Julián Castro is chief executive officer of Latino Community Foundation, the nation's largest Latino-serving foundation. His deep commitment to the future of this nation is woven into his DNA. Raised by his mother, Rosie Castro, a civil rights and Chicana activist, and his grandmother Victoria Castro, on the west side of San Antonio, Texas, Julián grew up with a profound understanding of what it means to love and serve community. Inspired by the legacy of leaders working to safeguard our democracy and strengthen community, Julián has dedicated his life to public service.
Julián was elected to the San Antonio City Council in 2001 at age 26, then was elected mayor of San Antonio in 2009. He was the youngest mayor of a Top 50 American city and revitalized and transformed San Antonio into one of the country's leading economies. In 2014, President Barack Obama appointed Julián US secretary of Housing and Urban Development, where he served until the end of the Obama administration. In 2020, Julián ran for the Democratic nomination for president.
Julián earned a bachelor of arts degree from Stanford University and a law degree from Harvard Law School. His memoir, An Unlikely Journey: Waking Up from My American Dream, was published in 2018.
Julián is the proud father of a daughter, Carina, and son, Cristián. His brother, Joaquin, currently represents Texas's 20th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives.
