Pope Francis Center to Honor Arthur Jemison and Lear Corporation at 2025 Building Bridges Gala

DETROIT, Mich., April 30, 2025 — James Arthur Jemison and Lear Corporation will be honored for their community leadership and contributions to Detroit at Pope Francis Center’s 2025 Building Bridges Gala on May 8.

Jemison, who goes by Arthur, was a leading Detroit housing official who returned to the city last year as executive director of the Detroit Housing Commission. Southfield, Mich.-based Lear, led by President and CEO Ray Scott, is a global automotive supplier with a long history of community engagement and investment. 

“We are so lucky to have visionary, dedicated leaders and corporate partners committed to making a difference for Detroit residents, especially those struggling with homelessness and finding an affordable way to live in our city,” said Fr. Tim McCabe, SJ, president and CEO of the Pope Francis Center (PFC). “We are proud to honor Arthur, as well as the team led by Ray, for all they have done to serve those in our community who need help.”

Jemison, a seasoned 30-year veteran in planning, development and affordable housing, has worked at the city, state and federal levels, often in roles focused on organizational reform. Jemison came to Detroit in 2014 as the founding director of the Housing and Revitalization Department. He later served as group executive overseeing Detroit’s Planning, Housing and Development departments, where his teams preserved and invested in thousands of housing units in the city, completed several strategic neighborhood plans and elevated homelessness work. This includes permitting work on Michigan Central Station, the Stellantis expansion and the new Amazon facilities in the city.

In 2021, Jemison moved to Washington D.C. when the Biden administration named him principal deputy assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He led the Office of Community Planning and Development, stewards of more than $10 billion in Federal Community Development and Disaster Recovery funding (CDBG), HOME and homelessness funds. He was also the president’s Senate nominee to be HUD’s assistant secretary for Public and Indian Housing. Before his move to Detroit last August, he spent two years as chief of planning for the City of Boston and director of the Boston Planning and Development Agency, leading the teams that transformed the quasi-public agency to a city department, completed five neighborhood zoning plans and permitted 40 million square feet of new development.

Lear is a technology leader in automotive Seating and E-Systems. Founded in Detroit in 1917, Lear has more than 170,000 employees and annual revenues of more than $23 billion. 

The company has made supporting local communities where it does business a key priority, focusing on economic well-being, education and the environment. Its support includes investing in infrastructure improvements and community-based programs for children and families in Detroit. 

In addition, Lear employees globally log more than 33,000 volunteer hours a year on community projects. In Michigan, Lear employees donate nearly $1 million to nonprofits annually through Lear’s Operation GIVE campaign.

Lear was also a major contributor to PFC’s Bridge Housing Campus, a breakthrough facility that opened last year to transition people from chronic homelessness to supported independent living. 

The Building Bridges Gala raises funds for PFC’s daily operations of providing nutritious meals and support services to more than 200 people six days a week from its location on St. Antoine Street in Detroit. Funds from the event will also support Bridge Housing Campus operations. The event will take place on the playing field of Ford Field in Detroit. 

Click here for photos of Arthur Jemison, Lear Corporation logo and Fr. Tim McCabe.