Be Counted Michigan March Newsletter Released
Be Counted Michigan 2020 E-Newsletter
—March 2, 2020—
Welcome to the Be Counted Michigan 2020 E-Newsletter to highlight events,
resources and other useful information!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FIELD
As the 2020 U.S. census gears up nationwide, Grand Rapids residents will renew their role in the once-every-decade effort to get as complete a count as possible of how many residents are living in the city; and the nation by extension. “The importance really is about, ‘How does it affect me?’” emphasized Shannon Blackmon-Gardner, vice president of community impact at Heart of West Michigan United Way (HWMUW). “That’s the question that we’ve been getting asked from a lot of the residents in the community: ‘How does it affect me?’”
HWMUW is advancing its engagement with Grand Rapids residents about the census this year through taking on the responsibility of being the city’s first-ever Census Administrator Hub. With funding through Michigan Nonprofit Association, HWMUW is leading the effort of recruiting, organizing, and training local organizations, now totaling 18 in number, to be able to engage with those in their respective neighborhoods about how getting counted positively affects the lives of those in their neighborhood.
Read more here.
RESOURCES & INFORMATION
— U.S. Census Bureau
The Census Bureau has established the government’s first-ever “Trust & Safety” team to protect the 2020 count. This team will be tasked with preventing the spread of fake, false and inaccurate information that could negatively impact the 2020 Census participation and response. The Census Bureau strongly encourages individuals to report inaccurate, suspicious or fraudulent activities/information via email at rumors@census.gov; via social media accounts “@USCensusBureau”; or call the Census Bureau Customer Service Hotline at 1-800-923-8282. For more information on the new Trust & Safety team, please visit the US Census Bureau website.
The Census Bureau provides information about how to spot and/or avoid scams and fraud. That information can be found on the 2020 Census website. The AARP also has information specifically for senior citizens about how to avoid Census scams and fraud. That information can be found on their website.
— U.S Census Bureau Video Guides
The Census Bureau has released Video Guides for completing the 2020 Census in more than a dozen languages including Khmer, American Sign Language, Romanian, Punjabi, Lao, and more!
— March Action Calendar & Resources
Click here for March action calendar resources, including sample Letters to the Editor and Talking Points for phone banking.
EVENTS
— Event (TODAY!)
What: State of Michigan Census Town Halls
Date: March 2 | 4:00 PM- 5:30 PM (ET)
Location: Second Ebenezer Church | 14601 Dequindre, Detroit, MI 48212
Details: The State of Michigan has launched a series of Census 2020 Town Halls with the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State. For all the details about the state’s Census 2020 Town Halls, please visit the events page of the state Census 2020 website.
— Event
What: Michigan 2020 Census Town Hall
Date: March 2 | 4:00 PM- 5:30 PM (ET)
Location: Macomb Intermediate School District | 44001 Garfield Road, Room TBD, Clinton Township, MI 48038
Details: Please join us at the Michigan 2020 Census “Be Counted” Town Hall. This event will feature Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Michigan 2020 Census Director Kerry Ebersole Singh and Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel.
Learn more and register here.
— Event
What: Census Workshop for Service Clubs
Date: March 4 | 5:30 PM (ET)
Location: Community Foundation for Muskegon County | 425 W Western Ave, Ste 200, Muskegon, Michigan 49440
Details: Please join us for a light dinner, followed by a workshop to learn strategies that will collectively engage our communities and ensure a successful Census count. The event is FREE and open to all Muskegon County service clubs, neighborhood associations, and anyone else interested.
For more information about the event, please contact Jocelyn Hines 231-332-4118 or Amy Moore 231-332-4138.
— Event
What: Census Social Hour: A Happy Hour for Detroit's Young Leaders PT 3
Date: March 4 | 5:30 PM- 7:00 PM (ET)
Location: The Block | 3919 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201
Details: Join Leaders from the City of Detroit for an informal discussion on one of the hottest issues in the City right now, the 2020 Census! Find out how YOU can play a part in Detroit's revitalization. The time is NOW Detroit! Light refreshments and appetizers will be provided.
Learn more and register here.
— Event
What: Be Counted! Census 2020 Town Hall
Date: March 5 | 6:00 PM- 7:30 PM (ET)
Location: Chaldean Community Foundation | 3601 15 Mile Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48310
Details: Speakers include the following:
Martin Manna, President and CEO, Chaldean Community Foundation
Mayor Michael Taylor, Sterling Heights
Chief Dale Dwojakowski, Sterling Heights Police Department
John Paul Rea, Macomb County Deputy County Executive
Take a photo with our special guest, Sterling B. Mascot! All are welcome. Giveaways, snacks and refreshments will be available. For questions, contact Mirna at (586) 722-7253.
Learn more and register here.
— Event
What: City of Detroit Census 2020 Kick-Off
Date: March 14 | 11:00 AM (Doors Open at 10 AM)
Location:
Martin Luther King High School | 3200 E. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit 48207
Details: Join the City of Detroit Census Team and elected officials for a rally kicking off the 2020 census. You will be able to complete the census onsite and there will be raffles for those who do so. Volunteers will be able to pick up materials to distribute.
— Event
What: Tigers Count! Benton Harbor Community Fun Day & Census Celebration
Date: April 18 | 11:00 AM- 3:00 PM (ET)
Location: Union Park | 1250 Union Avenue, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Details: This free event is open to the public and will feature games, food, raffles, prizes, face painting, and an inflatable bounce house. Laptops will be on-site, with volunteers helping those interested in completing their Census form. Those who complete their form will be entered in a drawing for prizes.
Learn more and register here.
IN THE NEWS
— Poll: Most Americans plan to participate in census (WBNS-10TV CBS)
— Census Bureau reaching Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders through music (WWLP-22News, NBC affiliate)
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU JOBS
— The Census Bureau is ramping up its national recruiting efforts to hire up to 500,000 temporary,
part-time census takers for the 2020 Census in communities across the country. The positions offer competitive pay, flexible hours, paid training, and weekly paychecks. Read more here.
As we know, the timely recruitment and hiring of enumerators who have cultural competency, necessary language skills, and are local to communities where they will be going door-to-door is a key strategy to combat fear in communities. Encouraging people within hard-to-count neighborhoods to work for the 2020 Census can help ensure people in these communities hear from trusted voices when an enumerator comes to their door. The Census Bureau has received authorization to hire work authorized bilingual noncitizens – mainly to be enumerators - where the Bureau is not able to find enough citizens with the necessary language skills.
To help with these efforts, you may find the 2020 Census Recruitment Toolkit here. Additionally, the Census Bureau released a new interactive map to help partners and job seekers identify areas where hiring is taking place.