Asians leaders and businesses in Las Vegas have started working together to help encourage members of their communities to fill out and submit census forms in March.
The newly created Southern Nevada Asia Pacific Coalition for Census 2010 (SNAP CC) is still encouraging members of the Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the city to join and help promote the census exercise.
"We have never worked together as a group. If we work together, we empower ourselves we can get attention from the government," SNAP CC chair Rozita Lee said in a meeting last Dec 16.
The main goal of the coalition is to get as many Asian residents of Las Vegas to fill out the census forms next year. Congressional seats and state funding allocation are given by the federal government based on the number of residents in a particular area.
"Unless we have the real numbers to show, we will not be able to get the representation and amount that we really need from the (federal) government," Lee added.
"With the effort of SNAP CC, the real needs and strengths of the Asian and Pacific Islander communities (in Las Vegas ) will be identified SNAP CC events coordinator Vilma Gorre said.
SNAP CC is one of almost 3,000 partnership specialists nationwide that the US Census Bureau is counting on to help promote the census exercise in April 2010.
US Census Deputy Director Thomas Mesenbourg earlier said that one of the biggest challenges the bureau faces is the growing distrust in government of some segments of the population.
He cited immigration issues that make most individuals hesitant to give information or answer basic census questions.
To convince individuals that filling out census forms is safe and that data will be confidential, it is partnering with partnership specialists such as SNAP CC.
"We are the trusted voices in our own communities, we are the ones that can reach out to the grassroots level," Lee said during the meeting.
The US Census Bureau is mandated to undertake a survey every ten years to determine the population of the country. Results are used to allocate Congressional seats, electoral votes and government funding.
The bureau will be mailing out 2010 census questionnaire in March. Recipients need to fill out the ten-question form and mail it back to the US Census Bureau before the April 1st deadline.
SNAP CC is planning several events to make the census process more convenient for Asians and Pacific Islander residents of Las Vegas . Some of these include education sessions as well as festive gatherings were residents can fill out and submit forms in the same day.
( Published December 17, 2009 in Asian Journal Las Vegas p. A1 )
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