Posted on Sun, Jan. 10, 2010
By GLENN E. RICE
The Kansas City Star
Concerned that minorities in the Kansas City area might not be accurately counted in the 2010 census, community and civic groups will urge residents to respond to questionnaires sent out this year.
The effort will be led by groups such as the Urban League of Greater Kansas City and the Asian Chamber of Commerce, said Dennis Johnson, regional director of the U.S. Census Bureau in Kansas City.
“Our goal is to make sure each community and each household count themselves,” Johnson said. “We want to make sure every community has the opportunity to represent themselves.”
From 2000 to 2008, the demographics for the 10-county region have shown significant growth among minority groups:
•African-Americans grew about 6 percent, from 238,000 to 252,000 residents.
•Asians increased about 43 percent, from 35,000 to 50,000 residents.
•Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders showed a 34 percent increase, from 3,200 to about 4,300.
•Hispanics, regardless of race, grew about 57 percent, from 92,000 to 144,000.
Johnson said census officials had worked with community and civic groups since 2000 to ensure that more people participate in the count.
“I can talk all day long, but I am a bureaucrat,” he said. “However, if you are a parish priest or shop owner who will come forward, then that will mean a lot. The census represents a voice for some people, and that could be a loud and strong voice.”
Gwen Grant, president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, said participation in the census was critical for the minority community.
“The 2010 census is extremely important for ‘hard-to-count’ groups, which include African-Americans, ethnic minorities and the poor, because it is used to set congressional and legislative districts and allocate federal funds,” Grant said.
“Typically, African-Americans and other minorities are undercounted.
“We support the bureau’s efforts to get an accurate count by referring minorities for employment opportunities, and we will be distributing information encouraging the 10,000 individuals we serve to participate in the census,” she said.
The NRFU phase, which stands for “Non-Response Follow-Up,” is the last in the Census process and represents the final push to collect Census information. The NRFU campaign encourages households who have not returned their Census form to welcome and cooperate with the Census taker that may knock on their door. Messaging for the NRFU campaign assures all that Census takers are sworn to secrecy and that they are there to help.
The NRFU phase, which stands for “Non-Response Follow-Up,” is the last in the Census process and represents the final push to collect Census information. The NRFU campaign encourages households who have not returned their Census form to welcome and cooperate with the Census taker that may knock on their door. Messaging for the NRFU campaign assures all that Census takers are sworn to secrecy and that they are there to help.
The NRFU phase, which stands for “Non-Response Follow-Up,” is the last in the Census process and represents the final push to collect Census information. The NRFU campaign encourages households who have not returned their Census form to welcome and cooperate with the Census taker that may knock on their door. Messaging for the NRFU campaign assures all that Census takers are sworn to secrecy and that they are there to help.
The NRFU phase, which stands for “Non-Response Follow-Up,” is the last in the Census process and represents the final push to collect Census information. The NRFU campaign encourages households who have not returned their Census form to welcome and cooperate with the Census taker that may knock on their door. Messaging for the NRFU campaign assures all that Census takers are sworn to secrecy and that they are there to help.
The NRFU phase, which stands for “Non-Response Follow-Up,” is the last in the Census process and represents the final push to collect Census information. The NRFU campaign encourages households who have not returned their Census form to welcome and cooperate with the Census taker that may knock on their door. Messaging for the NRFU campaign assures all that Census takers are sworn to secrecy and that they are there to help.
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