The Maggie Walker Community Land Trust has appointed veteran real estate professional and civic leader John S. Finn Jr. to its board of trustees, it was announced in a statement from the group this week.

Finn, co-founder and chief operating officer of United Real Estate Richmond, brings nearly five decades of experience in real estate, affordable housing and community development. A fifth-generation real estate professional, he is known for championing efforts to expand homeownership, support small businesses and preserve Black real estate heritage across the region.

His appointment supports the trust’s mission to provide affordable housing and build generational wealth, especially for families historically excluded from homeownership.

“Maggie Walker believed in using financial tools to empower families and neighborhoods,” Finn said. “I’ve always viewed her legacy as a blueprint for using real estate to build wealth and create lasting change. It’s an honor to serve a mission now so deeply rooted in her life’s work.”

Finn and his brother acquired the historic Robinson-Harris & Co. in 2018, Central Virginia’s oldest Black-owned business and one that once served Maggie L. Walker herself. The firm now operates as a subsidiary of United Real Estate Richmond, the largest Black-owned real estate brokerage in Virginia.

Named for Richmond trailblazer Maggie Lena Walker — the first Black woman in the U.S. to charter a bank — the land trust develops and preserves affordable housing through a community land trust model. Homes remain affordable not only for initial buyers but for future owners as well, creating long-term impact.

To date, the organization has created or preserved more than 100 homes in Central Virginia.

“Mr. Finn’s deep commitment to equity and community-driven development makes him an ideal steward of Maggie Walker’s legacy,” said Dr. Mae Worthey-Thomas, the trust’s CEO. “His insight and contribution will strengthen our ability to protect affordability, promote homeownership and empower families across the Richmond region.”