How to Engage Your Community for an Accurate 2020 Census Count
By An Le, Karuna Ramachandran, Brandon Lee, and Raima Roy
The census is a crucial tool used to allocate $800 billion in funding to states annually, draw district lines, allocate seats in the House of Representatives, and make our communities visible. With the United States having a population of more than 300 million people, making sure every person is counted is not a simple feat. This is why we need help from people in the community to get the word out and motivate community members to participate in the 2020 Census.
Facts and Figures from 2010 Census
The 2010 Census faced certain challenges that our communities must work to address in the next decennial census. For example, there were significant undercounts in the 2010 Census. Renters were undercounted by 1.1 percent compared to the net undercount of 0.57 percent overcount for homeowners. The historically undercounted group of children between the ages of 0 and 4 years were undercounted by almost one million.
Here is a percent of net undercount for person by state:
With knowledge of these issues, we must work to fill these gaps with awareness and education so undercounts within these populations are minimized.
New Challenges
There are going to be a new set of challenges and barriers for the 2020 Census that weren’t there in the last census. The census will be transitioning to an online format for the first time, which will likely impact participation among those who lack internet access and or literacy. In addition, the Census Bureau will also no longer fund Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QACs), which would have been a resource for community members to complete their forms online at local places such as libraries and community centers. Printed forms will only be available in English and Spanish, despite rates of limited English proficiency among AANHPI communities.
What You Can Do
With several gaps in the Census Bureau outreach plan, we need people in the community to step in. Take an opportunity to talk about the census with your family, friends, and members of your community to spread the message about the importance of the census. You can use resources on CountUsin2020.org to find factsheets and talking points.
Organizations can also sign up to become a Census Bureau partner and share resources that have been developed by the Bureau. Find out more and sign up.
To make sure the census is accessible to everyone, regardless of English proficiency, let community members know other ways they can get language assistance. Inform people about the Census Bureau’s telephone questionnaire assistance option and Mobile Response Initiative, where Bureau employees will be traveling around the country and to events such as state fairs or other events to give people the opportunity to fill out the census with their assistance. Since the Bureau will not be funding QACs, community organizations that already provide social services for their communities can host or help set up their own QACs. Organizations can work with local governments/stakeholders to prepare local libraries, county offices, or community clinics to host QACs.
Below is a timeline of when community organizations should raise awareness on the census and when census operations begin.
GOTC Timeline
Enumerator Program
Here is how community organization can engage their localities to engage in the census and what messaging tactics they can use to raise awareness and educate people on the census.
Establishes a Complete Count Committee which:
- Holds space for dialogue
- Educates about the chances to be expected
- Establishes marketing for census
- Shapes our communities’ narrative
Strategic Activities
- Train up the team
- Assess gaps in membership
- Develop a coordinated outreach calendar
- Multilingual marketing/outreach (event, media, social media, speakers bureau)
- Assist community members to complete the census form
- Connect to Census Bureau staff and state/county/local CCCs
- Create opportunities for community members to get hired
Most Effective Messages for AANHPI Communities
• Family — Census data is critical to our families’ future and the next generation. It helps us get the health care, transportation, schools, affordable housing, and higher education that our families need to get a good start and be successful.
• Family (Children Focus) — Census data is critical to our children’s future and the next generation. It helps us get the health care, transportation, schools, affordable housing, and higher education that our children need to get a good start and be successful.
• Resources — Census data is used to determine not only federal government funding for programs and services, but businesses also use it to decide where to invest and create jobs. Filling out the census makes sure that you, your family, and your community get a fair shot at those resources.
• Helped in Past — The 2010 census showed that in one major city, the Asian American community had doubled in the previous ten years. This led to a 50 million dollar increase in federal dollars for schools, hospitals, and services for our kids. Filling out the census can have real benefits for our community.
Big Takeaways for Working with Media
- Know your audience
- Know the outlets that they read or visit
- Know the journalists and editors who cover the Census
- Have an “angle” that’s relevant to the audience and outlet
Know the many different ways to engage with your audience:
- Proactive story pitch
- Op-ed or letter to the editor
- Booking memo
- Drop-in article
- Public service announcements
- Get creative!
Big Takeaways for Social Media
- Know which platforms are used by your audience
- Keep posts short and sweet
- Use video, photos, and shareable images
- Share any earned media your receive
- Tag partners, journalists, and news outlets
- Measure success!
- Facebook: Vary your content
- Twitter: Organize your Twitter storms
- Instagram: Use Stories to educate your audience
The census is an important tool for making sure our communities have they resources they need and a voice in our democracy. To ensure every community is counted, communities must take it among themselves to educate and raise awareness about the 2020 Census. With enumeration operations only four months away, it’s essential to make sure families know why the census is important now.
An Le, Esq. was the 2020 Census Statewide Network Manager for Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles, Karuna Ramachandran is the Deputy Director at Advancing Justice-Atlanta, Brandon Lee was the Communications Coordinator for Advancing Justice-Chicago, and Raima Roy is the Program Associate for Census and Civic Engagement at Advancing Justice | AAJC.
Find resources for your community at CountUsin2020.org! Be sure to also check out our new podcast, Count On Your Census!
