Locus to Celebrate 20th Anniversary in Richmond with Focus on Housing, Partnership and Community Investment
The November 16th celebration at the Branch Museum will connect two decades of lessons with the next chapter for Virginia communities.
For Immediate Release
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Media Contact: Beverly Bobb or Anne McLuckie
RICHMOND, Va. — November 12, 2027 — Locus will celebrate its 20th anniversary on November 16, 2026, at the Branch Museum, 2501 Monument Avenue in Richmond. The event will bring together community leaders, investors and partners to explore how housing and community-focused capital can strengthen Virginia’s local economies. The program runs from 1 to 4 p.m. EST, with a celebration reception beginning at 4 p.m., access must be confirmed.
Founded in 2006 as Virginia Community Capital, Locus works with community partners to expand access to capital and advance locally driven opportunities. The Richmond celebration will reflect on that history while looking ahead to the partnerships and investment approaches needed for the next chapter.
The program will feature reflections from Locus President and CEO Pravina Raghavan; a discussion of housing as economic infrastructure with Greta Harris, Mark Johnson and Brian Koziol; and an investment spotlight on 712 High Street in Petersburg with Robbie Franklin and Michael O’Hare. A rapid-fire conversation, “20 Years / 20 Lessons: Unlocking Capital,” will feature Michelle Nelson, Nathalia Artus and Dr. Tamarah HolmesLocus President and CEO Pravina Raghavan adds, “For 20 years, our partners have shown what is possible when we listen to local needs, design capital around the challenge and work together. Our next chapter is about putting those lessons to work at greater scale—supporting more affordable homes, clean energy, stronger food systems and thriving community institutions.”
The Next Chapter: Putting the lessons to work at greater scale
Why now. Demand is growing amid housing affordability challenges, climate resilience needs, and barriers to capital and economic opportunity.
Strategic direction. Locus will put more capital to work and build the institutional strength to sustain it, serving more borrowers and reaching communities it cannot support at its current scale. Success will be measured by what growth makes possible: affordable homes, clean energy, stronger food systems, and thriving businesses, nonprofits and community facilities.
Housing preservation brings the lessons together. Losing an affordable home can mean losing access to work, school and support networks, and communities lose urgently needed housing and the lasting benefit of public investment. The Virginia Affordable Housing Preservation Coalition connects timely information, financing and partners ready to act. The planned Housing Preservation Strike Fund is a financing tool to help act before affordable homes are lost. The approach returns to three lessons: listen to local needs, design capital around the challenge, and bring partners together.
A partner communities can count on. Locus will grow with care by continuing to listen and adjust, investing in people and systems, and stewarding resources responsibly. Staying power is part of the mission.
An invitation to shape what comes next. Staff and board will bring ideas and judgment, share learning and guide responsible growth. Investors and philanthropic partners can put capital behind community opportunities through investments, deposits, grants, and credit enhancements. Public officials and community and business partners can identify financing gaps, connect Locus with local leaders, and help design responses that fit. The celebration will invite participants to consider one question: “What opportunity in your community could we help move forward together?” Twenty years of confidence in communities have become homes, businesses, services, and opportunities. Locus thanks everyone who has helped build the organization and invites them to help shape what comes next. Registration and a gallery walk begin at 1 p.m., followed by community conversations from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The program will examine housing’s connection to workforce participation and community stability, the role of mission-driven development in neighborhood revitalization, and lessons in mobilizing capital across banking, philanthropy and the public sector.
Space is limited, and an RSVP is requested. For registration information, visit RSVP Here. Members of the media should contact Beverly Bobb, Chief of Staff and Anne McLuckie, Digital Marketing Manager to request attendance information or interviews.
About Locus
Locus was founded in 2006, and what began as $15 million in assets has grown to more than $640 million today. Locus is the parent organization of Locus Bank and Locus Impact Fund, both certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). The mission of Locus is to create access to capital by developing community partnerships and innovative tools that tackle systemic challenges and advance opportunities. To date, Locus has achieved $5 billion in total impact across the housing, energy, food systems, and community health sectors.
Locus impact report: https://locusimpact.org/about/annual-report/
Locus website: locusimpact.org
Event photos available upon request.
Media Advisory and Event at a glance: https://locusimpact.org/media-advisory/
###
Media Advisory and Event at a Glance
Coverage invitation: Locus’s 20th anniversary celebration will explore housing, community investment, the partnerships that connect capital with local opportunity, and what comes next for Locus.
What: Locus 20th anniversary celebration in Richmond.
When: November 16, 2026; 1–4 p.m.; reception begins at 4 p.m. EST.
Where: Branch Museum, 2501 Monument Avenue, Richmond, Virginia.
Who: Locus leadership and speakers from housing, banking, philanthropy, community development and the public sector.
Why cover it: A Richmond-based conversation connecting housing and economic opportunity with a Petersburg investment spotlight and 20 years of community finance lessons.
RSVP: Space is limited, and an RSVP is requested. For registration information, visit RSVP Here.
Media attendance and interviews: Contact Beverly Bobb, Chief of Staff bbobb@locusimpact.org and Anne McLuckie, Digital Marketing Manager amcluckie@locusimpact.org for interview windows and access restrictions.
Arrival: Registration and gallery walk begin at 1 p.m., followed by community conversations from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Press/Media check in will be located at the registration desk.
Note: Interview availability, filming permissions, and reception access must be confirmed with the media contact.