Updates - N.C. Counts Coalition

Supreme Court takes up Trump administration’s census citizenship question

Apr, 23 2019 - The Washington Post

The Supreme Court on Tuesday takes up the term’s most important case to the Trump administration, whether it may add a question about citizenship to the 2020 Census form sent to every American household. The census hasn’t asked the question of each household since 1950, and three federal district court judges have forbidden the Commerce Department from adding it to the upcoming count. They say Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’s rationale for adding the question was pretext, and that he violated what one judge called a “veritable smorgasbord” of federal laws and rules by overriding the advice of career officials who said it would cause an undercount of the nation’s population, required each decade by the Constitution.

6 NC metro areas grew by double-digits since 2010, but only 1 is in the top 10 nationally

Apr, 22 2019 - The News & Observer

Growth in the Triangle continues as the Raleigh metropolitan area — with nearly 1.4 million people in Wake, Johnston and Franklin counties — ranked 10th nationally in percentage growth from 2010 to 2018 with 20.5%. The U.S. Census Bureau released population estimates Thursday for all 3,142 U.S. counties and 390 metropolitan statistical areas as of July 1, 2018. Raleigh’s growth ranked it just behind Orlando, Florida. Six N.C. metropolitan areas increased in population by at least 10 percent from 2010 to 2018: ▪ The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metro (Mecklenburg and Gaston counties and York County, SC), population 2.56 million, ranked 31st nationally with 15.9% growth. ▪ The Wilmington metro area (New Hanover and Pender counties) grew 15.5% and ranked 36th. ▪ The Durham-Chapel Hill metro area (Durham, Orange, Chatham, and Person), now with 575,000 people, ranked 47th with 13.6% growth. ▪ Jacksonville (Onslow), ranked 66th, grew 11.2%. ▪ Burlington (Alamance), ranked 81st, grew 10.1%.

Counting on ties for census accuracy Partnerships spread word to marginalized

Apr, 17 2019

Counting Mecklenburg County’s residents impact the bottom line. Political, business and nonprofit leaders are banding together on a local initiative to provide a more accurate headcount, especially in traditionally difficult to engage communities, in the run-up to the 2020 census. Mecklenburg County and the NC Counts Coalition launched Meck Counts 2020, an outreach and engagement effort. At stake is political representation as well as billions of dollars in federal funding tied to data from the decennial population enumeration.

Census 2020: Everything you need to know about North Carolina’s hard-to-count communities

Apr, 17 2019

A complete and accurate census count is incredibly important. The census shapes how billions of dollars in federal funding are distributed, how congressional seats are apportioned, and how communities plan for their future residents. But certain populations have historically been undercounted in the census, due to a variety of factors. Undercounting these communities skews the census data that’s used to ensure fair political representation and support community planning. To help North Carolina achieve a complete and accurate census count, Carolina Demography worked with the NC Counts Coalition to create a map that identifies communities across the state that are most at risk of being undercounted in the 2020 Census.

NC Counts Coalition and Carolina Demography Create Interactive map to Identify Hard-to-Count communities in Preparation for the 2020 Census

Mar, 29 2019 - NC Counts Coalition

Raleigh, NC (March 28, 2019) – On April 1, 2019 – one year out from Census day 2020 - NC Counts Coalition and Carolina Demography will launch a new North Carolina specific interactive map that will help North Carolina identify hard-to-count communities in preparation for the 2020 Census. Hard-to-count communities are populations that historically have not been fully counted and represented in the Census count. North Carolina’s hard-to-count communities include young children, communities of color, immigrants and renters.

North Carolina Participates in National Day of Action for Census 2020

Mar, 29 2019 - NC Counts Coalition

One year out from Census day 2020, NC Counts Coalition in partnership with the NC Complete Count Commission, Mecklenburg County, Gaston County, Cumberland County, and Carolina Demography will participate in a national day of action for the 2020 Census. This coordinated effort will raise awareness of the importance of the 2020 Census to North Carolina, while highlighting Census preparation initiatives among North Carolina’s communities.

Mecklenburg County Prepares for U.S. Census 2020

Mar, 29 2019 - MECKNC.gov

On Monday, April 1 at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, Mecklenburg County and the NC Counts Coalition will hold a kickoff announcement for the launch of Meck Counts 2020, the County's outreach effort for next year's U.S. Census. The event is from 2-3:30 p.m. and will be streamed live here. This event will feature BOCC Chairman George Dunlap, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and a panel of County leaders, staff and community stakeholders who will discuss outreach plans for the 2020 Census, including job opportunities, media partnerships, establishing a Complete Count Committee and launching a Census 2020 website.

Much At Stake In Accurate Count of NC's Latino Children

Mar, 6 2019 - WUNC

Researchers are warning of the consequences of undercounting young Latino children in next year's census, especially in North Carolina. By some estimates, Latinos make up about 1 in 5 children in the state. A lot hinges on an accurate census count, from political representation to billions of dollars in federal funding.

North Carolina Prepares For 2020 Census

Feb, 1 2019 - WUNC

Preparations for the 2020 Census are underway in North Carolina, one of the fastest growing states in the nation poised to get another congressional seat after the decennial count. Many organizations representing immigrant communities were upset and worried when the Trump Administration tried to add a citizenship question to the Census. A federal judge in New York ruled against the proposed language, calling it "unlawful. Stacey Carless, executive director of the NC Counts Coalition, says the 2020 Census count won’t be easy with the cut in federal funding for the Census and the debate over citizenship questions. But she says there will be a team on the ground.

NC Counts Coalition prepares for 2020 Census

Jan, 31 2019 - WRAL

The Census takes place in April 2020, and conversations are already starting to make sure North Carolina gets a fair representation. The N.C. Counts Coalition is holding a meeting Friday morning to prepare for next year. Census numbers are key in determining how to distribute federal money for things like schools and roads.