White House Office of Urban Affairs

President Barack Obama has established the in order to take a coordinated and comprehensive approach to developing and implementing an effective strategy concerning urban America. The principal functions of the Office are: 1) to provide leadership for and coordinate the development of the policy agenda for urban America across executive departments and agencies; 2) to coordinate all aspects of urban policy; 3) to work with executive departments and agencies to ensure that appropriate consideration is given by such departments and agencies to the potential impact of their actions on urban areas; 4) to work with executive departments and agencies, including the Office of Management and Budget, to ensure that Federal Government dollars targeted to urban areas are effectively spent on the highest-impact programs; and 5) to engage in outreach and work closely with State and local officials, with nonprofit organizations, and with the private sector, both in seeking input regarding the development of a comprehensive urban policy and in ensuring that the implementation of Federal programs advances the objectives of that policy. President Obama named Adolfo Carrion, White House Director of Urban Affairs and Derek Douglas, Special Assistant to the President for Urban Affairs.