PHILADELAPHIA AFRICAN AND CARIBBEAN COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEES HOST CENSUS AWARENESS WEEKEND MARCH 12-14 

Mayor Nutter to Attend March 13

Philadelphia, PA – The Philadelphia African Complete Count Committee and the Philadelphia Caribbean Complete Count Committee will host“Census Awareness Weekend," March 12 -14 to raise awareness about the2010 Census and encourage the African and Caribbean communities to participate.

African and Caribbean residents have been under-represented in past census counts because the questionnaires did not allow for individuals to write in their nationality. Further, many African and Caribbean immigrants have been concerned that information shared with the census bureau could adversely affect access to city services or be given to law enforcement agencies. 

During Census Awareness Weekend events, the Complete Count Committees will highlight the Executive Order signed by Mayor Nutter on November 10th, 2009 making clear that all city services are accessible to Philadelphia residents, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. They will also underscore the inclusion of “question 9” in the 2010 Census, which will allow individuals to write in their nationality -- helping to ensure a full count of African and Caribbean residents.

The Census is important as the results determine how $400 billion infederal spending is allocated in local communities. This is especially critical in African and Caribbean communities throughout the United States, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. 

The weekend schedule at a glance:

March 12 – Members of the African and Caribbean Complete Count Committees will be visiting various mosques to promote participation in the Census from 11am to 1pm.
March 13 – Committee volunteers will canvass targeted areas in Philadelphia to disseminate Census 2010 materials from 10 am to 2 pm. MAIN EVENT at Sikira Hall, 1040 South 57th Street, from 3pm to 9 pm. Mayor Nutter will speak at the event between 7 and 8 pm.
March 14 – Members of the Census Complete Count Committees will be visiting various Churches to promote participation in the Census at 11am.

Contacts:
Sophia Scott (610) 203-3215
Caribbean Complete Count Committee Census 2010
Sam Togba Slewion (215) 964-3217
African Complete Count Committee Census 2010
Tricia Enright (215) 686-2161
Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Mayor