Print EmailPROFILE

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 Executive Chairman of CityView, which focuses on urban real estate, in-city housing and metropolitan infrastructure. Working with municipal leaders and local organizations he is building a broad range of development projects in urban cities across the country. His commitment to urban revitalization has lead to the building of 40 communities in 12 states.   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.   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. Cisneros remains active in non-profit and civic leadership. He is a member of the advisory boards of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Broad Foundation. He has served as President of the National League of Cities and Deputy Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Cisneros holds Masters and Doctoral degrees from Harvard and George Washington Universities   In 2006, Cisneros was named one of the 50 most influential people in the real estate industry. In 2007, he was inducted into the National Association of Homebuilders "Builders Hall of Fame" and honored by the National Housing Conference as the "Housing Person of the Year."   Cisneros has written several books: Interwoven Destinies: Cities and The Nation and Our Communities, Our Homes: Pathways to Housing and Homeownership in America's Cities and States. His book with former HUD Secretary Jack Kemp, Opportunity and Progress: A Bipartisan Platform for National Housing Policy, was presented the Common Purpose Award for demonstrating the potential of bipartisan cooperation. His most recent book, Latinos and the Nation's Future, explores the demographic growth of the Hispanic population and its impact on American life.   He has appeared on such programs as CNBC's Fast Money and Fox Business Network and has been profiled in major publications, including The New York Times.

“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