» VISIT US ONLINE @ DSNEWS.COM
61
Call him what you will. Call him the HUD Secretary.
Call him the face of the Democratic Party. Call him a
determined man with a vision for making America a better
country for the next generation.
Whatever you call him, Julián Castro is
a man impressively comfortable in his own
skin with a disarming conversational quality,
equally at ease whether discussing national
housing policy or how he enjoys spending time
with his family.
In many ways, he comes across as a "regular
guy" despite the lofty cabinet-level position
he holds in the Obama Administration.
He beamed when he recounted the joy of
playing with his 6-year-old daughter, Carina,
and 1-year-old son, Cristian, and watching
television with his wife, Erica. "We probably
have like 500 channels," he admitted while
declaring his affinity for old movies. He said he
still tries to get exercise by playing basketball
when he can, and that eventually he wants to
get back into collecting sports cards when he
gets a little more time in his life. You know …
regular guy stuff.
In our time together, the charm, charisma,
and passion that Castro undeniably possesses
permeated his every word as he discussed what
he believes to be his life's work—the work of
ensuring that America remains the land of
opportunity for everyone.
As we sat together in a makeshift greenroom
after a speaking engagement, Castro's
confidence never wavered while he discussed
the uphill battles that housing in America
faces: not only is the homeownership rate at its
lowest level in decades, but many millennials—
the demographic that has repeatedly been
cited as critical to the health of housing—are
delaying the purchase of a home for a variety of
reasons, namely the inability to save for a down
payment. He is focused with an eye single to
the goal of improving America by improving
the lot of Americans through housing.
COVER
STORY
SUCCESS
PROFILE
INDUSTRY
INSIGHT
THE RISE OF
JULIÁN CASTRO:
THE HUD SECRETARY IN
HIS OWN WORDS
