Mayor Purzycki and Council President Shabazz Announce the Members of Wilmington’s Complete Count Census Committee
May 6, 2019
The city will coordinate with County and State so all citizens are counted in the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census; the public is urged to attend two May job fairs in Wilmington that will fill jobs associated with the census
Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and City Council President Hanifa Shabazz today announced the members of the City’s Complete Count Committee (CCC) for the upcoming 2020 United States Census. The national census, which will begin one year from now, on April 1st of 2020, is conducted every 10 years. It is used to determine federal funds, grants, and support to cities and states. The census is required by the U.S. Constitution and has been conducted every decade since the year 1790.
Beginning next April, Mayor Purzycki, Council President Shabazz and the Wilmington Complete Count Committee are asking that every member of our community be prepared to participate and be counted. Those who should be counted include infants and children, renters, homeowners, undocumented residents, citizens in correctional facilities, college students residing in Wilmington during the school year, veterans, homeless, and senior citizens—in other words, EVERYONE COUNTS and EVERYONE SHOULD PARTICIPATE!
File Photo: Council President Hanifa Shabazz gives remarks during the annual Lead 360 Awards Ceremony Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Louis L. Redding City County Building in Wilmington DE. Photo By Saquan Stimpson
The members of the CCC, co-chaired by Mayor Purzycki and Council President Shabazz, are Lossie Freeman, Gov Commission, Co-chair Wilmington CCC at the State level; Dr. Hugh Broomall, Deputy Superintendent of Red Clay School District; Ebony Brown, Director of Community Health and Well-Being, Saint Francis Healthcare; Jerome Brown, President Neighborhood Planning Council-District 5; Paul Calistro, Executive Director of West End Neighborhood House; Chaz Enerio, Deputy Director for Ministry of Caring; Tamera Fair, Executive Director of The Achievement Center (Wilmington HOPE Commission); Drewry Nash Fennell, Chief Officer of Strategic Communication and Development, Christiana Care Health System; Stephen Groff, Director of the Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance, Delaware Health and Social Services; Logan Herring, CEO of REACH Riverside; John Hill, Executive Director of the Wilmington Housing Authority; Dr. Mark Holodick, Superintendent of Brandywine School District; Reverend Thomas Laymon, President and CEO of Sunday Breakfast Mission; Maria Matos, President and CEO of the Latin American Community Center; David Mosely, Founder and Director of the Delaware Center for Homeless Veterans; Reverend Dr. Vincent Oliver, President of Interdenominational Ministers Action Council (IMAC); Cathy Smith, Planning and Development Manager-DART; Michelle Taylor, President and CEO of the United Way of Delaware; John Wellons, President and CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Delaware; Alison Windle, Executive Director of Southbridge Community Center.
The only U.S. Census Office for the State of Delaware will open later this summer in Wilmington at 1313 N. Market Street. Wilmington is partnering with New Castle County on upcoming Job Fairs so local residents can apply for and work for the local U.S. Census Office. Prepare your resume now for jobs that include Lead Census Field Manager, IT Manager, Recruiting Manager, Admin Manager, Area Census Office Manager, and Listers. Learn more and apply online at https://2020census.gov/en/jobs.
There are two Job Fairs scheduled this month at:
The Woodlawn Library (2020 W. 9th St)
•Thursday, May 14, 5pm-8:30pm
•Saturday, May 18, 11am-3pm
The Wilmington Library (Rodney Square, 10 E 10th St)
•Friday, May 10, 10am-2pm
•Saturday, May 11, 10am-2pm
•Wednesday, May 15, 4pm-8pm
How do I participate in the 2020 Census beginning next April?
On April 1, 2020, every person will have a chance to participate by answering 10 to 11 survey questions. It should only take about 10 minutes to fill out your survey. Look for the Census form to come to your address by mail on or before April 1, 2020, next year. It will contain a ‘unique housing ID number’ that you will need to complete your survey. You will have the option to fill it out electronically-online or on your smartphone, dial in by phone, or you may request a paper form. The goal is for everyone to answer the survey on or before April 1, 2020. Please answer ALL of the questions completely for everyone residing at your address. Your answers to the questions will be completely confidential.
Why does participating in the Census 2020 matter to me?
The census is so important because the results directly impact the federal funding that comes to our state for services, infrastructure, and representation. The US Census Count determines Delaware’s share of the $675 billion of federal funds that are distributed to the states. An undercount means we don’t get our share of these needed funds and City of Wilmington residents are disproportionately impacted.
An accurate 2020 Census count is critical to adequately funding programs which include:
•Medicaid and Medicare Part B
•Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
•Highway Planning and Construction
•Public Housing, Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, & Assistance Payments
•National School Lunch Program
•State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
•Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
•Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
•Headstart/ Early Head Start
•Foster Care (Title IV-E)
Census data is also crucial to political representation. The population count determines how many seats each state gets in the U.S. House of Representatives and how the congressional and state representative districts are redrawn based on population shifts.
Mayor Purzycki and Council President Shabazz said the CCC will implement a year-long strategy to increase awareness of and participation in the census, with a particular focus on hard-to-count populations like children and the homeless. The committee will create sub-committees to help accomplish its goals and will also keep residents informed of employment opportunities with the U.S. Census.
File Photo: Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki opening remarks during the annual Lead 360 Awards Ceremony Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Louis L. Redding City County Building in Wilmington DE. Photo By Saquan Stimpson
The Mayor and Council President note that certain population groups—referred to as “hard-to-count”—are at a higher risk of not being fully counted in the decennial census. Some of these groups have been historically underrepresented in the decennial census for decades; some may experience new or increased vulnerability due to major changes in methodology, such as relying on the internet as the primary way for households to respond to the 2020 Census; and some may be reluctant to respond due to concerns about data confidentiality. When citizens are not counted it leads to unequal access to vital public and private resources for these individuals and groups that are sometimes not counted.
COMMUNITY AND MEDIA INQUIRIES:
John Rago
Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Communications
Mobile: (302) 420-7928
Email: jrago@WilmingtonDE.gov