Get Out the Count!

The census is the foundation of our democracy, fortifying the strength our society requires to meet such extraordinary moments as the one we face today. Accurately understanding our population helps us rise to the occasion in moments like these. 

Responding to the census is a way for residents to do their part in maintaining the functionality of our government and society, as population data will be pertinent during our recovery from this public health crisis. Results from the 2020 Census will be used to determine the number of seats each state has in Congress and your political representation at all levels of government.

Unfortunately, the Administration is planning to end door-to-door census enumeration and self-response operations September 30, a full month earlier than it announced when it modified the 2020 census timeline as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in the United States. 

In a letter signed by nearly 900 organizations, census stakeholders said the COVID-19 pandemic had seriously hampered census operations and “...Currently, there are low response areas in every part of the country, in every state, in every city. If remaining counting operations are not done well, communities most in need of resources to improve quality of life and standards of living will get the short end of the stick for the next decade.” 

Yet, we need to do all that we can for the next month to ensure our communities get counted! Remember, the Census count is now scheduled to end on September 30. 

TAKE ACTION!

1.     Take the Census 

·      Online at https://my2020census.gov/ (in 13 languages) or

·      By phone in English by dialing 844-330-2020 or in Spanish at 844-468-2020

2.     Get Out the Count! Please encourage your family and neighbors to respond! 

Let them know that Census participation will help ensure our communities get their fair share of funding for schools, hospitals, and other education and health programs we need for strong families.

3.     Staying in the Know from the US Census Bureau and the maps of the response rates

4.     Keep up to date on the latest at The Census Project or follow NPR’s Hansi Lo Wang

 5.     Learn more at The Census is Your Voice: What’s at Stake at Census Counts

6.     Share resources highlighting our diversity with friends and family

·      14 Asian Language animation videos

·      Pacific Islander videos in 11 languages

·      My Black Counts website

·      Hagase Contar (NALEO) website 

·      Latino Community Foundation’s campaign “to resist we must exist” video

·      Queer the Census website

·      Native People Count website

·      Disability Counts 2020 website has 9 videos in English, Spanish, and ASL

·      Yalla Count Me in! (for Arab Americans) website

Many of the resources were created in collaboration with organizations in California which had an unprecedented investment for outreach to the hardest to count populations.