In less than a year, the decennial census of the United States, first conducted in 1790, will once again be underway.
“So what?” you’re probably thinking.
Here’s what.
All kinds of money and power ride on the coattails of this project.
Cities get funded, in part, based on their population as documented by the census. States get their congressional representation based on it
Everyone gets worked into a dither about being undercounted, thereby missing out. Lawsuits get filed over this.
Showing more Armenia’s in the population serves the communities’ needs and goals.
You still say, “So what?”
This opens up doors. A decade ago, the City of Burbank approached the Burbank ANC for help in getting the Armenian community to participate in the census. The concern arose from our community’s reluctance to interact with governmental authorities, based on mostly unfounded fears. But, that’s what drives people.
Not much has changed, so the same opportunities are open to us. It’s probably too late to include a specific option for self-identification as “Armenian”. But, we can educate our community not to mark “White”, instead choosing “other”, writing in “Armenian”, or whatever else is more appropriate.
Reaching out to local authorities where large concentrations of Armenia’s reside can also build good will.
It’s time to put this issue front and center before our community, organizations, and leadership.
Stand up and be counted!