What is the census?
The census is a part of democracy that matters to all Minnesotans. $15 billion allocated to Minnesota by U.S. census data is at stake. This critical funding supports vital programs like Medicaid, highway planning, and programs that aid low-income households, rural communities, and communities of color. Every person we count matters and contributes to our beautiful and vibrant community.
The census and nonprofits
Nonprofits have a critical role to promote community participation and build power. The census is about equity and inclusion and making sure that there is fair political representation and distribution of resources. We are all stronger when our democracy is strong. We are all stronger when communities are using their voice and power to help shape and change the systems that impact them every day – especially communities that have been historically disenfranchised.
How can nonprofits get involved?
- Develop an internal strategy to develop a culture of civic participation within your organization. Is there census material out for staff, board, and volunteers? Do you send an all-staff email linking them to information on how to fill out their census form? Do you remind your internal staff that filling out the census is important and that they should participate?
- Plan your organization’s census outreach & mobilization campaign. Host fun, engaging, census education efforts. Be creative! Give people good information about why and how to respond to the census.
- Take our nonprofit census pledge! By taking our pledge your organization acknowledges the importance of the census and is committed to doing at least one thing to mobilize MN. Head over and take MCN’s 2020 census mobilization pledge --> http://bit.ly/MCNCensusPledge
- Stay tuned to the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits’ work on the census. For more information contact Michelle Chang, policy and equity coordinator, at (mchang@minnestoanonprofits.org.