NAACP BALTIMORE CITY BRANCH MOBILIZING FOR THE 2010 CENSUS

January 4, 2010 - Baltimore, MD:

The Baltimore City Branch NAACP on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 will hold its 2010 “Yes We Count” Mobilization & Community Information Discussion, a national grassroots movement designed to spread the word about the importance of the 2010 Census and to increase the final census response rate in Baltimore City.  

This event will take place on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. – Union Baptist Church – 1219 Druid Hill Avenue – Baltimore City, Maryland 21217 – Contact person is Rev. C.D. Witherspoon – 410/366-3300.  Representatives from the Regional and Baltimore Census Offices will be in attendance along with representatives the NAACP’s National and State Census campaigns.  The event is free and open to the public.

NAACP units in eleven states and six metropolitan areas (Baltimore City, Maryland being one) are gearing up to launch 2010 “Yes We Count” campaigns.  The Baltimore City Branch, along with other targeted Maryland units, will participate in a Census campaign management workshop to be held at this years’ NAACP MD State Conference.  This workshop will provide a general overview of the Census and a detailed orientation to the NAACP “Yes We Count” campaign.

NAACP President & CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous has stated: “…The NAACP has a vested interest in ensuring that hard to count populations are educated about and ultimately counted during the 2010 Census.  We know federal and local governments use Census information to distribute over $400 billion dollars every year – or $4 trillion over a ten year period – in much needed aid to local communities.  It is our mission to ensure that hard to count communities also have access to the necessary funds, services, political representation, public infrastructure and private investment impacted by the census.”

NAACP Baltimore City Branch Mobilizing for the 2010 Census

From now until January 2010, lead organizers will recruit campaign volunteers from within their respective units and through stakeholder entities (i.e. churches, labor unions and other grassroots organizations) in their communities.  Volunteers will be trained as door-to-door canvassers and will be trained to use canvassing software and other technology that will be used during the campaign.

It is estimated that 6.4 million people were missed during the 2000 Census; most of which were low income, racial and language minorities and children.  In addition, according to one estimate, the 2000 census missed nearly 1 million people of color.

“Baltimore City cannot afford to be undercounted in 2010.  The Baltimore City Branch NAACP is uniquely poised to provide education and motivation around Census participation,” states NAACP Baltimore City Branch President Dr. Marvin Cheatham.

“The Baltimore City Branch NAACP maintains ongoing, trusting relationships with this community that we serve, particularly hard to count populations, therefore our branch is a powerful vehicle for encouraging our community to return the Census questionnaire or respond to Census enumerators,” concludes Rev. C.D. Witherspoon (NAACP Baltimore City Branch Census Coordinator).  The Baltimore City Branch NAACP registered over 4,000 citizens on the last day to register to vote before the United States Presidential General Election.

About the 2010 Census
The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution.  Census data is used to distribute Congressional seats to states, to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year and to make decision about what community services to provide.  The 2010 Census questionnaire will be one of the shortest in history and consists of 10 questions, taking about 10 minutes to complete.  Strict confidentiality laws protect the confidentiality of respondents and the information they provide.

The Launching of the NAACP Baltimore City Branch 2010 Census Mobilization is free and open to the public.  For further information call NAACP Baltimore City Branch Census Coordinator Rev. Witherspoon at 410/366-3300.