The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and 14 partners convened a regional forum, Interventions that Work: 2020 Census and Hard-to-Reach Communities, on June 6 to prepare for the 2020 Census.
Hundreds of public, private, and nonprofit leaders came together to share strategies for ensuring a complete and accurate count, which is critical to local communities in the Washington region receiving vital federal dollars totaling over $24 billion annually. This federal funding supports programs and services, including for housing, education, transportation, health care, and more.
Additionally, a complete and accurate 2020 Census is essential for advancing racial equity in the region. The census count has historically missed disproportionate numbers of people of color, immigrants, young children, older adults, and low-income households. It is estimated that more than 55,000 individuals were “undercounted” in this region in 2010 during the last census.
Participants also discussed overcoming barriers that may discourage or prevent people from responding to the census, including concerns over a proposed citizenship question and the potential impact of the digital divide on the first-ever online census.
“The census is important because it tells the story of who we are. We can’t have an undercount because that has implications on representation and funding,” said COG Executive Director Chuck Bean in the above welcome video. “It is important for government, nonprofits, businesses, and philanthropic and community organizations to work together to ensure that everyone is counted.”
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For the program, speaker bios, and other event materials, view the event webpage.
Check out the Facebook album for photos from the event.
Follow and join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #CountDMVin.