Let's Make Everyone Count! The 2020 Census

Marcia Luptak, Elgin Community College

Census Resources (Click "Read More" below for Census facts and figures)
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Presentations: 
https://national-coalition-literacy.org/research/the-2020-census/ncl-census-presentations/

Information, fact sheets, talking points, teaching activities and resources, videos: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis/2020census/2020-resources.html

Information and classroom resources (including lesson plans for math, leveled ESL, reading): 
https://nelrc.org/stand-up-and-be-counted/census2020/

If you would have asked me about the census a year ago, I would have said, “Yeah, I know it’s coming,” and I could have given you a few facts and figures in a disinterested way. However, several events occurred over the past year that have completely changed my attitude. The first event happened last March when I was talking to a colleague, John, about the possibility of doing a learning community between his college speech class (CMS101) and our college transitions ESL class. He and I had taught together in a learning community, so I was familiar with his style and thought it would be a great fit. I knew that John was big in service learning with his classes and had even formed a consulting group for students on campus, Spartan Consulting. During this initial conversation, I was hoping he would suggest integrating a service learning component. When he did, I jumped at the opportunity. The adventure began...(click "Read More" to continue)

It didn’t take me long to figure out that this meant that I would have to find a community partner who would be willing to go along with this great adventure. Thank goodness our division had a close relationship with one of our local CBOs (community based organization), Centro de Informacion. John and I reached out to Jaime at Centro and invited him to hear our pitch at lunch. He agreed, not knowing exactly what he was getting into. John explained to Jaime the concept of service learning and what Spartan Consulting could do for him. Jaime was still not sure, but he trusted us.

Over the next few months, John, Erin (the ESL teacher), Jaime, the staff at Centro, and the learning community students worked together identifying Centro’s needs and possible solutions. I was updated periodically on what was happening but never could have predicted the amazing results.  Centro had received a grant to promote the 2020 census, and our students had worked hard to identify issues and solutions for Centro.
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And then something truly amazing happened. The students asked John and Erin what Elgin Community College (ECC) was doing to promote the census. They asked if they would be allowed to talk to someone to share their ideas because they believed that as a community college, ECC should be doing something. John contacted the powers that be at the college and was able to arrange a meeting between the college president (Dr. Sam), vice president, students, himself, and a couple of administrators (myself included). To say that we were all blown away would be an understatement. Dr. Sam announced then and there that the college was going to move forward the students’ suggestions and their concept “Count Me In!” He told John to get the ball rolling. As for me, I realized that I needed to get the ball rolling in our department as well. Starting with the information presented by these ESL students, I moved forward with learning all that I could about the census and doing all I could do to promote it. At our spring division meeting, we had a professional development activity where all of the faculty brainstormed ideas about how they could integrate census information into their classroom. I have also presented the topic at different meetings and conferences, including ITBE. That’s what brought me to writing this blog.

Now, it’s your turn.

Why care about the census?
It’s about resources.

• There is $800,000,000,000 in funding available for education, housing, health services, infrastructure, and more and where this money goes is based on the census.
• Children’s education for the next 10 years will be impacted by this. That 2-year-old will be in middle school and that elementary child will be out of high school by that time.
• Adult education funding is also directly impacted.
• Road repair, emergency services, mental health services, libraries…..all will be impacted.

It’s about representation.

• The census is used to allocate seats and draw district lines for the U.S. House of Representatives, state legislatures, and local boards.
• Illinois is poised to lose seats at the national level, which also impacts the number of electors we have for the Presidential race.
• This is the only opportunity for non-citizens to have a direct impact on government.
  
  

What do we need to share?

• First of all, the process. This is the first time people will be able to respond via the internet. There are multiple languages available as a result.
• The information will come via a post-card or letter in an envelope marked “resident.” It will have a census post-mark from Jeffersonville, IN. Individuals will be able to respond either online or on paper.
• If individuals do not complete the census, someone will come by their house to get a count.
• The questions that will be asked. There is not a question about citizenship on the census.
• Census workers are sworn not to share information outside of the agency under penalty of incarceration. It is against the law for anyone outside of the agency to ask for this information.
  
  

What are the risks?

• Getting accurate information is going to be challenging due to many reasons, including distrust of government, misinformation, unawareness, and fear.
• The most at risk for being undercount are young children, people of color, low-income household, foreign-born residents, and rural residents.
• Scams and fraud. It is important to inform students about these and what to do in these cases. It is important to let students know what a real census employee will never do.
  
  

What is our role?

• Engage leadership and be informed. Plan to bring this back to your colleagues.
• Learn the basics about the census. Find out who is giving census presentations in your community.
• Share the information with others – including students, student government, and student leaders.
• Provide educational supports and practice (there are forms for practice online that you can print off or fill out online).
  
  

Census Resources

Presentations:
https://national-coalition-literacy.org/research/the-2020-census/ncl-census-presentations/

Information, fact sheets, talking points, teaching activities and resources, videos: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis/2020census/2020-resources.html

Information and classroom resources (including lesson plans for math, leveled ESL, reading):
https://nelrc.org/stand-up-and-be-counted/census2020/

There are also endless resources on Quizlet, Kahoot!, Learning Chocolate, EdPuzzle, and Youtube.
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What resources have you found for teaching the Census? Share your favorite links in the comments!