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Carter McDowell

Co-Founder, Emeritus Member

Carter McDowell has spent her adult life working to better the lives of her more vulnerable fellow citizens in and around her native city of Richmond. In 1988, she joined Mary Tyler McClenahan in starting the Better Housing Coalition (BHC) which has resulted in the revitalization of many communities in Greater Richmond, Virginia and better lives for thousands of citizens who call a BHC community home.

Carter was the first director of BHC and was instrumental in hiring BHC’s first CEO, TK Somanath in 1990. For the past 27 years Carter has served as BHC’s most committed volunteer, and the region’s most vocal advocate for high-quality, affordable housing. Mrs. McDowell holds a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University.