Community Resource Exchange, a consulting firm that capacity builds for other nonprofits, this month will hold two training workshops for local community-based organizations that will be participating in the Census drive to get all New Yorkers counted.
For the 2010 Census, Kings County was one of the two hardest-to-count counties in New York state, with 70 percent or less of households mailing back the census questionnaire, according to Brooklyn Community Foundation.
The Hard to Count 2020 Census Map, created by the City University of New York's Mapping Service, is an interactive online map that shows local areas that are considered "hard to count communities"—neighborhoods where census participation rates are the lowest.
CRE, a 40-year-old nonprofit, is a member of the New York Counts 2020 Steering Committee. The broad-based statewide coalition has partnered with State and City government officials in effort to maximize Census participation by developing training materials and tools to help community-based organizations (CBOs) support a complete citywide Census count.
The organization also will hold a series of free, half-day Census 101 trainings—focusing on why the Census matters and how organizations can contribute to building awareness and education.
"The 2020 Census brings unique challenges," said Katie Leonberger, President and Chief Executive Officer of CRE. "Distrust in government is high. This will be the first digital census with an online approach, which may be compromised because 35% of U.S. adults do not have Internet access at home.
"And while there will not be a question about citizenship on the 2020 Census, there is residual fear among the immigrant community about filling out a government form given the recent attempt for such a question, as well as ongoing anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies coming from Washington. Nonprofits are positioned to work with their communities to combat these challenges, and we are delighted to support them in doing so."
The first two sessions will be held at the CRE offices at 42 Broadway, 20th Floor, in Lower Manhattan on Monday, December 16 at 3:00 PM and Wednesday, December 20 at 9:30 AM.
Additionally, CRE will hold several, free full-day Census 201 trainings in 2020 for organizations interested in doing outreach and activation work.. RSVPs are required for all sessions. You can register here.
