The 2010 Census is approaching. The data collected by the Census is important to allocate funds to communities. Unfortunately, Latinos typically respond to the Census less often, which can hurt the overall amount of funding that comes into the communities where they live.  Below, you will find informationon why the census is important, and how you can become involved in getting your commnity counted.

 Here’s a look at why it is important for all US residents to complete the US Census:

• The US Census is safe and private.  Confidentiality of all responses is protected by law.  No Census employee may give away any information that can identify a respondent or household.  The Census is a count of all residents regardless of citizenship or immigration status.  No individual is identified.

• It’s important.  The Census data will affect the amount of federal and state government that comes into communities.  These funds are for community services like education, public health, and transportation.  The census provides insight into who is living where, and will determine where to build schools and roads, and where to locate other services.  The data is also used to make decisions about legislative representation.

• It’s easy.  The form will take about 10 minutes to complete and return by mail.

Source:  2010 US Census page

US Census Community Partner Meeting:

Please spread the word about the importance of the 2010 US Census.  Volunteers are needed to help promote within the Greater New Orleans Area Latino community.  We can’t afford to wait another 10 years to get correct count!  LatiNola volunteers and other community partners have come together to get their communities counted.  Become part of the solution by joining us Tuesday, October 20th, for a very important meeting with US Census Regional Partnership Specialist, Olga Aguilar. At this meeting you will learn fact from fiction, meet other community leaders preparing to work with us, create a plan for your neighborhood, or business, or network, and more.  All volunteers and community leaders interested in promoting the Census should make it a priority to attend. 

If you missed the October 20th US Census Community Partner Meeting, it is not too late to get involved.  For more information on how to get involved and get your community counted, contact Anna Frachou: afrachou@puentesno.org.

You can also inform yourself by reading the toolkits listed below:

The following three toolkits are now available on the 2010 Census Web site at http://2010.census.gov/partners/toolkits/

Toolkit for Communitiy-Based Organizations
Toolkit for Reaching Immigrants
Toolkit for Reaching Migrant Workers

Timeline for the US Census:

Fall 2009: Recruitment begins for census takers needed for peak workload in 2010.
February - March 2010: Census questionnaires are mailed or delivered to households.
April 1, 2010: Census Day
April - July 2010: Census takers visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail.
December 2010: By law, Census Bureau delivers population counts to the President for apportionment.
March 2011: By law, Census Bureau completes delivery of redistricting data to states.