The Rawlings-Blake Review #5: Census 2010

Baltimore City Website

In This Issue

4-10 Challenge

Maryland Interfaith Summit

Park Heights Community Census Kickoff

A Global Women's Celebration

Is Now the Right Time To Buy a Home?

Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower Open Studio Day

Boy Scouts of America Annual Scouting for Food Drive

Money Power Day

9th Annual City of Baltimore Procurement and Outreach Fair

Dear Friends:

April 1, 2010, will mark Census Day. It is the day when we count all persons living in the City of Baltimore. This week, I was joined at City Hall by community, business and faith leaders, members of Baltimore's international and immigrant community, other city, state and federal partners to announce our efforts to ensure a complete count of Baltimore's residents in this year's Census.

As mandated in our nation's Constitution, the Census count impacts one of our most fundamental and cherished rights. It determines how we will be represented in Congress, in the Maryland General Assembly and Baltimore's City Council.

Census 2010 data will also directly affect how much of the approximately $4 trillion in available federal funds is allocated to our city over the next 10 years. For each Baltimore City resident, there is approximately $1,000 available per year. Over the next decade, that comes to $10,000 per person to fund vital health care, education and transportation resources.

This year, I want the people of Baltimore to take the Census seriously. In 2000, the national Census mail-in response rate was 67%. The government considered that a success. Unfortunately, Baltimore City's mail-in response rate was only 53%! It was the lowest mail-in response rate of any city of comparable size. Detroit's response rate was 62%. This is unacceptable. We cannot afford this as a city. It means too much for our schools, our economy, and our community.

It is important that leaders from every community come together like they did this week. After all, counting every living person in Baltimore is not a simple task.

Several areas within Baltimore City have been identified by the federal government as "hard to count." Many people have been displaced during these challenging economic times. In the last 10 years, the city has seen a large increase in households with limited English speaking ability. We have a very large population of young people-college students living off-campus who need to be made aware that they must fill out their form because they won't be counted at their parents' residence.

Thankfully, Baltimore has implemented some innovative initiatives to help count more people this year than in 2000:

First, the City's Census Subcabinet consists of all departments' and agencies' public information officers, communications directors and community liaisons so that a Census message is integrated into all City operations. They will ensure that people get the Census message in the water bill, at community meetings and in text messages!
Second, because of our early involvement of the city's youth with a design contest at Digital Harbor High School, in November the Bureau launched the National Census in Schools Campaign right here in Baltimore. Students in Baltimore will be learning about the Census in their regular classes, and they'll be empowered to make sure that they are counted.
Third, we launched a "Guess Baltimore's Population" contest where anyone can estimate the number of people who are in the City on April 1, 2010. This will be fun and engage more people than we have in the past.

The innovation I am most excited about is the 4-10 Challenge. This is a friendly competition open to all of our community partners: faith institutions, businesses, community organizations, and non-profits. I am pleased to announce that we already have over 30 organizations signed up.

There are four tens I challenged everyone to concentrate on during the next 30 days. In short, we want you to take 10 minutes to answer 10 questions to help secure 10 years of funding, then go tell 10 people!

Each participating organization will receive a toolkit to help them get started with the 4-10 challenge. I want people to be as creative as possible. Later this year, we will recognize participants with the most creative outreach at an awards ceremony at City Hall with some great prize packages from the Census Bureau.

For more information visit the 2010 Baltimore Complete Count Campaign website at www.baltimorecity.gov/2010Census.

Let's work together to ensure a complete count during the upcoming 2010 Census. This is a once in a decade chance for our voices to be heard. We need to make sure all Baltimoreans know that it is easy, safe and vitally important to for our community be counted.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Mayor, City of Baltimore

Census 2010 Events

4-10 Challenge

March 1 - April 1
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is challenging you and your organization to take 10 minutes to fill out the 10 Census questions throughout the month of March, so that Baltimore City can maximize the federal and state funding it will receive over the next 10 years. After you fill out and mail in your Census form, contact 10 other people and urge them to fill it out. Encourage everyone in the organizations you work with to participate in the 4-10 Challenge throughout the month of March. The contest will run from March 1st and will end on Census day, April 1, 2010.

Prizes will be awarded to organizations that use the most creative outreach methods to get the word out about the Census (block parties, posters, promotions, etc.).

NOTE: Only Census employees are allowed to collect Census forms. This competition is SOLELY to spread awareness about the Census and encourage participation).

For more information, visit www.baltimorecity.gov/2010Census.

Maryland Interfaith Summit

Tuesday, March 9, 8:30am - 10:30am
Learn how you can be a partner to ensure an accurate count for the 2010 Census in Maryland. Join with state and faith leaders at a FREE summit to receive informational materials for your congregation or community. This even, hosted by the Statewide Complete Count Committee, will be held at Cardinal Shehan School, 5407 Loch Raven Boulevard. RSVP as soon as possible to faith@goci.state.md.us.

Park Heights Community Census Kickoff

Thursday, March 11 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Get involved, get counted and bring a neighbor! Hear from local leaders, including Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake as Park Heights kicks off its 2010 Census efforts. This event will include onsite testing for Census jobs. The kickoff will be held at the Zeta Community Center, 4501 Reisterstown Road.