In Case You Missed It: Asian American, Pacific Islander communities: You matter. Be counted in the 2020 Census
By May O. Lee, Special to The Sacramento Bee
January 29, 2020
As Asian American communities across California gathered last week to celebrate the Lunar New Year, many of us rushed to clean our homes in anticipation of impending family visits. Children excitedly awaited red envelopes with money inside, and families looked forward to having many generations together under one roof.
One of the lessons learned from my Grandma and Ma about rice was that every grain mattered, so never waste it. This same principle applies to the 2020 Census: Everyone matters, and you need to be counted.
The Census has been an integral part of American civic life since 1790; in fact, the U.S. Constitution requires that the count include every person in the country. Participating in the Census is part of the American Dream and the fabric of our nation.
The 2020 Census will help decide how billions of dollars will reach our families and communities. By ensuring that every person in our home – not just parents and children, but aunties and uncles who may live with us – is counted in the Census, we will help determine funding for dozens of programs, including for schools, hospitals, roads, parks and much more.
What so many of us have come to America seeking – the opportunity to help our friends and loved ones – is within our grasp this year.
It’s particularly important that Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in California participate in the 2020 Census because in the past we have often been missed. Immigrants and people who don’t speak English are particularly vulnerable to being undercounted. There are also groups who may be concerned about their privacy, skeptical about the government or just not know about the upcoming count.
That’s the reason community groups throughout California are working to spread the word and ensure the millions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (APIs) in the state know about the Census and are counted.
In Sacramento especially, the County Community Complete Count Committee is working in hard-to-count communities, reaching APIs through community events, informational materials and social media. Our goal is educating Asian American communities through individuals and organizations they already know and trust.
For our hard-to-count communities, especially the Hmong, bilingual volunteers will canvass door-to-door. For the Iu Mien, information sharing at senior lunch programs will help them understand and complete the Census.
But for all our organization’s work to educate Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders about the Census, we also know that the most trusted messengers are our own friends and family members.
Starting in mid-March, the U.S. Census Bureau will invite all Californians to complete the Census. Households can participate by phone, mail or online; in May, Census enumerators will visit homes in person to count those who don’t respond.
It’s a short form – 9 questions per person – and it’s available online in 13 languages, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean and Japanese. That means that in less time than it takes for your family to ask you about your job and future, you could complete the form for your entire household.
A key element of our work is educating Californians that the information they provide during the Census is safe. Not only is the U.S. Census Bureau required by law to keep any personal information it collects confidential, but that information also cannot be used for law enforcement purposes or to determine eligibility for government benefits.
Many of us came to this country in search of brighter futures and stability; we brought with us traditions like the celebration of the lunar new year.
Our families matter, the 2020 Census matters and a full count matters – not just for the state, but for our elders, for our children, for our communities. For all.
May O. Lee is co-chair of the Asian American and Pacific Islanders Complete Count Subcommittee of Sacramento County.
Source: The Sacramento Bee, which originally published the piece.
