Civic Nebraska is among a coalition of Nebraska nonprofit organizations that announced Sept. 18 the formation of Nebraska Counts, a combined statewide initiative to ensure every person living in our state is counted during the 2020 census.
Because the U.S. Census Bureau cannot conduct the census alone and success depends on community involvement at every level, it recommends forming state and community-level committees to increase awareness and motivate residents to respond.
The Nebraska Legislature passed a bill sponsored by Sen. Matt Hansen of Lincoln earlier this year to form Nebraska’s official Complete Count Committee. However, that bill was vetoed by Gov. Pete Ricketts after the legislative session adjourned.
“An accurate census count is critical to securing Federal funding for our large and rural state,” said Angie Remington, deputy director of the Nebraska Civic Engagement Table. “As a coalition of nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations that work directly in, or advocate for, historically hard-to-count communities, we are committed to working together to ensure a full and accurate count in our state.”
Starting immediately, Nebraska Counts is putting its members’ local knowledge, influence, and resources into action, educating communities and promoting the census through locally based and targeted outreach efforts.
Nebraska Counts also will:
- Identify key community stakeholders, organizations, and agencies to ensure a full, fair, and accurate statewide 2020 count;
- Maximize resources and avoid duplicative individual efforts;
- Develop an education and outreach plan specifically for Nebraska’s hard-to-count populations;
- Strengthen local organizations’ internal capacity through grantmaking and collaboration;
- Build a network of leaders from all parts of the state to educate and raise awareness of the importance of completing the 2020 census.
This fall, the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands will host a training, “Census 2020: What’s at Stake for Nonprofits,” a free event open to 501(c)3 organizations. For more information about the event, contact Hannah Young at Hannah@nonprofitam.org.
Nebraska Counts members include the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands; Nebraska Civic Engagement Table; Nebraska Appleseed; Civic Nebraska; Latino Center of the Midlands; Community Action of Nebraska; Voices for Children; Nebraskans Against Gun Violence; NeighborWorks Lincoln; Planned Parenthood, Nebraska; the Coalition for a Strong Nebraska; Immigrant Legal Center; Tri-Faith Initiative; Women’s Foundation of Lincoln & Lancaster County; Conservation Nebraska; Asian Community and Cultural Center, Lincoln; National Coalition of 100 Black Women; InCOMMON Community Development; El Centro de las Américas; East African Community of Nebraska; Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, Inc.; League of Women Voters of Nebraska; League of Women Voters of Greater Omaha; and Common Cause Nebraska. For more information, visit NebraskaCounts.org.
