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Census important for many reasons
Published Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Getting the word out about next year’s U.S. Census is critical to federal monetary aid for the Black Belt.
Officials say that starts by partnering with local community leaders. Darryl A. Lee and his team with the U.S. Census Bureau completed a workshop in Selma on Tuesday and urged elected officials, educators and religious leaders at a luncheon to help encourage participation from families when the census is taken April 1, 2010.
These groups have formed a Complete Count Committee, which works to ensure every person possible is counted in this area.
An accurate count of citizens determines how much of the $3 trillion the federal government will dole out in the three years following the census. It also determines each area’s representation in Congress.
“I want to make sure Selma and the Black Belt gets its fair share,” said Lee, senior partnership specialist. “The ball is moving very fast now.”
The Census Bureau has offered jobs to 60 local people, according to Debra Reeves-Howard of Selma CareerLink. Those people will begin the first of two five-day training sessions on March 27. After training, they will canvass the region to verify addresses.
Selma City Schools superintendent Dr. Austin Obasohan said one way the school system could help is by getting the word out to parents through school children.
“There is a curriculum for the census that’s been in the schools,” Obasohan said. “That is another way we can encourage our students and inform them about this important project.”
Lee said the Census Bureau does not release its information to other entities, even the IRS, for 72 years. This year every house will get a seven-question short form that takes about 10 minutes to complete.
“If you’re behind on your child support, we don’t care. If you’re illegal, we don’t care. We just want to get everybody counted,” Lee said.
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Comments
Posted by NICKNACK (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 8:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am one of those lucky 60 people that has a job, and I thinks its great that the census took the time to inform selmians what the census is about. Because every time I tell someone what my new job is they give me a blank looks as to what? huh? , some people just don't know what it is. SO
IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO SEND SOME INFO THROUGH THE SCHOOL.
Posted by fleur (anonymous) on March 18, 2009 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Be nice to the census workers when they come around!
Years ago, when I was a student in NYC, I had forgotten to fill out the mailed form, so a young lady showed up at my door one evening. She was dressed VERY carefully...I found in our conversation (read on) that this was the first job she had had for some time, after LOTS of applying...and was very, very polite. I invited her in to do the interview and offered her some hot coffee and cookies (it was chilly). To my great surprise, she burst into tears. While she calmed down and apologized (while I made soothing noises) she said that I was the first person all night who hadn't slammed the door in her face. She was trying so hard to make a success of the work she had been hired to do and was being given such a hard time! We ended up filling out the form, drinking the coffee, and having a good laugh when I shared some stories with her from dealing with retail customers! I hope she had a better evening with the rest of her "clients."
Imagine treating somebody so badly when they are trying to do such an important job!
So, be nice to these folks..you MIGHT be the one bright light in their long day! The census IS important and is a very big thing you can do for your country with very little effort.
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