City of Grand Rapids issued the following announcement on Sept. 14.
Community partners – including the Grand Rapids Complete Count Committee, Grand Rapids Public Schools, West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, West Michigan Asian American Association, PROACTIVE (People Reaching Out And Coming Together Increasing Voter Empowerment) and local social service agencies – gathered today to encourage residents to complete the census by the Sept. 30 deadline. They also announced a census drive in undercounted areas of Grand Rapids over the next two Saturdays.
The Complete Count Committee reports that roughly 26,000 Grand Rapids still have not participated in the census. That equals $470 million over the next 10 years that the community won’t get for schools, health care, roads and other vital services.
“We’re in the homestretch of the census, and there is a profound sense of urgency since our community will lose nearly a half of billion dollars if we don’t get everyone counted,” said Lou Canfield, Complete Count Committee liaison. “We’re running out of time, so we need all hands on deck to ensure we get a complete count.”
The Complete Count Committee plans to canvass Grand Rapids neighborhoods over the next two Saturdays, focusing on undercounted areas on the city’s southwest and southeast sides. Census workers and community volunteers will wear face coverings and practice safe physical distancing to visit households that haven’t participated in the census.
Volunteers are needed:
- 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 12 – Meet at 10 a.m. at National Supermarket, 1610 Clyde Park Ave. SW
- 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 19 – Meet at 10 a.m. at Garfield Park, 334 Burton St. SE
“We have a very short window to ensure that every father, grandmother, daughter, grandson, aunt, uncle and friend has been counted,” said the Rev. Willie Gholston II of First Community African Methodist Episcopal Church. “Our underserved communities are still at risk for going undercounted. If that happens, our community could miss out on millions of dollars in funding for the services that are so important to us.”
During today’s event, the partners reminded residents that the census takes only 10 minutes to complete and results in $18,000 for the community for each person counted. That’s broken down into $10,000 for health care, $2,600 for nutrition, $2,000 for education and training, $1,600 for housing and family assistance, $1,200 for transit and $600 for a range of other vital services.
The partners also stressed that the census is safe, confidential and does not ask about citizenship.
Burton Middle School Principal Mike Perez highlighted the importance of a complete count for school funding.
"One person counted equals 5,400 school lunches for our children over 10 years,” Perez said. “The count also determines the level of support for school programs such as Head Start. Please participate in the census today. Your 10 minutes helps to ensure our community and our schools don’t miss out on funding and resources.”
The event also featured a Grand Rapids family who completed the online census form onsite to demonstrate how easy it is to do.
“Once you answer nine simple questions, you’re counted – it’s that simple,” Canfield said.
Canfield asked for the community’s support to encourage friends, neighbors and loved ones to complete the census.
“It’s up to all of us to do our civic duty and complete the census at my2020census.gov for the good of our community,” he said.
Original source can be found here.
Source: City of Grand Rapids
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