{"id":210801,"date":"2020-02-10T15:20:19","date_gmt":"2020-02-10T20:20:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=210801"},"modified":"2020-02-12T16:23:46","modified_gmt":"2020-02-12T21:23:46","slug":"university-partners-with-government-officials-to-support-2020-census-accuracy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2020\/02\/10\/university-partners-with-government-officials-to-support-2020-census-accuracy\/","title":{"rendered":"University Partners with Government Officials to Support 2020 Census Accuracy"},"content":{"rendered":"

With 2020 Census Day fast approaching, New Jersey state and local leaders joined Montclair State\u2019s President Susan A. Cole, Assistant Vice President for Hispanic Serving Initiatives Katia Paz Goldfarb, students and staff to kick off the 2020 U.S. Census New Jersey Complete Count initiative at a campus rally on February 10.<\/p>\n

New Jersey Secretary of State Tahesha Way, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), NJ Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake (D-34), NJ Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin (D-34), Montclair Mayor and Essex County Administrator Robert Jackson, Passaic County Freeholder John W. Bartlett, and representatives from the offices of both U.S. Senators representing New Jersey \u2013 Robert Menendez and Cory A. Booker \u2013 joined U. S. Census Bureau Assistant Regional Manager Lisa Moore to address the importance of a complete and accurate count of every person living in New Jersey.<\/p>\n

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U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe census determines our congressional representation and the annual allocation of federal funding for everything from Medicaid to highway dollars,\u201d said Sherrill. \u201cNew Jersey already gets back less federal funding for every dollar we send to the federal government than any other state in the country, making a complete census count even more critical to the future of our state. My office is working with the U.S. Census Bureau and stakeholders throughout the community, like Montclair State University, to make sure everyone is counted and to spread information about job opportunities with the census.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMontclair State students are made for these times,\u201d said Way. \u201cWe all must remember there is strength in numbers but we have to activate, galvanize and educate all in terms of this census effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Montclair
Montclair State President Susan A. Cole, NJ Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin (D-34), U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), NJ Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake (D-34)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Moore explained that mobilizing Montclair State\u2019s diverse, local student population \u2013 the University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution with more than 40% of its student body identifying as African American or Hispanic \u2013 was key to ensuring that New Jersey\u2019s diverse population will be more accurately counted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to hire locally to ensure an accurate count,\u201d said Moore. \u201cWe need trusted voices in the community, talking the census message to the people: It\u2019s safe, easy and important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through Complete Count, students and others, working for $21\/hour<\/a>, will fan out across communities they know well and encourage each and every person to complete the census. Almost a quarter of the state’s population, including people of color, low-income individuals, children, immigrants and people who are homeless, reside in areas considered “hard to count” by the Census Bureau, and are less likely to be counted. These same communities often have the highest poverty rates and stand to benefit the most from essential services funded by the federal government.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am thrilled that Montclair State University and its students are very involved and engaged with the census,\u201d said Way. \u201cYour efforts will help in reaching a complete count in New Jersey. Thank you for all that you are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n