Why the 2020 Census Matters to You

By Nichelle Gilbert and Javier Martinez | Partnership for Community Action (PCA)

Do overcrowded classrooms affect your child’s learning? Are your local recreation centers or libraries run down and in need of repair? Do you struggle to find affordable housing near your place of work, or well-paying jobs where you live?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, we hear you and YOU count!

What is it? Why is it important?

The Census counts every person living in the United States, providing critical data to federal decision makers to assess needs and responsively allocate resources in our nation's diverse communities. This process is critical to just and equitable distribution of federal resources in our country and helps create a level playing field for all people.

Census data is used to determine the spending of billions of government dollars each year for hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and more. The data is also used to determine the number of seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, and to draw congressional and state legislative districts.

Because Census Data is only collected once every 10 years, it is a rare and important opportunity. Your community’s voice matters. Your participation in the census is a real way that you can shape your country, and make sure that your community receives their fair share of federal funds.

Connecting Communities to the Census

In partnership with AP-OD parent leaders and educational partners, PCA provides a unique opportunity to secure a strong count in New Mexico. By working with trusted parent and family leaders in the AP-OD network, we are conducting a complete count in local communities throughout the state. Relationships built through AP-OD and solidified through organizing, lay the groundwork to ensure that underserved communities are represented, counted, and that future resources are secured for them.

Leveraging our established network of families, PCA parent leaders are connecting with communities locally and statewide using community organizing approaches, conferencing technology, and other best practices to launch a census count strategy for families and children. Together, we are building a movement through connection and relationship.

A Call to Action

Connection empowers action. Relationships break barriers and contribute to systemic change. Together we rise. This is our country, these are our communities, this Census is for US.

Be counted. Your voice matters.

Click here to get involved in the national Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors Census initiative for your community!


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About PCA


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The Partnership for Community Action (PCA), based in the heart of the South Valley in Albuquerque, NM, is a grassroots community-based organization established in 1990.

Dedicated to building strong, healthy communities throughout New Mexico, PCA invests in people and families, supporting people to become strong leaders in our neighborhoods and in our state. We believe that together we rise. Using early childhood as a strategy for advocacy PCA supports reconnecting families to their inherent leadership and agency.

At PCA, we honor that parents are the first and most important teachers of their children. Through our Communities for Education and Action (CEA) model of dialogue-based AP-OD early learning classes, training workshops and opportunities to take action, we support and honor parents to become leaders in the home, school and beyond. We are building a movement of active, passionate and engaged parent advocates that promote quality early learning for our state’s children; we are transforming our communities.

www.forcommunityaction.org