THE 2020 CENSUS: COUNTING EVERYONE IS A PRIORITY

The 2020 Census count day, April 1, 2020, is around the corner.  In addition to the work of the U.S. Census Bureau, the North Carolina Complete Count Commission  ("NCCCC") continues its work to achieve the highest participation rate possible for North Carolina.  More specifically, the NCCCC endeavors to:

• Advise the Governor and the North Carolina General Assembly on census activities in the state;
• Identify barriers that might impede the progress of the 2020 Census in North Carolina;
• Promote and advertise the 2020 Census;
• Respond to residents' questions and concerns about the census;
• Develop partnerships with regional and local Complete Count Committees to increase participation.  (Dare County has established a complete count committee and some of its work will become visible in the weeks ahead.  The committee is chaired by Donna Creef and Dorothy Hester.)
• Distribute and share census information with traditionally hard-to-count areas and populations; and lastly 
• Seek to ensure the highest participation rate possible.

In previous articles, I covered the following topics:

• What is the census and what data does it collect?
• How is census data used?
• Census facts you should know
• Hard-to-count populations
• The historical roots of undercounting
• The danger in undercounting
• Statistics in schools and the 2020 Census

The 2020 Census and Covid-19

 

Obviously, the coronavirus is impacting the operations of the 2020 Census as its limitations are disrupting almost every aspect of our daily lives.  And while there have been disruptions in Dare County, many aspects of the census operation began on time. As an example, the "Update Leave" operation started on March 15.  With this program, census workers deliver invitations and questionnaires to homes that do not have mailboxes. However, this operation has been temporarily suspended, along with other field operations.   2020 Census packets that have not already been delivered will be delayed until after April 1. Without knowing the full impact of the coronavirus on efforts to complete the 2020 Census collection, we should remain mindful of the importance of the census and remind our friends and neighbors to complete and return the 2020 Census questionnaire.

College Students - College housing officials can now count students who were supposed to be living on campus on April 1, 2020.  This operational adjustment provides for the counting of students that have returned home or to other addresses due to coronavirus limitations.  For students living off-campus, the Census Bureau is recommending that schools contact their off-campus students and remind these students to respond to the 2020 Census using the address where they live most of the year (which is probably their off-campus apartment/house address), even if they have returned to their parents' home, or somewhere else, prior to April 1 due to coronavirus limitations.

Homeless People - Service based enumeration to count homeless people at shelters, soup kitchens and mobile food vans is scheduled to occur March, 30, 2020 - April 1, 2020.  The original plan was for Census Bureau enumerators to visit these locations and count the people on those dates. However, the Census Bureau is now asking service providers themselves to count the people.

Mobile Questionnaire Assistance Centers (MQACs) - The original plan was to start providing MQACs to help people complete the 2020 Census on March 30.  However, the Census Bureau has now pushed the start date back to April 13, 2020.      

Operational Adjustments Due to Covid-19

Operational adjustments put in place to date, as a result of the coronavirus, are designed to:

• Protect the health and safety of Census Bureau employees and the American public;
• Implement guidance from federal, state, and local health authorities; and
• Ensure a complete and accurate count of all communities.

There are three ways to submit 2020 Census information:

• Submit the 2020 Census online: https://my2020census.gov/
• Complete the 2020 Census via phone seven days a week:  7:00 AM - 2:00 AM: 1 (844) 468-2020
• Return the 2020 Census questionnaire via mail:

U. S. Census Bureau, 4417 W. Buckeye Road, Phoenix, AZ  85043-9901

Self Response Rates To Date*

Self-response rates are the response rates from households that respond to the 2020 Census online, via mail, or via phone.  Selected self response rates are given below:  

 * All statistics are as of March 25, 2020 

In conclusion, counting everyone is a priority.  Everyone can help.

James E. Cofield, Jr.

Member, North Carolina Complete Count Commission

Disclaimer:The views expressed above are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the North Carolina Complete Count Commission.

