For 25 years, the Better Housing Coalition has been transforming lives and communities in the Richmond-Petersburg area by providing affordable housing with ongoing support services for residents. Those services include GED and computer training for adults, helping senior citizens apply for medical benefits and Social Security and programs for teens.

The group also “partners with other organizations who come in to give presentations on job opportunities,” said Stacie Birchett, spokesperson for the housing coalition.

The Richmond-based nonprofit organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary Thursday, May 21, at a Downtown hotel with a daylong event, “Transform RVA: A Day of Celebration, Education & Transformation.”

The event will feature an 11 a.m. luncheon with keynote speaker Henry Cisneros, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton.

At the luncheon, Golden Hammer Awards will be presented for excellence in neighborhood revitalization.

Several afternoon workshops will follow the luncheon, in- cluding “Wanted: Jobs That Make a Difference,” “Good Places to Live = More Successful Students,” “Home Is More Than a House: Liveable Communities,” “A Tale of Transportation: Connecting Job Seekers to Employers” and “Getting Better with Time: Housing for the Age Wave.”

A cocktail reception with jazz music will follow from 5 to 7 p.m.

Tickets are $100 for the full day and $50 for the luncheon only. Limited need-based scholarships also are available.

Information: www.betterhousingcoalition.org or (804) 644-0546.