#CountMeIn: National Day of Action Pushes for a Fair and Accurate 2020 Census

Census News 04.1.19

Organizations Host More Than 50 Events Across Country, Launch Informational Website

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Contact: LaGloria Wheatfall, [email protected], 202.548.7160

WASHINGTON – One year before the 2020 Census will be in full swing, leading civil rights groups marked today as a national day of action to push for a fair and accurate count. Census Counts, a collaborative campaign made up of more than 15 national organizations and  community partners in 30 states, is employing a digital push and pledge to ensure every person is counted in 2020. Across the country, national and local organizations are hosting more than 50 events to educate their communities about the 2020 Census.

“In one year, the 2020 Census will be in full swing. We must raise awareness about the upcoming count and educate communities about how census data impact our daily lives and our voice in democracy,” said Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference Education Fund. “We are proud to join our partners to ensure a fair and accurate count. Our democracy depends on it.”

“It is vital that we encourage every community – especially those that are hardest to count – to get involved,” added Beth Lynk, director of the Census Counts campaign. “If communities aren’t fully counted in the 2020 Census, they could miss out on critical resources for the next 10 years. It is imperative that we get the word out about the need to ensure a fair and accurate count.”

National and local efforts to rally communities to get counted and get their fair share of necessary community resources are already underway. To help spread the word, groups will use the hashtag #CountMeIn to amplify the message.

In addition, the campaign relaunched the censuscounts.org website to provide information on how to get involved in the 2020 Census. Community members and state and local leaders can find resources there to help increase census participation and advocate for a fair count.

This day of action, people across the nation will come together and pledge to be counted in 2020.  The #CountMeIn pledge can be signed here.

The Leadership Conference Education Fund builds public will for federal policies that promote and protect the civil and human rights of all persons in the United States. The Education Fund’s campaigns empower and mobilize advocates around the country to push for progressive change in the United States. It was founded in 1969 as the education and research arm of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. For more information on The Education Fund, visit https://civilrights.org/edfund/.

Census Counts is a collaborative campaign involving more than 15 national organizations and dozens of community partners working together to make sure that the 2020 Census is fair and accurate—so that our communities do not miss out on the political power they deserve and the resources their communities have earned. More information about the Census Counts campaign and an update of day of action activities is available at censuscounts.org.