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California-Based Latino Community Foundation Names Julián Castro as New CEO Charged With Unleashing Latino Power Nationally
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The Latino Community Foundation (LCF)—the nation’s largest Latino-serving foundation—announced today that Julián Castro will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2024. Julián has dedicated his career to public service as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Obama administration, as Mayor of San Antonio prior to that, and most recently as a 2020 presidential candidate. Throughout his career, he has worked tirelessly to boost the upward mobility of Latino families, helping to improve educational opportunity, the availability of affordable housing and good-paying jobs to Latino communities.
Reflecting on his goals as incoming CEO of the Latino Community Foundation, Julián Castro stated:
“America’s destiny and the destiny of Latinos are intertwined like never before. Latinos represent 19% of our nation’s population, the fastest-growing racial and ethnic voting group, and a $2 trillion engine of our national economy. We’re in the driver’s seat of America’s future, but to unlock the full potential of Latino communities and our nation as a whole, we must invest more in Latinos and Latino-led organizations. My vision is for LCF to fund a national movement of Latino power building that results in a more inclusive and equitable America. As the son of a Chicana activist and the grandson of a Mexican immigrant, LCF’s mission is personal. As an American, ensuring the success of the 60 million Latinos living in our nation is simply imperative.”
Under the leadership of outgoing CEO Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, LCF has raised $100 million to unleash the civic and economic power of Latinos. LCF has led the philanthropic sector with its trust-based values and investments in Latino leaders and grassroot organizations. It has built the largest network of Latino philanthropists in the country and launched the first-ever Latino NonProfit Accelerator. The Foundation has worked with Latino leaders to leverage $700 million in federal funds these past years and ensure those resources yield an inclusive economy. LCF’s next endeavor is to both deepen the foundation’s footprint in California and bring its blueprint for social progress to Latinos across the country, with Julián at the helm.
“California and our Latino community is stronger today because the Latino Community Foundation prioritized and invested in grassroots organizations working to build the civic and economic power of Latinos,” said Latina civil rights activist and President of Dolores Huerta Foundation, Dolores Huerta. “I am excited that Julián Castro—a national leader with a track record of fighting for what’s right and uplifting the Latino community—will lead the organization into its next chapter. Julián embodies the drive, courage, and optimism of our people and understands that every issue is a Latino issue, which is critical given our community’s growing demographics, power and impact. I trust that he and LCF will continue to create lasting change for generations of Latinos to come.”
“Julián Castro has been a champion of communities of color and a trailblazer for the Latino community. His experience supporting and delivering for working people as Mayor of San Antonio and as a fellow member of President Obama’s Cabinet make him an excellent choice to lead the Latino Community Foundation,” said former Attorney General Eric Holder. “I have no doubt that under his leadership, LCF will uplift Latino communities nationwide and, in doing so, build powerful partnerships that advance Brown and Black communities alike.”
“The Latino Community Foundation’s work to uplift Latinos in California is critical, from their response to natural disasters to their support of immigrants and entrepreneurs,” said California Senator Alex Padilla. “Congratulations to my friend Julián Castro on his appointment as their next CEO. As a former big-city mayor and cabinet secretary, Julián brings the necessary experience and passion for supporting our communities to build upon the organization’s legacy. I have no doubt that under his leadership, the Latino Community Foundation will continue to be a driving force for positive change and addressing the unique challenges faced by the Latino community in California and beyond.”
“My congratulations to Julián Castro on his new role leading the Latino Community Foundation. Julián’s leadership of our nation’s largest Latino-focused foundation comes at a critical time when diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are being chilled by divisive legal and legislative threats,” said bestselling author, entrepreneur, and political leader, Stacey Abrams. “Throughout his career, Julián has demonstrated unwavering commitment to fostering and defending access and inclusion as a pathway to the American Dream. I am confident Julián will bring a renewed focus to expanding opportunity for the constituencies the Latino Community Foundation serves.”
“In California, diversity is our strength — Julián Castro’s work throughout the years exemplifies that. He’s used his voice at the highest levels of government to open the doors for Latinos. We look forward to working with him and the Latino Community Foundation,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom.
“Latinos have the power to safeguard our democracy and lead an economic renaissance for a more just, inclusive nation. Eight years ago, I made a commitment to build a foundation that would unleash that power in California,” stated Jacqueline Martinez Garcel. “Leading with love, power, and culture, we have demonstrated that investing in the solutions driven by our communities yields transformative change and impact for all. I can’t wait to see that impact ripple and scale across the country with Julián’s leadership. His story is the story of LCF—and he is the perfect leader to write the next chapter for this incredible organization.”
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The Latino Community Foundation is on a mission to unleash the civic and economic power of Latinos in California. LCF has the largest network of Latino philanthropists in the country and has raised $100 million to build Latino civic and political power. It is the only statewide foundation solely focused on investing in Latino youth and families in California. For more info, please visit: www.latinocf.org
JULIÁN’S BIO
Julián Castro served as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Barack Obama from 2014-2017. Previously, he was Mayor of his native San Antonio, Texas — the youngest mayor of a Top 50 American city at the time. In 2012, he gave a rousing keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention, during which he described the American Dream as a relay to be passed from generation to generation. In 2020, Secretary Castro ran for the Democratic nomination for President.
Most recently, he served as the Klinsky Visiting Professor from Practice at Harvard Law School during the 2022-23 academic year and as a Senior Research Fellow at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund’s Thurgood Marshall Institute in 2022. Since 2021, Castro has been an MSNBC/NBC News political analyst.
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Secretary Castro earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and a law degree from Harvard Law School. He is the proud father of Carina, 14, and Cristián, 8.