The 2020 Census goes live TODAY, the 12th. It has huge ramifications for our state and our communities. PLEASE, take a moment to go online to fill it out. It can make a huge difference.
Click HERE now. And then share with friends and family.
Also, Secretary of State, Nellie M. Gorbea is holding a live conversation (which will be archived) that answers many people’s questions about the Census 2020 and how to be involved from home.
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You may wonder why you should care about the census. So let’s talk about it.
The Census happens every 10 years. It is meant to give a snapshot of the current number of people in each community. It impacts how more than $675 billion in federal funds are allocated every year – funding for education, health care, affordable housing, employment and infrastructure, including in communities that are already under-resourced and too often ignored.
The fact is that new immigrants, people experiencing housing instability or homelessness, young children, people with disabilities and people pushed to the margins are often undercounted. Language barriers, fear of deportation or discomfort with the state due to systemic oppression, and other obstacles can also hinder participation.
There have been concerns about a push to include a citizenship question, which would have scared many immigrants from participating. Please, know that a citizenship question will NOT be included. Learn more from our friends at the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. There has also been extensive conversation about the LGBT community being counted.
The 2020 Census will not include specific questions about sexual orientation and gender identity, but for the first time, there will be specific checkboxes for same-sex couples to identify themselves in the question about how each person in the household is related to the person who filled out the questionnaire. The new census form will include separate categories for “opposite-sex” and “same-sex” spouses and unmarried partners. For more info, visit SAGE.
This year Rhode Island has a lot at stake. Without a complete count we could lose a congressional seat and some of our $3.8 billion dollars in federal funding. That is why you need to complete census 2020. It went live online TODAY (March 12th), so you can visit the 2020 Census website right now and get it taken care of!
TAKE ACTION – it takes just a few minutes to fill it out for yourself! After you complete the Census, we are asking you to help us get your friends and family counted.
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Send a text and/or post on social media.
Sample Message: The 2020 Census will determine if RI keeps one of our members of Congress and impacts funding for schools, healthcare and highways. PLEASE take 5 minutes now to fill it out online: http://www.2020census.gov/. Be counted! #getcountedRI -
Forward this email with a short note.
Sample note: Dear Friend, I just took a few minutes to fill out the Census online at http://www.2020census.gov/. It is really important that you join me. Did you know the numbers are used to decide about the federal funding we get in our state? It is a big deal and this year RI could lose a representative in Congress. Please, take a few minutes to fill it out and get your friends and family to. Not getting counted could truly hurt our state and communities!
The Census determines how political power and money from the federal government is distributed to our communities. We hope that you will make sure Rhode Islanders get counted (including YOU) by filling it out and sharing the info TODAY!