Census Maryland 2020 Newsletter, August 28, 2020
Maryland Department of Planning sent this bulletin at 08/28/2020 04:24 PM EDT
IMPORTANT!The NEW Census Deadline is September 30thThe date for self-response to the 2020 Census is September 30 after the 32 Days Left Until Census Ends!
Congratulations to our Census Champions!Six Named Maryland Census Champions - Each Help Make a Difference in Our Complete CountOur champions this week are:
A Maryland Census Champion is a person or group that has gone above and beyond in spreading the Census message in their community. Census Champions have devised innovative ways to get their community engaged in completing the 2020 Census. The individual or group being nominated could be a member of a local complete committee, a faith leader, a business leader/owner, or even someone in the community making a difference. Recipients of the Census Champion will be highlighted in this newsletter, on social media, and on the Maryland 2020 Census Champions web page. Download the Census Champion Nomination form and nominate a champion in your community today.  Rev. Joshua AgbodekaRev. Joshua Agbodeka is pastor of Heavenly Kingdom Bible Church, one of the largest immigrant and multicultural faith communities in Baltimore County. Rev Agbodeka has thrown his support behind the Census count of hard-to-reach immigrant communities since 2019. He has given access to the premises of the church to the Women’s Home Preservation Fund (WHPF) to conduct 2020 Census outreach for as long as it is needed to count every member of his church and beyond. As a moral leader, his full endorsement of the Census has created a safe space where immigrant communities feel confident to register during the weekly Census drives held by the WHPF at Heavenly Kingdom Bible Church.  Mike AmanahuMike Amanahu is an African immigrant success story. Mike is the owner of Heritage International Food, a popular African and Caribbean grocery outlet in Randallstown, Baltimore County. Mike did not hesitate to support the Census count of immigrant communities in the county by allowing the Women’s Home Preservation Fund (WHPF) to hold weekly census outreach at his store. Through these efforts, the WHPF is successfully helping to register hard-to-reach immigrant communities in the Census. Mike preached Census participation, leading by example, when he completed his form in his store. His credibility in the community helps to remove barriers to participation in the Census by immigrants.  Laura Berrios, Carlos Berrios, and Josh McCormickLaura Berrios, Carlos Berrios, and Josh McCormick have exceeded expectations in their volunteer service to Anne Arundel County, as well as the United States Census Bureau. Ms. Berrios was a member of the Anne Arundel County Complete Count Committee (CCC) representing Anne Arundel Community College (AACC). Her service on the CCC has been invaluable to get a large population of the county on board with the Census and motivated to participate in the 2020 Census. Once the COVID-19 pandemic struck Maryland, AACC released Ms. Berrios from employment. However this did not deter her from continued service. The Anne Arundel County CCC was in need of volunteers, so much so that they placed notices through the County’s Office of Emergency Management. Ms. Berrios took it upon herself to recruit her son, Carlos Berrios, and friend Josh McCormick to fill the roles that were needed. This team of three enhanced the public-facing approach and, alone, participated at 40 Anne Arundel County Public School Meal Distribution Sites, 20 Mobile Meal Distribution Sites, multiple food truck rallies and crab feasts, and events at volunteer fire houses. Anne Arundel County’s numbers would not be where they are had it not been for these three individuals answering the call to action. In the face of adversity, three ordinary residents have faithfully served the complete count cause. Their efforts reflect the best of Anne Arundel County and the mission of community service all residents should strive for.  