Every 10 years, the United States counts every person who lives in the country, from
newborn babies to the oldest among us. The Constitution requires this decennial Census
count to determine representation levels, and federal policies rely on
census numbers to allocate funds among states and localities.

Historically, the census has missed large numbers of people of
low wealth, indigenous people and racial and ethnic minorities.
In Minnesota, people of color and indigenous people face higher
poverty rates, lower employment, higher morbidity and mortality, and
higher incarceration rates than their white counterparts. Communities in
greater Minnesota struggle to gain access to vital resources such as
quality health care, transportation, and employment.

By the 2010 census, the national undercount had dropped to less than 2 percent, due to funding
that allowed Census workers to knock on the doors of the millions U.S. residents who didn’t mail
back their forms. This budgetary support has been cut for the upcoming 2020 census.
There is real concern that the Census Bureau’s effort in 2020 won’t be effective in reaching
communities of color, rural communities, and low wealth communities. As a result, Minnesota
communities are at risk of losing fair representation and their share of the billions of federal
funds for health care, education, job training, and community development.

Alice Moren: Our Minnesota Census Campaign
KOOTASCA Community Action

Peter Alexander
Partnership Specialist
U.S. Census Bureau

Audience input & discussion follows presentation

Grand Rapids Library
140 NE 2nd Street, Grand Rapids
11:00 – 1:00 PM

Pizza served

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