RyeCity REVIEW THE
August 20, 2021 | Vol. 9, Number 31 | www.ryecityreview.com
Westchester 2020 census population hits record high
A decade later The county-owned Glen Island seawall, pavilions and sidewalks in New Rochelle that were damaged during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 have been fully restored as part of a $7.9 million project. For more, see page 6.
Director of Westchester Center for Racial Equity named The YWCA White Plains & senior advisor to the president Central Westchester has appoint- and CEO of the National Urban ed Maria Smith Dautruche di- League. She previously served rector of its newly created West- as vice president in the league’s chester Center for Racial Equity, partnerships and advancement effective Aug. 2, 2021. office for five years, raising more The Center for Racial Equi- than $60 million and playing a ty was launched April 2021 as a critical role in shaping the orgadedicated space for working to- nization’s current racial equity wards advancing racial equity in partnerships. In January 2021, Westchester County by provid- Dautruche led the organization ing the vision, the place and the of Westchester County’s first obcommunity to sustain anti-racist servance of the National Day of work. It offers training programs, Racial Healing, an annual event learning opportunities, consult- sponsored by the W. K. Kellogg ing services and leadership devel- Foundation focused on racial opment, and enables the YWCA healing and transformation efto fulfill its mission to eliminate forts across the US. Dautruche racism. The center also will fos- most recently completed Northter community accountability western University’s Leading through the use of a Racial Equi- Racial Equity and Inclusion in ty scorecard that tracks progress Organizations course modules in eliminating racial disparities and Rx for Racial Healing Circle in key sectors such as health, facilitator training. housing, economic empower“Maria is an ideal inaugument/wealth accumulation, ed- ral director for the Westchester ucation and criminal justice. Center for Racial Equity,” said Dautruche, a Westchester native, Maria Imperial, CEO of the brings to the center a wealth of YWCA White Plains & Central experience, most recently as Westchester. “She is a transfor-
mational leader who will build community, inspire change and foster healing in Westchester County. I look forward to partnering with her to advance the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.”“It is a real honor for me to step into this role,” Dautruche says. “Having worked on racial equity initiatives and strategies at the national level, I am eager to work here in Westchester County where I grew up. I believe my visionary and collaborative leadership style will guide the Center’s success and that of its partners in this work throughout the region and the YWCA USA network.”A 2005 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh (B.A. in Africana Studies and Communications), she earned a master’s in Arts & Cultural Management from Pratt Institute in 2009. She is an alum of the National Urban League Washington Bureau Certificate in Advocacy Program and the ULI/ Project REAP Academy. Dautruche was an Independent Sec-
tor NGen Fellow in 2018, a 92Y Women in Power and completed Yale School of Management’s Interpersonal and Group Dynamics facilitator training, both in 2017. She’s also a co-founder of New Voices for Reproductive Justice—a powerful organizing force for the health and well-being of Black women and girls, women of color and LGBTQ+ people of color at the local, state (PA and OH) and national levels. Dautruche has been engaged locally as a member of the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus and Community Voices Heard and served on the Westchester County African American Advisory Board (20182020).The Racial Equity Center has been made possible by funding from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, Pepsico, United Way of Westchester and Putnam, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Westchester County Board of Legislators and Looking Out Foundation. (Submitted)
As of April 1, 2020 Westchester County had 1,004,457 people living in its borders according to the 2020 Census. The new resident population of 1,004,457 is the highest it has ever been in Westchester County, according to census data. “I always knew we were a big County, big in culture, big in business, big in life and now also big in population,” Westchester County Executive George Latimer said.“I want to thank Westchester residents for making Westchester count. No one is fleeing this county—they are coming here to be part of Westchester. This Census news continues a trend of good news for Westchester County. Our economy is thriving, businesses both small and large are growing, crime is down, and our vaccination rate is among the highest in the state.”
Westchester County Population
2010 949,113 2000 923,459 1990 874,866 1980 866,599 An accurate count enables Westchester County to receive billions of dollars in state and federal funding that is allocated based on population, and can be used for schools, infrastructure, roads, hospitals, fire departments and after-school programs. The 2019 Census population estimate was 967,000, well below the 2020 population number. On April 1, 2019, Latimer signed an executive order and announced the formation of the Westchester County Complete Count Committee to include geographic, ethnic and constituency representatives from
many of the traditionally hard to count populations. The Complete Count committees worked with census advocates, community-based organizations, local municipal Complete Count committees and college students to get the word out about the importance of a full and complete count for the 2020 Census. Included in the county’s efforts to promote the 2020 Census was a robust public awareness campaign in both English and in Spanish, which included advertising on billboards, county buses and bus shelters, bookmarks and stickers, and more. Latimer also rolled out a series of seven public service announcements, each one focused on a different target audience for the census from youth to clergy to business leaders. The census portal opened on March 12, 2020, while the county was beginning to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic caused the county to pivot activities and outreach efforts accommodating a lockdown and social distancing. “The County’s role in the 2020 Census was unprecedented compared to previous Census events,” said Norma Drummond, county commissioner of Planning. “We took hold of this challenge and didn’t leave the work to the Census Bureau and municipalities. Westchester’s success in achieving a higher percentage of self-response was partly due to the work done well in advance of 2020 to ensure the Census Bureau had more accurate addresses to reach out to. The results of the County’s efforts show the hard work paid off.” Latimer said: “We kicked off a robust awareness campaign a full year before Census was set to begin, establishing a Complete Count Committee that put CENSUS continued on page 9