When songwriting team Burt Bacharach and Hal David released the song "What the World Needs Now Is Love" (originally sung by Jackie DeShannon) in 1965, the United States was deeply divided over the war in Vietnam. Bacharach was initially nervous about the song's reception given the fragile cultural environment, but the song became a top ten hit and brought people together under its call for unity.

Fifty-five years later, many around the world are experiencing a time of unprecedented physical separation due to the rise and spread of the  coronavirus (COVID-19). As students shift into online classes for the rest of the semester, Boston Conservatory at Berklee student Shelbie Rassler kicked things off with her own version of Bacharach's anthem of connection, joined by a virtual orchestra of 74 of her peers, 60 of whom are a mix of students and alumni from the Conservatory and the College. Rassler, a senior  majoring in composition and a 2019 Presser Scholar, came up with the idea on her plane journey home to Florida, and produced, arranged, and edited the video herself.

Greetings fellow Leaguers,

  

Hope this newsletter finds you well, following county directives, and attempting to keep busy while at home.

Some financial news from your League:

ON THE PLUS SIDE: 

Our fund raising efforts for this 100th anniversary year were our most successful ever!  We gained nine new donors who were very generous in their contributions!!  See the list on the back page of the Citizen's Guide which will be coming to you soon with your packet for the Annual Meeting.

ON THE NOT SO PLUS SIDE:

We submitted a grant request to the Outer Banks Community Foundation to assist with funding for several items on our agenda for the celebration - mostly education.  Unfortunately, that request was not granted, so we will have to revisit our agenda to determine what we will be able to fund with our existing resources.  Then the tsunami hit!  Many the events have now been cancelled or will be rescheduled, so our plans will really have to be altered.  In the immediate future, the Frederick Douglass presentation scheduled for May 5 has been temporarily cancelled; all other events that were scheduled for the spring are either on hold or cancelled.  Alternative plans will be sent to you as they can be scheduled.  Keep tuned...

The Belk Charity Day Sale scheduled for May 2 will more than likely be cancelled.  The store is currently closed, and the date is within the governor's window of closures for the state.  More on that later as it develops.

ON A GIVING NOTE:

The Outer Banks Community Foundation will be establishing a COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund to assist non-profits that are assisting with the immediate crisis.  Any member who would like to make a contribution to that worthy effort can make a check payable to Outer Banks Community Foundation (or OBCF) COVID Response, and mail it to the Community Foundation, 13 Skyline Rd.,, Southern Shores, 27949.  If you would like the staff to know that you are a League member, write LWV-Dare on the message line.  These donations will be tax deductible.  For further information, visit their website at Outer Banks Community Foundation and clink on giving.  Thanks for your generosity.

Keep well and safe and think positive thoughts -- hope to see you as soon as possible.

The Citizen's Guide 2020 was delivered throughout Dare County beginning March 1.   7000 copies were printed thanks to our many donors listed on the back page of the guide and the In-kind donations listed on page 48.  This year we had a record 9 new contributors!! Be sure to check out the list and thank them when you visit. 20 copies of the guide were presented to the various Town Councils at their monthly meeting.  Thanks to Lori DiBernardo, Marion Midgett, James Cofield, and Mary Jane Slesinski for doing the presentations. The Citizen's Guide is also available on The League of Women Voters Dare website.  

The success in the distribution of the Guide is due to our member volunteers.  I would like to acknowledge the following: PROOFREADERS: Glenda Keel and Charlotte Pedigo.  BUNDLERS: Nancy Birindelli, Dave Butscher, Yvonne Duiker, Glenda Keel, Francene Kelly, Carole Kimmel, Judy Lotas, Laurie Martin, Charlotte Pedigo, and Laura Singletary.  DISTRIBUTORS: Nancy D'Andrade, Linda Campbell, Earl Keel, Francene Kelly, Susan Merrill, Marion Midgett, Susan Pfaff and Monica Thibodeau. Also many thanks to Coastal Impressions for delivering 2000 Citizen's Guides to the Baum Center, Kill Devil Hills Library, Board of Education and Assoc of Realtors.