, the Johnsons moved into the neighborhood, answering a calling to bring hope, housing, and the love of Christ to those who needed it most.

LifeBUILDERS has been working in Regent Park since 2005. Can you share the story behind how it all started, and what inspired you to take that first step into a neighborhood so heavily impacted by crime and disinvestment?

We had experienced what many would call the “American Dream.” By our mid-40s, we were in a position where we didn’t have to work for the rest of our lives. We were blessed beyond measure, and when we were together, we knew that was what mattered most. During that season, the Lord stirred in our hearts to simply say “yes” to serving, helping, and giving wherever He led us. For about 10 years, we were involved in incredible ministries, witnessing God at work and finding deep fulfillment.

But over time, we realized something was missing as we weren’t totally vested. We were living in the shallow end of the pool of serving. Whenever we grew tired, or when a ministry began flourishing, we felt free to step away and move on, and we did. We weren’t vested anywhere. Then, through the encouragement of two couples in ministry, we were challenged to devote ourselves to one thing for the rest of our lives and see what God might do.

We didn’t have to look far. In the early 2000s, Detroit was calling. The needs were overwhelming, and it was clear something was deeply broken. We sensed God prompting us to step in, not for a season, but for the rest of our lives. That’s when we said “yes” to Detroit, and we jumped in with everything we had. LifeBUILDERS was born out of that commitment: to be present, to be faithful, and to let God use us in a place where the need was great.

Regent Park was once labeled Detroit’s most dangerous zip code. In what ways has LifeBUILDERS helped to change the narrative and reality of this community over the past 18 years?

It sure was! When hope disappears, everything declines. That’s exactly how we found the community: filled with despair, abandonment, and hopelessness. Honestly, we were naïve to the depth of what blight and crime could do to a neighborhood. And in a way, that was a blessing. If we had stopped to think about it too long, we might never have started. Instead, we just did what was obvious and began advocating for justice and putting our hands to the work in front of us.

Progress was slow, but we were all in. There was no turning back. Our hopes, our future, even our long-term security were tied to what God was unfolding here.

And over time, the shift began, not just in the physical environment, but in the spirit of the neighborhood. We cannot underestimate the power of hope. People started to see that someone cared, that someone believed Regent Park could be greater. That brought hope back.

I’ll never forget residents telling us, “I was going to move, but I decided to stay because of what you’re doing.” Those words reminded us that this was bigger than us, it was about building a new narrative for the entire community. We shouted from the rooftops for help, and over the years, people responded. It has been incredibly hard work, but today Regent Park is no longer defined by crime and despair. It’s a place of resilience, faith, and hope for the future.

One of LifeBUILDERS’ key goals is to “reclaim the neighborhood.” What has the process looked like for acquiring and rehabilitating over 80 homes, and how has that transformation affected the people who now live there?

In the beginning, it felt like two steps forward and three steps back. There were break-ins, squatters, drug dealers. We bought homes however we could — through auctions, foreclosures, or direct purchase — just to get dangerous, vacant properties off the streets and begin restoring them. We advocated for and were successful in getting funding to our neighborhood to deal with the blight and abandonment on a larger scale.

The work was slow and costly. Contractors were reluctant to take jobs in Detroit, and the math rarely made sense as you could spend $60,000 on a house that might only sell for $30,000. But we believed in the long-term vision. Over time, partners came alongside us, and hope began to spread. What they saw, I’m not sure. Perhaps it was that we were serious and passionate about the work, and we were going to see it through.

I’ll never forget one retired police officer who told us he and his wife had planned to leave, but after seeing our work, they stayed 15 more years and sold their home for five times what it was worth before. Or the neighbors who cheered when we bought the vacant house next door.

Today, more than 80 rehabilitated homes later, the real transformation is not just in the buildings, it’s in the families who chose to stay, rebuild, and believe in Regent Park again.

You’ve placed a strong emphasis on youth empowerment. What kinds of programs does LifeBUILDERS offer young people in Regent Park, and how have you seen lives transformed as a result?

When we first came to Regent Park, it was clear that the young people here had been deprived of opportunities; educationally, spiritually, and vocationally. We made it our mission to change that.  Over the years, we’ve built a range of programs: after-school activities, summer camps, retreats, sports, job training, and actual job placements. The kids were so hungry for someone to care that they would show up an hour early for our evening programs, just to sit and wait.

One of the greatest challenges in our community is poverty as nearly 35% of residents live at or below the poverty line. For many kids, that means access to quality education and enrichment opportunities is out of reach. To help break that cycle, we’ve partnered with Parkway Christian School in Sterling Heights for over a decade, sending as many as 20 children each year on scholarship. We provide transportation, Parkway provides education, and parents are encouraged to engage.

