FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–February 13, 2020
Power Coalition for Equity and Justice
to Launch Census Outreach Campaign
As part of our ‘Count Me In’ campaign, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice will be offering Census mini-grants to community leaders and organizations. We will also be teaming up with the Data Center to provide real-time updates on how fully communities of color are being counted during Census season.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Janea Jamison, Census Director, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, (504) 766-9289, jjamison@powercoalition.org
Peter Robins-Brown, Communications Director, Power Coalition for Equity and Justice, (504) 256-8196, prb@powercoalition.org
NEW ORLEANS, LA | February 13, 2020—Civic engagement does not stop at the end of election season. We must educate ourselves and our communities 365 days a year. That’s why the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ–powercoalition.org) is working to encourage and support local Census outreach efforts in hard-to-count communities across the state.
We will be awarding $1,000-$1,500 mini-grants to community organizations, community influencers, and faith-based organizations who serve communities of color. If you or your organization is focused on supporting a full and accurate count of young children, immigrant communities, and/or communities of color, apply now by contacting the Power Coalition at (504) 766-9289.
We will also be partnering with the Data Center to offer the Orleans Parish Response Rate Interactive Map, which will provide real-time updates on how communities are being counted. We will be adding other parishes to the interactive map in March.
An alarming 81 percent of Orleans Parish residents currently live in neighborhoods that the U.S. Census Bureau considers ‘hard to count’, and 71 percent of people in New Orleans, 56 percent of people in Baton Rouge, and 55 percent of people in Shreveport are at risk of being missed in the Census. Each person who goes uncounted costs the state of Louisiana $2,291. That means our communities could miss out on funding that supports access to voting, income security, healthcare, food security, and Head Start programs. As a poor state, Louisiana desperately needs every dollar we can get to support our communities.
The Census not only determines federal resources, it also provides the data that is used to draw political maps. With redistricting set for 2021, this is one of our greatest opportunities to build power for our communities. We are calling on all trusted voices in the community to join us in our efforts to educate friends, family, and neighbors about how the Census works and how important it is to be counted. Let’s educate, galvanize, and build power within our communities around census awareness!
The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice works to build voice and power in traditionally ignored communities. We are a coalition of groups from across Louisiana whose mission is to organize in impacted communities, educate and turn out voters, and fight for policies that create a more equitable and just system in Louisiana.
What: The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice is offering mini-grants to community leaders and organizations to help ensure a fair and accurate count in the 2020 U.S. Census. We are also teaming up with the Data Center to provide real-time updates on how our communities are being counted.
Who: Power Coalition for Equity and Justice (PCEJ) and the Data Center