CUNY Census Corps counts on students to reach their fellow New Yorkers
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The CUNY Census Corps equips members with the information they need to communicate the safety and importance of the 2020 census. Photo via CUNY
By Rachel Vick
With a March 12 start date for the 2020 Census looming, the City University of New York Census Corps has readied over 200 students throughout the school to engage their neighbors and educate New Yorkers about the importance of the census.
Some CUNY Census Corps students are matched with small community-based organizations that have received grants from the Complete Count Fund while others conduct outreach on CUNY campuses. Students also participate on the NYC Census 2020 field team, which promote the census at community events, like a Feb. 22 town hall in Corona. That event, organized by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez’s office, addressed concerns among immigrants in a borough where 47 percent of residents are foreign-born.
A John Jay sophomore named Vanessa said she got involved with the initiative after she realized the impact it could have for people like her family, who did not submit their Census forms in 2010 because they did not understand the forms.
“I didn’t see a lot of census people in my community, so why not me,” Vanessa told the Eagle at the Corona town hall. “I know in my family nobody filled out the 2010 Census. I didn’t get counted, my sister didn’t get counted, but now that I’m older I have the opportunity to speak my voice for my family and help other people.”
Queens is one of the the most diverse places in the world — 56 percent of residents speak a language other than English at home, according to the 2011-2015 American Community Survey.
This year’s census forms will be available in 13 languages, and have completion information available in 59, said Jeff Behler.
CUNY students are uniquely equipped to tackle the language barriers in Queens, because a majority speak a language in addition to English. Overall, CUNY students speak over 44 different languages, according to the Census Corps website.
“Since their main language is Spanish, maybe they were scared but they know it’s nothing to be feared now,” said Vanessa, the John Jay sophomore. “Our generation is explaining the census a little more — we didn’t have social media to spread the senses and information before.”
An accurate census count is crucial for ensuring adequate funding from the federal government and proportionate representation in the U.S. House of Representatives. New York is at risk of losing up to two Congressional seats because of an undercount, experts warn.
During the 2010 census, New York City’s self-response rate was 10 points below the national average. Some parts of Queens recorded response rates lower than 50 percent.
Hunter College freshman Alejandrina Carrdio said the census was vital to ensuring adequate funding for education.
“My family doesn’t pay a lot of attention to politics and there are so many people who think their vote doesn’t count,” Carrdio said. “I know people who wouldn’t fill it out because of fear or because they don’t trust the government, and are like, ‘The government doesn’t care,’ which is counterproductive.”
