State Rep. Jimmy Harris is hosting a Census Job Fair Saturday, Sept. 14, at St. Maria Goretti Community Center. The U.S. Census Bureau recruiters will be present to assist applicants to apply for a range of positions who seeks to assist with the 2020 Census count.
The event is also the launch of #LouisianaCounts2020 Census Education & GOTC campaign.
Census data is used by the federal government to distribute more than $675 billion across the country each year. In Louisiana, that translates to nearly $2,200 per person in federal funds.
Making sure everyone is counted in the 2020 Census is especially important for the people of New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina resulted in a 29 percent drop in Census response rates in Orleans Parish and our state lost out on critical federal funding needed to provide services to our residents and to invest in community infrastructure.
State Rep. Harris believes that hiring people from the communities where they live, work and play will help raises awareness especially in those communities that are historically ‘Hard to Count’ or undercounted. He is partnering with #LouisianaCounts2020 as well as state and local government leaders and community members committed to making the 2020 Census count for all of our people.
The Complete Count Committee established with Rep Harris’ leadership is one the largest in the state and will build on local and state partnerships with advocates and U.S. Census Bureau staff to ensure the best count possible. The Complete Count committee will focus on segments of the population that are historically undercounted, including:
• Young children from birth to four years of age;
• African American and Hispanic residents;
• Immigrant and non-English speaking households;
• Lower-income residents;
• College students; and
• Homeless residents.
National Census Day is April 1, 2020.
