Excelencia Gala

COUNTING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY

Once every ten years, the United States begins a massive undertaking: counting every citizen in the country.

The results of the Census are vital to the development of communities and to the distribution of critical resources, determining not only the number of Congress seats each state receives, but also influencing the amount of funding an area is allocated for health insurance, transportation, environmental protection, child care, hospitals, schools and much more.

That means that when households fail to respond to the U.S. Census Bureau, it could result in a lower distribution of resources and services than is actually needed.

That’s why, ahead of the 2020 Census, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce led an expansive outreach effort to encourage and ensure participation in this year’s polling. The Hispanic Complete Count Committee targeted Hispanic communities throughout the State of Louisiana with print, online and radio advertising to share information and resources on how (and when) to complete

the 2020 Census. Critical funding for these efforts was secured through grants from Entergy, National League of Cities and the Urban League of Louisiana. Since minority-populated areas often receive disproportionate funding, providing comprehensive and accurate data this year will directly influence how the Hispanic community is represented on both the local and national levels, especially post-COVID. The Hispanic Complete Count Committee’s efforts resulted in thousands of Census responses that might otherwise have gone uncounted. The greatest question is: Were you a part of that number?