Census 2020 Morris County Stakeholders Meet to Educate and Organize Effort to Tackle Census Challenge

Wind of the Spirit, Parsippany-Troy Hills Township and the U.S. Census Bureau Partner to

Organize Community Resources to Get Out the Count in 2020

Morris Plains, NJ—On Thursday, September 5, Census 2020 Morris County Stakeholders will meet to educate and organize efforts to tackle the Census challenges. Wind of the Spirit and the U.S. Census Bureau are partnering to arrange community resources to get out the count in 2020. They will present at their second meeting with community leaders and stakeholders’ ways to galvanize and address the challenges of the 2020 Census. The meeting will feature Michael Soriano, Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor, the U.S. Census Bureau, Brian Lozano, lead organizer for Wind of the Spirit’s Morristown-based organization, and Melissa “Missy” Elias, co-coordinator of the Census 2020 Wind of the Spirit’s Initiative. Wind of the Spirit is a Complete Count Committee and a member of the Census 2020 New Jersey Coalition Steering Committee and is spearheading the Morris County efforts. The New Jersey effort is led by the State of New Jersey’s State Complete Count Commission and the U.S. Census Bureau.

The public is welcomed to attend.

WHAT:     Census 2020 Morris County Stakeholders Meeting

WHERE:  Parsippany Hills High School, 20 Rita Drive, Morris Plains, NJ

WHEN:    Thursday, September 5, 7:00pm to 9:00 pm

NOTE:      Press RSVPs are appreciated. Registration for stakeholders is required at census@windofthespirit.net

Event Information:

The 2020 Census is right around the corner and there is a lot at stake for New Jersey. The environment, healthcare, housing, food, social services programs – all depend on billions of federal dollars. As a result of the 2010 Census, New Jersey received more than $22.7 billion in fiscal year 2016. With a current budget of $38.6 billion, it is imperative that our state has a full count in 2020. New Jersey needs a complete and accurate count to avoid gaps in funding, resources, services, and various programs. If there is an undercount, communities can also be affected by the reduction of political representation. Wind of the Spirit’s 2020 Census Coordinators and their partners want community members to participate and define how democracy works for the Morris County population. This meeting will explore how residents, business owners, elected officials and organizational leaders of  Morris County can get involved in understanding and confronting the challenges of the 2020 Census to ensure everyone is counted.

More from the Leading Organizers:

“The Census touches all of our lives in ways most of us never realize,” says Parsippany Mayor Michael Soriano. “Ensuring an accurate count of every person in Parsippany, our municipalities, and our County, safeguards our ability to receive representation, funding, and resources that will keep our communities and state thriving.  From our schools to our roads, every resident counts towards getting our fair share.” Soriano stresses the importance of making sure that everyone in our lives: children, seniors, neighbors, friends, and family are counted. “I’m proud to partner with the U.S. Census Bureau and Wind of the Spirit to make this happen.”

Melissa Elias, is co-coordinating the Census 2020 Initiative for Wind of the Spirit. Melissa states that, “We have identified and prioritized outreach plans and are developing models and taking action to educate and engage each of our historically Hard to Count communities—our African-American, Asian and Latino populations, children 0-5, renters, veterans, our seniors, immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, the disabled, the disenfranchised, and, non-English speakers. Wind of the Spirit is also coordinating with other outreach efforts around the state. Please join us–all are welcome.”

Brian Lozano, Lead Organizer for the Morristown based organization, adds, “2020 includes new challenges to collecting data. A digital platform will be introduced to the census process, a system that raises concerns about privacy, cyber security and universal access in the face of an increasing digital divide. Although the citizenship question has been removed, the lasting effects of that conversation and other current events have caused nationwide distrust of the government, and fears, unfounded or not, have grown exponentially nationwide. It is important we learn what privacy laws are in place to protect everyone.”

Jeff Behler, U.S. Census Bureau New York Regional Director says, “While a Census is a National event, in order to be successful, it must be conducted at the local level. This starts with hiring people to work in their own communities.  We look forward to working with Wind of the Spirit to ensure that together we provide easy and ample opportunities for local community members to apply to Census jobs.”

About Wind of the Spirit:

Wind of the Spirit is a nonprofit organization with the aim to ensure justice and inclusion for immigrant communities through community organizing, advocacy, legal services, health and safety initiatives. These services are available to all who hope to further the cause.