One of the most important forms for the Latino community, which will give a voice to our communities, shape our future, and impact the nation should have been returned by now. It is time for the U.S. Census, an event that only happens every 10 years, and many organizations want to make sure that there is full count of all the Latinos in the U.S. The U.S. Census counts everyone residing within the U.S. border, including citizens and non-citizens. Congressional districts and political representation are assigned from the Census data and more than $400 billion in federal funds are distributed based on Census information. “Women play an important role in filling out the form since they handle a lot of the household details,� says Marilia Matos, U.S. Census Bureau’s associate director for field operations. “Participating n the U.S Census is a constitutional mandate. We do not share information with anybody and information is completely confidential. Everyone needs to be counted in the Census, it’s how we get our voices heard. It affects funding for our communities and ensures that the Latino community is fairly represented. Funding for our schools, for job training, for housing and much more will be dependent on participation in the 2010 Census.�

Vanessa Cárdenas, director for Progress 2050, a project at the think-tank Center for American Progress, which seeks to build a progressive agenda that is more inclusive of the racial and ethnic makeup of the U.S., said it is essential for the Latino community to participate in the 2010 Census. “At a time when our community is hurting the most by the impact of the recession – foreclosures, unemployment, lack of healthcare, etc – we cannot risk losing needed resources that are vital for our states, localities and neighborhoods,� Cárdenas said. “Participating in the Census is part of our civic duty and if we don’t, we let someone else make decisions for us. That is why we have to say presente and make ourselves count, not just for us but for the collective Latino community in the US.� The U.S. Census questionnaires have been mailed out since March 15. Spanish-language forms and bilingual forms were mailed out to communities with large Spanish-speaking populations. To request a form in Spanish or in another language call the U.S. Census Bureau at 1-866-872-6868. As soon as residences receive the U.S. Census questionnaire, families are encouraged to mail them back on the postage-paid envelope as soon as possible.

The form is very simple, easy and only 10 questions that will take 10 minutes of your time, according to U.S. Census media specialist Koni Botifoll “that is going to change the next 10 years of your life.� “It is important to include everyone that has been staying in the home for the last six months, including children.� Excluding children could mean that programs geared to youth could be endangered. According to the US Census Bureau, census data is used to distribute about $26 billion annually in education funding every year. “For some reason we don’t count our children, which is one of the reason why we have such big problems in schools,� Botifoll said. “It is very important that you count all your family, even if you have a one-hour-old baby, or you have grandmother that is 99-years-old, everyone should be counted.� Filling out the form and mailing it back immediately will prevent a Census worker from coming to your home. According to the US Census Bureau, returning the form saves taxpayer money because census takers do not have to go in person to households to gather responses. According to the Census Bureau, for every 1 percent increase in mail response, taxpayers will save an estimated $85 million in federal funds. To track how well your community is doing in returning the forms starting March 22, visit the web site www.2010.census.gov.

Latinas Encourage their Community to Participate in 2010 Census

All around the nation, Latinas are working more than ever to make sure that every single person is counted. Various organizations want to make sure that the there is a full count of the Latino community and are educating the community about the importance of filling out the Census and providing assistance on how to fill out the form. Claudia Ortega Hogue, Houston director of civic engagement for the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Education Fund, a partner in the national coalition of Latino organizations that formed the Ya Es Hora ¡Hágase Contar! (It’s Time, Make Yourself Count!) Campaign, considers herself a trusted messenger, providing access to information for the community by building a bridge of information. “As a Latina, we can be leaders in our communities and families and take that sense of responsibility to make sure that the Census is filled out,� Hogue said. On March 22-27, NALEO hosted community assistance forums around the nation to help people fill out the forms and answer questions.

For more information about the forums you can visit www.yaeshora.info or call 1-877-EL-CENSO. Latina actress Rosario Dawson is making sure that Latino youth and young adults understand the importance of participating in the U.S. Census. Dawson and Maria Teresa Kumar founded the non-profit, non-partisan organization Voto Latino, whose mission is to engage Latino youth in civic participation. Voto Latino has engaged in outreach efforts to make sure that young Latinos participate in the U.S. Census including public service announcements with Dawson and other Latino actors. “Participating in the U.S. Census is crucial and making sure Latino youth get involved is important,� Dawson said. “We seek to reach and empower our audience, who are the gatekeepers in most Latino immigrant households. They open the mail, pay the bills and make key household decisions.� Kumar, executive director of Voto Latino, said the youth’s leadership qualities could help ensure there is a full count this year. “Since the minimum age requirement to fill out the Census form is 15, it means that in Latino households, the youth demographic have a huge role to play in making sure Latinos, at risk of being underrepresented, can be counted and receive crucial funding and political representation.�

Voto Latino has launched a campaign with iTunes to encourage participation in the US Census by giving every person that pledges to 25 free songs featuring artists like Aventura, Mos Def, and Morrissey. For more information about Voto Latino and the U.S. Census campaign visit www.becountedrepresent.com. April 1, 2010, is Census Day, and it is fast approaching. New technologies, new safeguards, lessons applied from the 2000 Census and a form so short it only takes 10 minutes to complete all underscore the importance of making this the best census in American history. Part II By Carolina Escalera