On Sunday, March 14th, more than 100 Burmese visited the Ratana Viman Monastery in Lithonia Georgia to worship with Monk Ashin,  offer and share delicious Burmese food with each other, and hold the annual Myannmar Buddhist Association (MBA) meeting.  Nelson Tun, Chair of the Burmese Complete Count Committee and member of MBA, invited the ACCC and the US Census Bureau to attend their event and talk about the Census forms that are now arriving in the mail.  In 2000, there was a zero count for Burmese in Georgia – the Burmese community estimates there were approximately 300 Burmese in 2000, but now they have more than 3,000 in Georgia.  The 2010 Census is an especially historic moment for this community. 

A Burmese family arrive for the ceremony

Children follow the prayer / chants of Monk Ashin

The community offers food to Monk Ashin

Nelson Tun, Burmese Complete Count Committee Chair

Dao Malaythong, Chair of the Laotian Complete Count Committee and US Census Bureau specialist, was present to also provide a wonderful discussion on why participating in Census 2010 is so important.  The ACCC was on hand to provide assistance, and distribute magnet calendars and special Burmese-language palm cards that were developed by MBA, ACCC and the Leadership Conference.

Dao Malaythong, US Census Bureau Specialist and Chair, Laotian CCC

Front of the Monastary in Lithonia

Census materials are prominently displayed throughout the monastery