Census Maryland 2020 Newsletter
October 30, 2020 
Thank You For Your 2020 Census Efforts
While the process of the 2020 Census was not what we anticipated, the outcome was better than we’d even hoped. Not only did Maryland surpass our 2010 self-response rate, we surpassed many of our expectations. Four Maryland counties finished in the top 100 of the nation’s 3215 counties for self-response and our state finished solidly in 9th place in the nation! In Maryland, there were 21 counties and 91 municipalities that were able to meet or beat their 2010 self-response rates. That’s something to be proud of, and we know that it was the hard work of so many of you that made it possible.
See the Full Statement on the Maryland Census 2020 homepage
Jump to: In This Issue
Congratulations to our Census Champions!
Thirteen Named Maryland Census Champions - Each Help Make a Difference in Our Complete Count
Our champions this week are:
- Councilmember Celina Benitez, Mount Rainier
- Henry Bogdan, Nonprofit Maryland
- Charles County Media Services Staff
- Michele Ennis, Wicomico County
- Debra Keller-Greene, Greater Baltimore Black Chamber of Commerce
- Pastor Cleveland Mason, Maryland United Baptist Convention
- Claudia Wilson Randall, Community Development Network of Maryland
- Christine Ross, Maryland Chamber of Commerce
- Pam Ruff, Maryland Economic Development Association
- Salisbury Wicomico Faith-Based Organization Sub-committee, Salisbury-Wicomico Complete Count Committee
- Samuel Shoge, Kent County Chamber of Commerce
- Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Baseball Club, Charles County
-
Jacqueline Woody, Prince George’s County Department of Planning
- Holly Kamm Wahl, Calvert County (Correction from October 23)
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 count 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.
Councilmember Celina Benitez
Councilmember Celina Benitez is a Census Champion as a result of her leadership with the Mount Rainier Census Count Committee. Through her enthusiastic efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, the city had great self-response results in the Census 2020. The city’s Census committee assembled a bilingual door knocking campaign that targeted multi-complex apartments and homes. The committee knocked on more than 3,000 doors. The Mount Rainier Census Count Committee also held a Virtual Dance Party that targeted millennials, generation Z, and college students to complete their Census. Councilmember Benitez also worked to establish food distribution where Census information was handed out to residents and seniors of Mount Rainier. Councilmember Benitez brought together a diverse team that got the job done!!
Henry Bogdan
Henry Bogdan, Public Policy Director of Nonprofit Maryland, provided opportunities for Planning to access the 1,200-strong membership of the organization at a time when COVID-19 prevented the department from engaging in direct personal outreach. Through Henry’s efforts, the department was able to provide outreach through virtual meetings. In addition, Henry assisted other nonprofits in his membership by inserting bilingual Census information in food pantry baskets at distribution sites across Maryland.
Charles County Media Services Staff
The Charles County media staff developed and implemented a comprehensive marketing and promotion strategy in collaboration with Charles County Complete Count Committee members and other local partners. They continuously sought out new ways to reach the public and seamlessly pivoted to new methods of promotion after the pandemic hit. Media staff conducted weekly monitoring of response rates in different areas of the county to better target outreach efforts and developed a #CensusChallenge hashtag campaign to encourage a sense of competition among the lower responding areas. They partnered with various community organizations including the United Way of Charles County and the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Baseball Club to promote the Census via Facebook Live. They recorded a video PSA featuring Charles County Commissioners that ran on county government TV throughout the Census response period. Media staff coordinated local radio on-air feature interviews and podcasts with Census Bureau partners and implemented local print, and online advertising campaigns via radio, newspaper, and the local movie theater. They also featured the Census in county government e-newsletters and press releases. Finally, they helped coordinate Census outreach at several community events. Many thanks to Jennifer Harris, Tina Kozloski, Renesha Miles, Brent Huber*, Donna Fuqua*, Erin Pomrenke*, and the entire media staff for their extraordinary dedication in making sure all Charles County residents were counted!
* Not pictured
Michele Ennis
Amazing, selfless, caring, and, above all, dedicated to those in need – all words used to describe Michele Ennis. As the head of Tri-Community Mediation in Salisbury, Michele was the organizer for the Vulnerable Population task force that spearheaded more than 25 food giveaway and community organizing events to help the most vulnerable in Wicomico County. Michele is truly a superwoman who encouraged the Salisbury-Wicomico Complete Count Committee to join the events and spread the importance of the Census.
