Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro is set to lead the nation's largest Latino philanthropic organization, the Latino Community Foundation (LCF), starting in 2024. The San Francisco-based foundation announced the leadership change on Wednesday, marking a new chapter for the group and the former 2020 presidential candidate. Castro, who also boasts experience as the former mayor of San Antonio, will take over the role of CEO from Jacqueline Martinez Garcel.
Castro is looking to not only continue but also "supercharge" the efforts of his predecessor in growing the foundation's endowment. "Jacqueline has done a phenomenal job of growing the endowment over the years,” Castro stated in an interview, as reported by the Express News. Delving into the foundation's mission, he emphasized the intertwined destinies of America and its Latino community, which accounts for 19% of the nation's population and is its fastest-growing racial and ethnic voting bloc. Castro noted, "Only if Latinos do well can the country as a whole do well because more than 25% of the kids in this country are Latino."
The foundation, established in 1989, has been a significant player in Latino-led nonprofit support, investing over $29.6 million into more than 400 grassroots organizations across California. Additionally, LCF has raised $97 million to fortify Latino civic and political power, according to the foundation. With Castro at the helm, the aim is to broaden the organization's impact beyond California, targeting states with sizable Latino populations as well as small rural communities across the nation.
"The Latino community doesn't just exist in states like California and Texas and Florida, it's all over the place now," Castro told the San Francisco Chronicle. He further elaborated on his vision for a national movement of Latino power building, aiming to create a "more inclusive and equitable America." Castro said he doesn’t plan to relocate to California but will frequently travel to oversee the foundation's initiatives.
The upcoming transition has raised questions about Castro's political future. While he failed to secure the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, he hasn't closed the door to a potential return to the political arena. "I’ve chosen not to get into politics right now. That doesn’t mean I never will in the future, but I’m currently focused on making this my contribution to making an impact on other people’s lives," Castro revealed. He emphasized, "So I never say never. And I may well consider that down the road, but the only thing I’m focused on right now is doing an excellent job at the Latino Community Foundation and helping to lift up other people that way.", as detailed by San Francisco Chronicles.
