Oct 23rd, 2009
Safe & Sound has been implementing strategies to educate Milwaukee residents in the high-crime, low-income neighborhoods we serve about the importance of participating in the 2010 census. This is a very important concern. As a matter of fact, all community organizing groups receiving federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars, of which Safe & Sound is among, are required to help build awareness of the 2010 census.
The census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution to be done every 10 years with the goal of counting of everyone living in the United States, with the next one coming up in 2010. The City Milwaukee is a collaborative partner with the Complete Count Committee (CCC), whose mission is to count every Milwaukee resident in the 2010 census so that our community receives a fair allocation of government resources. Census data is used to distribute Congressional seats to states, to make to make decisions about community services, and to provide and to distribute $300 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year.
Unfortunately, underserved communities are often under represented in the Census for a variety of reasons and misinformation. As part of the Census activities, Safe & Sound has been implementing activities related to census education and outreach within the community. This has included hosting of events for local residents about the census and distribution of promotional materials at community meetings.
In one example, adult residents who attended a block beautification event were provided with grocery shopping bags imprinted with the Census logo, a fact sheet, and an explanation of why this is important to Milwaukee. Youth were given string back-packs with Census logos and information for their parents. As one participant later stated, “I just never really understood how important it is to our city.” Safe & Sound’s outreach and education is an opportunity to dispel myths and inform the residents in the least represented communities of why the Census is important, not only to Milwaukee, but to each and every individual and family.
For more information link to the Milwaukee 2010 Census Website
Download: Census Info Flyer