Sandie GreeneSandie Greene has excellent person skills and is a tireless and creative user of email and the phone. Sandie created a network of contacts of on-the-ground resources for trusted voices to promote the importance of the Census. She personified “The Little Engine That Could” for the St. Mary’s County Census outreach effort. Sandie exhibits that "I-know-I-can" spirit for the Census every day. She has contacted and enlisted the cooperation of civic clubs, Meals on Wheels, veteran groups, fire and rescue departments, food pantries, senior and group homes, soup kitchens, public and private schools, the Town of Leonardtown, NAS Patuxent River, local businesses, churches, and post offices. She arranged the cooperation of the county Department of Emergency Services in placing movable digital signs at key intersections to remind motorists to fill out the Census. Sandie is the liaison with the county’s subcommittees: Education, Human Services, Business, Community Services, and Media. She has downloaded and printed Census flyers to take to subcommittees for distribution. Lee Osberry, Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, and Sandie have coordinated supplying Census promotional products to many of the groups contacted above for distribution to residents. Sandie Greene participates on weekly calls, taking notes, following up on the good ideas she has heard, and reporting what she has been doing.  Safa HiraSafa Hira is a Community Liaison in the Howard County Office of the County Executive. She has served as a key official in coordinating Census messaging from the executive office and providing oversight of intraagency promotion of Census completion and important deadline information. Safa has helped produce a series of Census-related promotional videos and social media content to build public awareness of the county's Census participation rate and has helped to coordinate Census information access for on-site and digital outreach events.  Young SmithYoung Smith is a community advocate who leverages her work with families and neighborhoods to promote Census completion in some of our historically low-counted areas. She is President of the Howard County League of Korean Americans (LOKA-HC), and has successfully executed several on-site Census promotional events at key locations in underrepresented census tracts. With the help of LOKA-HC members, Young has successfully promoted these events to hundreds of Korean residents and helped more than three dozen individuals and families complete their Census forms in person. Already Taken the Census? Let Us KnowLet us know if you’ve already taken the Census by clicking the I've Been Counted link below. We’ll keep you updated to help you:
I've Been Counted
Follow Maryland Census 2020 on Twitter and Facebook – Follow @MdCensus2020 and like @MdCensus2020 – to stay in touch with Maryland's Census 2020 complete count efforts. Join the conversation by using hashtag #2020MDCensus on Facebook and on Twitter. In This Issue
Note: If the bookmark links to the articles above do not work, check that your pop-up blocker is turned off. Otherwise, scroll down in the newsletter to see the articles. Upcoming Meetings and EventsFor further details, go to the Maryland Census 2020 Events page
News and EventsAs of August 28, Maryland Self-Response Rate at 69.1 PercentAs of August 28, Maryland’s self-response rate for the 2020 Census is 69.1 percent, while the national average is 64.7 percent. Maryland is tied for 9th place in the U.S. and just 0.2% behind #8 Virginia. Maryland remains 2nd in the region, behind only Virginia at 69.3 percent. Maryland is ahead of Pennsylvania (67.6 percent), Delaware (62.2 percent), the District of Columbia (61.1 percent), and West Virginia (55.6 percent). Carroll (80.7 percent and number 23 in the entire U.S. out of 3,200+ counties), Howard (79.4 percent), and Frederick (77.3 percent) counties are leading the state. Twenty-three Maryland counties/jurisdictions have achieved self-response rates of over 50 percent and 15 counties' rates exceed the national average. Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery (new this week), St. Mary's, Talbot and Washington (new this week) counties have all exceeded their 2010 self-response rates. View Maryland County and Municipality Response Rates at the MDP's Census 2020 Response Rate At-A-Glance Dashboard  The Maryland Department of Planning's
Congratulations to These Counties and Municipalities that Exceeded Their 2010 Response Rate in the 2020 Census This WeekMontgomery and Washington Counties Edmonston, Indian Head, and Union Bridge     
Wicomico-Salisbury Complete Count Committee and Planning Connect People to the Census at Food Distribution Event in SalisburyOn Saturday, August 22, the Wicomico-Salisbury Complete Count Committee and Planning staff participated in a food distribution event at Prince Street Elementary school sponsored by Adopt A Block. Planning's "Did You Know" school lunch flyer was inserted in every food bag and the committee manned a Census table that offered laptops for people to complete their form. Volunteers from the local United Way chapter and the committee were at the table to provide visitors Census items and information if they were not able to complete their form at that time. In all, the committee made it possible for eight more households to complete their Census form. 