The transformation has been remarkable. I remember taking a group of students to visit one of our board members’ dental offices. A young girl looked around and asked, “I could be a dentist?” That moment of vision changed her path, and she went to college. She didn’t pursue dentistry, but she pursued a future she once couldn’t imagine. That’s what empowerment looks like: creating hope, expanding vision, and giving kids the consistency they need to dream bigger.

Building community is another core mission of LifeBUILDERS. How have you worked to rebuild trust and relationships in Regent Park, and what impact have you seen from these efforts?

Rebuilding community in Regent Park has meant addressing both the physical and relational heart of the neighborhood. Early on, we saw the old Tracy McGregor school and abandoned park as symbols of decay. It was an epicenter of criminal activity; a place families couldn’t use. We believed that if those spaces could be transformed, they could become the epicenter of community life instead.

Over time, with help from suburban partners, foundations, and grants from both the private and public sector from groups like Kresge and the city, we revitalized the park, tore down part of the school, and built an early childhood education center. At the same time, we secured funding to make improvements to seniors’ homes, repairing porches, driveways, and other critical needs. In just a few years, we completed about 60 of those projects, in addition to rehabilitating dozens of vacant homes.

As these visible changes took shape, trust began to rebuild. People felt safer, more hopeful, and more willing to get engaged. What was once a place of despair began to look and feel like a neighborhood again, a community where people could put down roots, raise their families, and believe in a brighter future.

LifeBUILDERS began as a deeply personal calling for you and Marilyn, and your family has been closely involved in the journey. As you look to the future, how are you thinking about the next chapter of leadership, particularly when it comes to your family’s role in carrying the mission forward?

In the beginning, our family wasn’t fully on board with the extent of our commitment. Our son in California thought it was fine when we were leading Bible studies or buying a few houses, but when we decided to leave Grosse Pointe and move into Regent Park, he thought we’d lost our minds. Over time, though, each of our kids found ways to step in. David took the lead in housing development, Chris poured into youth programming, and our grandchildren grew up serving alongside us.

Now, as Marilyn and I enter our later years, we’ve been intentional about planning for the next chapter of leadership. We didn’t want to wait too long, as we’d seen others do, and risk holding on when it was time to pass the baton. For years, we prayed about who could carry this mission forward. The answer came close to home. Our grandson, who had been serving with us since he was young, is now stepping into the executive director role, and we’re walking with him through that transition.

For us, the future of LifeBUILDERS isn’t just about family; it’s about shared values taking root in the community. We’ve seen neighbors, young people, and even children step up to serve and lead in ways that continue to surprise and inspire us. That’s what gives us confidence that the mission will not only continue but grow.

With more than $17 million invested and over 6,000 lives impacted, what are some personal stories or testimonials that continue to remind you why this work matters so much?

When I think about the impact of LifeBUILDERS, it’s not the numbers that move me most, it’s the faces and stories. I’ll never forget a little boy we saw playing in our park one evening. We had been discouraged after hearing reports of drug activity in the area, but when we pulled up, he came running over with a football in his hand and a huge smile on his face. He looked at me and simply said, “Thank you for making this park for us.” That moment reminded me exactly why we’re here.

Another time, two teens from our youth program asked if they could help shovel snow. Honestly, I doubted they’d show up, but the next morning, there they were at 9 a.m., coats and gloves on, ready to work. When I paid them, they told me they were going to get haircuts. Later, they shared they had gone to Target instead, bought clippers, and decided to cut each other’s hair, and even make a little money helping others. That kind of resourcefulness and determination humbled me.

And then there was a young man who asked for one of our LifeBUILDERS sweatshirts. I hesitated but gave him one. Later, I learned he didn’t wear it, he hung it on his wall, because to him it represented hope and belonging.

These are the reminders that keep us going. This work is about restoring dignity, sparking hope, and helping people believe in what’s possible again.

What’s next for LifeBUILDERS? What are your future goals for the organization and for the neighborhood you’ve served so faithfully?

In many ways, we feel like we’re just getting started. There’s still so much to be done in Regent Park, and we’re committed to scaling our work through deeper partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies. Right now, we have more than $50 million in proposed projects aimed at expanding affordable housing, an investment that would transform the most economically stressed parts of our neighborhood.  We are always full of vision and hope. We believe things can be greater still.

At the same time, we’re doubling down on youth empowerment. Our programs are already reaching into local schools, where we’re not only serving students but encouraging teachers and staff who are on the front lines every day. We’re also finding new ways to maximize our existing assets, like turning our 7 Mile property into a sports practice field for local Police Athletic League football and cheer teams.

Looking ahead, our goal is to make Regent Park a model of what a restored community can look like: a place where housing, education, faith, and opportunity come together to bring lasting transformation. We believe this holistic, Christ-centered approach can inspire hope not only here, but in neighborhoods across Detroit and beyond.