EVENT: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro makes keynote address at the 2015 Reimagining Cities Conference hosted by the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.
WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015: Reimagining Cities conference: 8:15-11:45 a.m., Castro keynote address: 12:15 p.m.
WHERE: Lady Bird Johnson Auditorium (Castro speech), Bass Lecture Hall, LBJ School (morning sessions, Reimagining Cities Conference). Map and directions: http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/contact/map
WHO MAY ATTEND: Open to the public. Registration required: http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/events/2015/reimaginingcities2015
PARKING: Paid parking for the public is available in the San Jacinto Garage. Shuttles will provide transportation to the auditorium. Map: http://www.utexas.edu/parking/parking/garages/sjg.php
Attendees should allow ample time. We anticipate a large crowd.
Note: Media will receive parking instructions upon confirming attendance.
See Susan Binford’s contact information below.
Doors open to the auditorium at 11 a.m. A check-in list for media will be kept at the door of the auditorium. Access to the auditorium will be through the lobby of the LBJ School of Public Affairs or through the south doors of the auditorium.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Following his keynote address, Secretary Castro will hold a brief availability with members of the media backstage in the LBJ Auditorium. Members of the media covering the speech will be escorted to that location (approximately 12:50 p.m.). Contact Susan Binford, 512-415-4820, susan.binford@austin.utexas.edu, for more information and to confirm attendance.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow and share highlights with @thelbjschool @hudgov @SecretaryCastro #LBJHUD50 #hudat50
BACKGROUND: President Lyndon Johnson signed the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965, creating HUD as a Cabinet-level agency. To commemorate this pivotal 50th anniversary, the 2015 Reimagining Cities Conference will focus on forward-thinking approaches to creating affordable housing and strong, sustainable neighborhoods; access to good jobs and schools; and innovative urban planning, issues of paramount importance not only in Austin, but across Texas and the country. HUD Secretary Julián Castro will deliver the conference keynote address to commemorate the historic legislative milestone.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler will open this year’s Reimagining Cities Conference at 8:45 a.m. in the Bass Lecture Hall. The first panel will begin at 9 a.m. “Keep Austin Housed: Closing the Affordability Gap” will be moderated by former Texas state Rep. Sherri Greenberg, LBJ School clinical professor and fellow of the Max Sherman Chair in State and Local Government. Panelists will include Mandy De Mayo, executive director, HousingWorks Austin; Carl Richie, chair, Board of Commissioners, Housing Authority of the City of Austin; Garrett Martin, CEO, Milestone Community Builder; and Paul Saldaña, member, Board of Trustees, Austin Independent School District.
The second panel will begin at 10:30 a.m. “Purpose Built Communities: Changing Neighborhoods. Changing Lives” will feature a discussion about innovative community development spotlighting the Purpose Built Communities model in use in Fort Worth and Houston. This holistic framework is an extension of HUD’s early 1990 projects, and currently several Purpose Based Communities participate in HUD’s Promise Zone program. Purpose Built Communities President Carol Naughton will moderate the panel with guests Olis Simmons, executive director, Youth Uprising, Oakland, Calif.; Larry Tubb, board chair, Renaissance Heights United, senior vice president, system planning, Cook Children’s Healthcare System, Fort Worth; and the Rev. Carl Pointer, board member, Renaissance Heights United, Fort Worth.
MORE ON JULIÁN CASTRO AND HUD:
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/about/principal_staff/secretary_castroSECR
MORE ON THE HISTORY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HUD BY PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON:
http://www.lbjlibrary.org/mediakits/hud/ (You will note there is reference to an evening event at the Library. This is a private, invitation-only event.)
