Tulsa Area Leaders and Census Bureau Officials Launch 2010 Census Awareness Campaign
Tulsa, OK—Only a few days into the New Year, the Tulsa area kicked off its 2010 Census Awareness Campaign at the Tulsa City Hall with local officials, community leaders and the public in attendance. Leaders of the Tulsa Census Complete Count Committee, including Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett, Jr., Dr. Keith Ballard, Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent, and Tulsa City Councilor John Eagleton joined with U.S. Census Bureau Assistant Regional Census Manager Debra Stanley to officially launch the Tulsa 2010 Census Awareness Campaign.
The Tulsa area is going all out to make sure every person living in the region is counted in the 2010 Census with a multi-faceted awareness campaign designed to reach out to everyone in the community. Local officials encouraged all area residents to talk to their family, friends and neighbors and remind them to complete and return their questionnaires promptly because it is safe, easy and vitally important to the community.
The 2010 Census is vitally important because it directly affects the amount of federal funding it receives for schools, highways, health care, economic development and many other essential public needs. Everyone should be counted in the 2010 Census because it determines how more than $400 billion in federal funding is distributed annually. The census also influences political representation because census data is used to allocate the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the states based on population. State and local representation is also impacted by the results of the decennial census.
The 2010 Census will be one of the shortest in our nation’s history. It is only 10 questions and it should only take about 10 minutes to complete. The information collected is kept strictly confidential and is only used for statistical purposes. The Census Bureau is prohibited by federal law from sharing anyone’s personal information with any other federal agency or law enforcement.
Additionally, several 2010 Census partners participated in the kick-off. Terry Simonson, the Chief of Staff and General Counsel for the City of Tulsa welcomed attendees and said, “It is for the benefit of all of us that we be counted.” Lana Turner-Addison, Human Rights Department Director for the city welcomed Census representatives.
Mayor Bartlett stated that he and the City Council were issuing a joint proclamation emphasizing the importance of area residents participating in the Census. He said, “The Census is important for our schools, our senior citizens, our businesses and our neighborhoods”. Councilor Eagleton emphasized the importance of each and every person being counted. He said, “It’s very simple. If you are not counted, you don’t count.”
Dr. Ballard said, “It is important that we know about location patterns and where people are living. The impact is critical for education. We have and will make decisions about schools from the results of the census.”
Mrs. Victoria Bartlett, Co-Chair of the Tulsa Complete Count Committee said, “It is so important that every person in the United States is counted and has a voice. Completing and returning the census form is a great way to do just that.”
Debra Stanley, Assistant Regional Census Manager for the U.S. Census Bureau, stated “The census is a critical mission and Oklahoma is doing an excellent job informing, educating and motivating the public to participate in the census. The more residents know about the census, the more they will understand how they will benefit in the future from having complete and accurate census data.”
Stanley also said, “The 2010 Census is a huge undertaking that provides temporary employment opportunities for local residents interested in working on the census. Census jobs offer good pay, flexible hours and paid training while you perform an important public service. Best of all you work right in your own community. Interested persons may call the U.S. Census Bureau at 1-866-861-2010.”
The first census was performed in 1790 and counted 3.2 million people. More than 130 million addresses throughout the nation will receive a census form in March 2010, either by mail, in person from a census worker. Households should complete and return their forms upon receipt and include everyone who lives in the home.
Available resources on-line include:
2010 Census website: www.2010census.gov
Census News: A compilation of media and press releases and press kits and press contacts from the U.S. Census Bureau at www.2010census.gov/news
2010 Census How It Works: www.2010census.gov/2010census/how/index.php
2010 Census Why It’s Important: 2010.census.gov/2010census/why/index.php
2010 Census Privacy & Confidentiality: 2010.census.gov/2010census/privacy/index.php
2010 Census Jobs: 2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/
Updated 01-12-2010
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