North Carolina Participates in National Day of Action
for Census 2020
Elected officials, community leaders and organizations across the state are taking part in a national day of action
to raise awareness about the upcoming 2020 Census
Raleigh, NC (March 27, 2019) – One year out from Census day 2020, NC Counts Coalition in partnership with the NC Complete Count Commission, Mecklenburg County, Gaston County, Cumberland County, and Carolina Demography will participate in a national day of action for the 2020 Census. This coordinated effort will raise awareness of the importance of the 2020 Census to North Carolina, while highlighting Census preparation initiatives among North Carolina’s communities.
"An accurate Census is vitally important to North Carolina’s future,” said Stacey Carless, Executive Director of NC Counts Coalition. “By counting every resident, we will ensure that North Carolina receives its fair share of $800 billion in federal funding allocated to states each year for education, transportation and social welfare programs.”
The Census directly affects the allocation of $16.3 billion annually in federal resources to North Carolina. Additionally, it provides key decision-makers with the information they need to ensure that government resources are directed strategically to the state’s communities. Also, the Census ensures that communities are appropriately represented in the statehouse and in Congress. With an accurate 2020 Census count, North Carolina is projected to gain a seat in the House of Representatives, increasing its representation from 13 to 14 representatives.
“To achieve a complete and accurate Census count, there must be a collaborative effort and partnerships among community leaders, government, private and nonprofit organizations across North Carolina,” said Carless. “The Coalition is excited to participate in this day of action alongside our partners as we work collectively to prepare North Carolina for the 2020 Census.”
North Carolina events on April 1, 2019 include the following:
Mecklenburg County
Mecklenburg County and NC Counts Coalition will host a press conference and panel discussion on the 2020 Census in Charlotte from 2 p.m.- 3:30 p.m. at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. The press conference will feature remarks by Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners Chairman George Dunlap and Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. A panel discussion and Q&A with media and local stakeholders will follow the press conference.
Wake County
The NC Complete Count Commission is hosting a press conference to kick off North Carolina’s one-year countdown to the 2020 Census. The press conference will take place at NC State Historic Capitol, Old House Chamber from 2 p.m.– 3 p.m. Governor Roy Cooper and Administration Secretary Machelle Sanders will give a briefing on state efforts in preparing for the 2020 Census.
Gaston County
Gaston County will host two events for the Day of Action. The county will host a Census Recognition Day event for county employees from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. at Rotary Pavilion. The address is 107 N South Street, Gastonia, NC 28052. The event will feature a pizza and ice cream social. The county will also have a booth at Eastridge Mall from 2 p.m.- 5 p.m. The address is 246 N New Hope Road, Gastonia, NC 28054. The booth will have giveaways and information on preparation for the 2020 Census.
Cumberland County
Census Bureau staff and Cumberland County planning department officials will provide a brief 2020 Census presentation during the Board of Commissioners 9 a.m. meeting. Also, the County’s Complete Count Committee will hold its first organizational meeting at 2 p.m.
Additionally, NC Counts Coalition and Carolina Demography will launch a new interactive map on April 1, 2019 that will assist stakeholders in identifying the location of hard-to-count communities in North Carolina for Census outreach and mobilization to activate participation.
The NC Counts Coalition was established in 2017 to prepare North Carolina for the 2020 Census. The Coalition serves as a hub to facilitate cross-sector coordination among government, planning and community organizations, service providers, businesses and others to achieve a complete and accurate Census count for North Carolina. For more information go to our website at www.nccensus.org