Adolfo Carrion leads President Barack Obama's urban initiatives. Smart City talked to him to find out what urban leaders can expect after his first year of organizing the new office and coordinating cabinet officials to develop new urban strategies.

As Director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs, his job is to bring long overdue attention to the urban areas where 80 percent of the American people live and work. He comes to the position with knowledge of cities earned in his two terms as Bronx Borough President. He served on New York's City Council, as an urban planner for the city, and as a public school teacher.