Maryland Census Champion Dorothy Stoltz Featured in Local Heroes Video SeriesRep. Jamie Raskin (8th District) speaks with Dorothy Stoltz in the August 28 Local Heroes Video Series. Local Heroes is a weekly program featuring Marylanders acting creatively and bravely to help our community through the coronavirus crisis. Dorothy is the Director of Community Engagement for the Carroll County Library and a Maryland Census Champion. 
Time Is Running Out: Everyone Living in the U.S. Must Be CountedIf you have already completed the 2020 Census—thank you! Now we need your help to rally the rest of your community. Over 75% of housing units have been accounted for in the 2020 Census, but there is still more work to be done for all of us. Become a community champion and encourage others to respond immediately. With just a few clicks, you can help us reach your family members, friends, and neighbors on social media who might not have responded. Every response matters! Spread the Word with resources from the U.S. Census Bureau 
Kent County Free Clothing Giveaway and Census Parade This WeekendSaving Hope Consulting and the Kent County Complete Count Committee are loading a truck with donated clothing and traveling through several neighborhoods in the county while promoting the 2020 Census. The trucks will be departing from East Coast Storage (300 Talbot Blvd. in Chestertown) at 8:40 a.m. and traveling through neighborhoods in the areas listed on the flyer below.
Increasing The Census Count In Baltimore City: The Women’s Home Preservation Fund Hold Census Drives in East BaltimoreThe Women’s Home Preservation Fund held a successful Census registration drive at Northeast Market on Wednesday, August 26, at the Northeast Market. Census Takers Jackie Cossier and Tempestt were on hand to help people complete their Census form. The organization also distributed face masks and hand sanitizers to the community. During this four-hour event, a total of 37 people completed the Census on-site. On average, each respondent registered 2 additional family members. The Women’s Home Preservation Fund will run the Northeast Market Census outreach every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. until September 30. 
Back to School in the Classroom or With Remote LearningHow big is the earnings gap based on education levels? How many children and adults were enrolled in school (from nursery to college) throughout the country in October 2018? Find out and discover other interesting information in our Back to School Fun Facts handout and accompanying teaching guide for classroom or at-home instruction. Teacher-designed – Teachers helped create and review each activity to make sure it is valuable and engaging. Statistics in Schools brings school subjects to life using real-world Census Bureau data to create materials for use year after year at all grade levels. Learn more at the U.S. Census Bureau
Census Bureau Announces Survey to Measure 2020 Census Online Response SatisfactionOn August 21, the U.S. Census Bureau announced the new 2020 Census User Experience Survey, a survey measuring how satisfied respondents were with their online experience with the 2020 Census questionnaire. The data collection for the online response satisfaction survey began August 17 and will end in October. The 2020 Census marks the first time households have been invited to respond online using a computer, smartphone or tablet. Read Full Article at the U.S. Census Bureau 
Gulf Coast Businesses in the Path of Hurricane LauraAbout 2.4 Million Businesses Nationwide Are in Areas Most Vulnerable to Hurricanes – As Hurricane Laura impacts the Gulf Coast, emergency officials are paying close attention to the growing share (29%) of the U.S. population in the nation’s 255 coastline counties. Of the 7.8 million employer businesses in the United States, 2.5 million (or 31.9%) are in coastline counties. These businesses employed 37.1 million workers (28.9% of the national total), who earned $2.3 trillion in annual payroll in 2017. While the share of all businesses in coastline counties is similar to the share of the U.S. population living in these counties, the mix of business types doesn’t always mirror the population. The way businesses are distributed in coastline areas gets even more interesting from state to state. To learn more, continue reading at the U.S. Census Bureau
Share Some Images on Your Social Media PlatformsGo the Census Social Media page to download images you can share with your followers.
Local Complete Count Committee
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Census Maryland 2020 Social Media
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Follow @MDCensus2020 on Facebook and Twitter
August 27: Councilwoman Nicole Acle talking about the Census!
August 28: Congrats Edmonston on surpassing your 2010 Census Self-Response Rate. Let's keep it up!
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