Debra Keller-Greene
Debra Keller Greene, Keller Professional Services and the Greater Baltimore Black Chamber of Commerce, were early and enthusiastic advocates for the Census effort in the black community in Baltimore City. As Chair of the Greater Baltimore Black Chamber of Commerce, she used the chamber as a platform to provide black business owners with information on the value of full Census participation. Debra used social media to keep minority businesses up to date on the changing nature of Census activities throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
Pastor Cleveland Mason
Pastor Cleveland Mason, President of the Maryland United Baptist Convention, was a consistent and tireless advocate for Census education and activism in the Baptist community. When COVID-19 hit, Pastor Mason engaged in outreach to churches through all forms of social media. In addition, the pastor provided encouragement and vital information to other pastors to motivate their congregation to fill out the 2020 Census.
Claudia Wilson Randall
Claudia Wilson Randall, Associate Director of the Community Development Network of Maryland, was instrumental in promoting the Census message to the Community Development Network. In addition to hosting Planning Secretary Rob McCord and Associate Director Randall Nixon at their annual legislative breakfast, Claudia provided social media messaging and ongoing updates to member stakeholders. She sought opportunities for Planning to speak at virtual events and connected the work of her organization to the funding that accurate Census enumeration provides for community development in Maryland.
Christine Ross
Christine Ross, President and CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, provided invaluable access to the 4,500 businesses who belong to the chamber. Through her leadership, Planning was able to provide consistent and up-to-date messaging about the Census to the chamber’s stakeholders.
Pam Ruff
Pam Ruff, Executive Director of Maryland Economic Development Association worked tirelessly to promote the importance of the Census to economic development directors in every jurisdiction in Maryland. In addition to providing a social media platform for Census messaging, Pam shared contacts with Planning so it could provide up-to-date information to her stakeholders.
Salisbury Wicomico Faith-Based Organization Sub-committee
The Faith-Based Organization Sub-committee, including Jocelyn Abbott, Mary Ashanti, Dionne Church, Kelsie Mattox, and Sandra Martin, was instrumental in supporting the Salisbury-Wicomico County Complete Count Committee on 2020 Census efforts. The members of this sub-committee supported the organizing of a successful faith community breakfast and dinner, where faith leaders throughout the county came together and learned about the Census and the impact that a complete count has in their community. The sub-committee supported these faith leaders in implementing outreach actions within their communities, helping to drive awareness and completion of the Census.
Samuel Shoge
Samuel Shoge, Executive Director, provided access to the Kent County Chamber of Commerce membership during the COVID-19 crisis, hosting several virtual meetings. In addition, he worked as an advocate in the Kent County community on Census outreach, particularly in the business community.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Baseball Club
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Baseball Club was an amazing supporter of Charles County’s Census outreach efforts. The Blue Crabs included Mobile Questionnaire Assistance Centers (MQAs) at several events at Regency Furniture Stadium, including a Labor Day fireworks show and a drive-in movie night. At the fireworks event, the Census outreach team reached more than 300 people! In addition, the Blue Crabs’ team mascot, Pinch, and fellow Blue Crabs personality Tie-Die Guy were featured in a Facebook Live event promoting the Census. Samantha Rubin, Marketing Coordinator, was instrumental in coordinating with county and Census staff to incorporate Census outreach in these activities. Many thanks to the Blue Crabs for all their efforts to help Charles Countians get counted!
Jacqueline Woody
Jaqueline Woody, Outreach Coordinator for the Prince George’s County Department of Planning, was a relentless advocate for Census education, outreach, and motivation in Prince George’s County. She provided bilingual signage in small markets and business establishments, and facilitated relationships between Planning, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the community.
Holly Kamm Wahl
Correction from last week's newsletter. Holly represents Calvert County
Follow the Maryland Department of Planning on Twitter and Facebook – Follow @MdDPlanning and like @MDPlanning – to stay in touch.
In This Issue
- Thank You For Your 2020 Census Efforts
- Thirteen Named Maryland Census Champions Making a Difference in Our Complete Count
- 78% of Montgomery County Residents Completed the Census
- Happy Halloween! Statistics in Schools.
- Census Maryland 2020 Social Media
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.
News
78% of Montgomery County Residents Completed the Census
Seventy eight percent of Montgomery County residents responded to the U.S. Census, which is an increase of nearly two percent from the 2010 Census. Nationally, 67 percent of Americans completed the Census. According to the U.S. Census, 71.2 percent of Marylanders filled out their Census forms. Residents in the City of Rockville had a 76.9 percent response rate, and Takoma Park had a 76.5 percent response.
Read Full Article at MyMCMedia
Back to Top
Happy Halloween! Statistics in Schools.
Classrooms Powered by Census Data
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.
What do spiders do for fun on Halloween? Surf the web, of course! Celebrate this autumn tradition with our Halloween Fun Facts handout on census data associated with this fang-tastic occasion. Discover stuff like the number of places in the United States with spooky names, the number of U.S. candy stores and much more. The handout comes with a teaching guide full of activity ideas to share with your students.
Read Full Article at the U.S. Census Bureau's Statistics in Schools site
Back to Top
Follow The Maryland Department of Planning on Facebook and Twitter
|
