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Housing Innovator and former Secretary of HUD Henry Cisneros is a living testament to American diversity and leadership. His inclusive vision of a strong, resilient society stretches beyond the boundaries of race and class.   Cisneros serves as Chairman of CityView, which produces high-quality workforce housing in cities for thousands of families. In 2004 he was named “Housing Person of the Year” by The National Housing Conference. He was recently inducted into the National Housing Hall of Fame.   In 1981 Cisneros was elected Mayor of San Antonio, becoming the first Hispanic-American ever to run a major American city. For four terms he helped rebuild the city’s economy, attracting high-tech industries, increasing tourism and creating tens of thousands of jobs. In 1993 President Clinton appointed him Secretary of HUD. Under his leadership homeownership in America reached record levels.   As president of Univision, he ran the fifth largest TV network in America. He was President of the National League of Cities and Chairman of the National Civic League. The youngest person ever to be named a White House fellow, Cisneros holds Masters and Doctoral degrees from Harvard and George Washington Universities. His latest book is Our Communities, Our Homes: Pathways to Housing and Homeownership in America’s Cities and States.

“Cisneros was excellent. He was forceful and articulate, and challenged the audience on all the right stuff, and received a sustained standing ovation at the end. He was also funny and charming, as usual. ”- Council of the Great City Schools