Hey John, 

If you're anything like team Generation Progress, right now it’s impossible to think about anything other than the COVID-19 crisis.

The pandemic is affecting everything from our student debt payments, being able to visit loved ones with compromised immune systems, employment statuses, our mental health, and so much more.

In the midst of a crisis it’s easy to forget things that were once important. But this year, there are some things we can’t forget: the 2020 Census.

It’s more important than ever for the U.S. to have accurate data to help communities get the resources we’ll need coming out of this public health crisis and economic catastrophe.

That’s right, it’s the time of year when people across the country are submitting their information for the 2020 Census!

Fortunately, even with COVID-19 halting so much, the Census has never been easier and more accessible to respond to. Whether you complete it online, over the phone, or by mail, it can all happen without having to interact with someone in person. Talk about #socialdistancing!

The 2020 Census is our only chance in the next ten years to get a full and accurate count of our communities and a better understanding of how and where our population is growing.

Why? Every ten years, the U.S. Constitution mandates that every person living in the U.S. must be counted through the Census, not just citizens. The Census aims to do this by recording the location where each individual person lives, as well as their sex, age, and race.

The 2020 Census form has nine questions (that’s it!) and none of them ask about immigration status. Yup, you read that right.

Data from the Census is used to:

• Divide over $1.5 trillion dollars in federal funding for important services, like schools, libraries, food assistance programs, health care, and hospitals.
• Adjust or redraw electoral districts based on where populations have increased or decreased.
• Divide up political representation in Congress, in your state capitol, and in cities and towns across the country. 
• Provide data for businesses on the populations they serve to help make decisions on store locations, recruiting employees, which products to offer, and more.

A complete count means fair representation for your community.

The best part is you can fill out your information for the 2020 Census online AND it only takes 30 seconds.

This once-a-decade count is easy, important, private, and only used for statistical purposes. The only way we can truly get everyone counted is if we all take part and make sure our friends and family do the same.

So do your part and fill out your census form TODAY! Then share it with 5 friends and tell them to get counted!

Charlotte Hancock
Director, Communications and Digital Strategy
Generation Progress