{"id":67788,"date":"2024-09-30T11:13:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T18:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=67788"},"modified":"2024-09-30T11:13:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T18:13:00","slug":"alabama-organizations-come-together-to-improve-census-education-and-participation-among-local-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=67788","title":{"rendered":"Alabama Organizations Come Together To Improve Census Education and Participation Among Local Communities\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alabama, September 30, 2024<\/strong> –\u00a0Down For The Count<\/a>\u2014a collaborative educational initiative between\u00a0Alabama Values<\/a>,\u00a0The Ordinary People\u2019s Society<\/a>\u00a0(TOPS),\u00a0Southern Leadership for Voter Engagement<\/a>\u00a0(SOLVE), and\u00a0The Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama\u00a0<\/a>(\u00a1HICA!)\u2014has announced its official launch. The initiative\u2019s mission is to increase Census participation among Alabama’s underrepresented communities.<\/p>\n

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Down For The Count is committed to providing clarity around the Census process and highlighting the impact of Census data on community resources. By providing individuals accurate information, Down For The Count aims to ensure that every voice in Alabama is heard and every community is counted. The Census and the American Community Survey (ACS) play a significant role in determining the distribution of billions of dollars in federal funding. Accurate Census data guarantees that communities receive their fair share of resources for schools, hospitals, roads, and other essential services. This means that every Alabama resident’s participation in the Census and ACS shapes the future of their community.<\/p>\n

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“Down for The Count is about empowering our communities to be seen and heard. By demystifying the Census and ACS, we\u2019re not just driving participation\u2014we\u2019re ensuring that every person in Alabama has access to the resources and representation they deserve,\u201d explains Alabama Values Executive Director Anneshia Hardy, \u201cThis is how we build a future where everyone counts.”<\/p>\n

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Mitchell Brown, Senior Director of Voting Rights with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice emphasized why Census education is such an important cause for his organization to focus on. “It’s important for SCSJ to be a part of Down for the Count because the Census is the basis for a lot of funding decisions as well as voting power and people don’t know that. Our goal in joining this initiative is to help provide education to community members through the South as well as providing tangible resources to grassroots groups that are doing the on-the-ground work. SCSJ and SOLVE are glad to be a part of this initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Down For The Count provides Census education to Alabama\u2019s underrepresented communities through:<\/p>\n