Grassroots organizations vital to accurate census count

The House census subcommittee emphasized the importance of using grassroots organizations, state and local governments and businesses to ensure every individual is counted in the 2010 census.

The committee held a hearing to discuss outreach and promotion activities for the 2010 census count on Wednesday, Dec. 2.

Several MDN partner organizations are participating in these efforts to make sure each state obtains every benefit.

The 2010 census will help determine the distribution of an estimated $400 billion a year in federal funds to state and local governments. This includes more than $14 billion to Illinois every year. The Joyce Foundation’s press release states researchers predict Illinois will lose $12,000 in federal funds over the next ten years for each uncounted individual. Minorities, low-income, immigrant, children and non-English speaking communities have been undercounted in previous census’.

According to the Census Project Blog, groups representing hard-to-count populations are coordinating activities with the Census Bureau, while also working on their own to tear down significant barriers that keep millions of people from responding to the census.

Philanthropy also has teamed with states and municipalities, and pooled resources, to fund grassroots education and fill-out-the-form events. Examples include Count Me In! campaigns in Illinois, Long Island, New York City and Massachusetts, and collaborative initiatives in California, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon and Ohio.