To partner with the County or for more information on the Census Caravans or any of DeKalb CCC’s efforts, please contact the Office of Commissioner Connie Stokes at 404-371-3053, e-mail conniestokes@co.dekalb.ga.us, or sign up on-line at www.conniestokes.org.
DECATUR – DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis and Super District 7 Commissioner Connie Stokes, DeKalb Count Complete Count Committee Chair, have formed a partnership with the United States Census Bureau to ensure every DeKalb County resident is counted in the upcoming 2010 Census.
“A full and accurate count positions DeKalb to get its fair share of the more than $400 billion of available funds to support vital local services such as health care, schools, law enforcement, and transportation, as well as making sure our interests are represented at the congressional level,” said CEO Ellis. “It is estimated that Georgia could gain two additional congressional seats if everyone is counted.”
As census day draws near, the County has launched several innovate campaigns to raise awareness and encourage its residents to return completed census forms by April 1. Initiatives include Complete Count Communities, Census Caravans, and Census Night Out.
The creation of Complete County Communities is a grassroots effort in which every homeowner association, civic association, and apartment community will be responsible for making sure every resident is counted. Communities may raise awareness and motivate their neighbors to participate in the 2010 Census by disseminating information door to door, or sending messages out via calling posts, websites, newsletters, or e-blasts.
To partner with the County, communities can call the Office of Commissioner Connie Stokes at 404-371-3053, e-mail conniestokes@co.dekalb.ga.us, or sign up on-line at www.conniestokes.org.
DeKalb is also set to travel through “hard to count” neighborhoods raising awareness about the census. Census caravans will proceed through neighborhoods beginning at Noon on the following dates:
- Saturday, March 13, 2010 –Decatur/Ellenwood
- Saturday, March 20, 2010 – Buford Highway Corridor –Doraville/Chamblee
- Saturday, March 27, 2010 – Decatur/Lithonia/Stone Mountain
For complete caravan routes, or to participate in the Census Caravans, call the Office of Commissioner Connie Stokes at 404-371-3053, e-mail conniestokes@co.dekalb.ga.us, or sign up on-line at www.conniestokes.org.
During the Census Night Out, communities throughout DeKalb County will simultaneously implement activities such as festivals, block parties, and barbeques to raise awareness and motivate residents to participate in the 2010 Census. Census Night Out is scheduled for Thursday, March 25, 2010 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. County and Census officials will visit several neighborhoods to help raise awareness.
“Everyone in DeKalb County needs to be counted whether they are living with relatives or friends temporarily, or regardless of immigration status,” said Commissioner Connie Stokes. “Every person living in the United States of America uses resources; we drive on roads, utilize educational services, visit libraries, and have the comfort that our neighborhoods are protected by police officers. Funding for resources is determined by the census count.”
Undocumented immigrants and families may fear that providing information to census takers will compromise their safety and security. The census form does not ask about immigration status. Census responses are completely confidential and protected by the strongest national privacy laws on the books. Every census worker swears an oath to keep information confidential for life. A census worker or other government official who violates census confidentiality can be imprisoned for up to five years and fined $250,000. No other government agency; law enforcement, courts, companies, landlords, employers, banks, or creditors can get any person’s individual census information for 72 years. This information cannot even be obtained with a court order.
Commissioner Stokes or Census officials are available to speak about the Census at meetings or events. Communities and organizations may also request an article for newsletters, bulletins, or e-blasts.
For more information on the 2010 census, call (404) 371-3053, visit www.conniestokes.org or www.census.gov.
