Democracy NC: An accurate count is critical to North Carolina’s future!
In March 2010, your home will receive a 10-question survey in the mail as part of the national Census. Being counted is an important way to have your voice heard. And encouraging others to fill out the form is another way to empower your community – especially for “hard to count” groups like renters, non-citizens and the poor. Responding is important to NC's future: In the 2000 Census, 36% of the homes in North Carolina did not return the Census form, and it cost us dearly.
When your neighbors are not counted, your community loses its fair share of government money for hospitals, school programs, job training, transportation and more. You lose political clout to other areas. And you lose when planners decide where to locate a new grocery store, library or fire station. Low-income communities lose the most from the “undercount” – and, in North Carolina, they are disproportionately composed of people of color. For all these reasons, Democracy North Carolina believes organizing for a “full count” is part of our mission to expand civic participation and social justice. We need your help to spread the word – in your neighborhood, school, workplace, faith community and civic group.
