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» VISIT US ONLINE @ DSNEWS.COM 63 to try and do something to help other people," Castro said. "I don't believe that helping people is a dirty word. I believe that if government is used right and understands its limits and also its possibilities, that you can make a real difference in public services. What drives me is 'What can we do to spark more opportunity in people's lives, given the limited role that we play in their lives?'" Community revitalization has always been at the heart of Castro's work. A year into his term as mayor, he launched SA2020, a non profit aimed at revitalizing San Antonio through civic engagement and community collaboration. SA2020's goal is to provide quality education and economic opportunities and sustainable natural resources for the city. e name is derived from the organization's vision of what San Antonio will look like in the year 2020. Castro's goal with SA2020 was not just to make San Antonio a better city, but to transform it into a strong, vibrant, thriving community to work and live. e success of the program gained Castro national attention, and he was invited to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina in September 2012. His stirring speech thrust him onto the national political stage, where he has since remained. HOUSING ACCORDING TO HUD One figure who took notice of Castro's rising star in the Democratic Party was President Barack Obama, who nominated Castro for his cabinet in May 2014. Castro was confirmed by the Senate and sworn in as the 16th Secretary of HUD in July 2014, just two months shy of his 40th birthday. "Julián is a proven leader, a champion for safe, affordable housing and strong, sustainable neighborhoods," President Obama said after Castro was confirmed as HUD Secretary. "I know that together with the dedicated professionals at HUD, Julián will help build on the progress we've made battling back from the Great Recession—rebuilding our housing market, reducing homelessness among veterans, and connecting neighborhoods with good schools and good jobs that help our citizens succeed." "What interested me when I was mayor was really revitalizing the urban core of the city, and that's also part of HUD's work—urban revitalization, and also smaller communities and tribal communities," Castro said. "I have a real enthusiasm about that part of it as well. I believe that we're living in this century of cities, where especially the younger generation likes the urban lifestyle. Companies and universities are moving back into the urban cores, and so it's an exciting time for America's cities. At HUD, we want to play a role in that, and this playspace work that we're engaged in is essential to lift up urban communities." In January 2015, six months into his "I don't believe that helping people is a dirty word. I believe that if government is used right and understands its limits and also its possibilities, that you can make a real difference in public services."