Laura Lafayette, vice chair of the Better Housing Coalition’s Board of Directors and CEO of the Richmond Association of REALTORS®, wove together BHC’s past and present in a presentation to members and guests of The Woman’s Club (TWC) in Richmond on Monday, March 11.  During her presentation, Ms. Lafayette illustrated how BHC fulfills its mission of changing lives and transforming communities in the Greater-Richmond area.

Two Woman’s Club members, Mary Tyler McClenahan and Carter McDowell, founded BHC in 1988 to address the critical shortage of affordable housing in our community.  A news report of a Richmond boy living in poverty motivated Ms. McClenahan, who quickly recruited her friend Ms. McDowell.  Ms. McClenahan chaired the Board of BHC until TWC member Lissy Bryan (now immediate past chair) assumed the post in 1999.  Many other TWC members have helped BHC along the way, including Bobbie Ukrop, who served three Board terms, and Virginia Totten, whose volunteerism rivaled that of full-time staff. We honor the vision and determination of all of the women and men who have helped BHC make a positive difference in Greater Richmond communities for the past 25 years.

Click the link next to the image to view the TWC presentation:

BHC Building Blocks Presentation to the Woman’s Club_3_11_13