Census ‘caravana’ takes count to the streets

Lorain County residents still have a chance to stand up and be counted in the 2020 U.S. Census.

The county’s Complete Count Committee, with subcommittees around the various towns, is launching a new round of promotions to build public awareness about America’s national headcount.

April 1 was Census Day, the time to tally the number of people living in households across the country.

That was more than two months ago, but the Lorain County Complete Count Committee continues its efforts to have people respond by mail, telephone or online.

“This is a group effort,” said Victor Leandry, executive director of El Centro de Servicios Sociales Inc., the South Lorain-based Spanish language social service agency.

The committee has involved nonprofit organizations, businesses, city and school leaders and more, Leandry said.

“This is about a community coming together to work for the Census,” he said. “This is not just about a few and specific leaders, this is a big movement.

“And we’re seeing it paid out. It has been amazing and we’re seeing the result right now.”

Anyone who has not filled out the census form, should, because it will help Lorain County and the local communities score federal funding for social programs, business financing, transportation and infrastructure and representation in Washington.

Response rates

So far this year, Avon Lake leads Lorain County communities with a 79.2 percent response rate.

Based on that number, the city almost certainly will surpass the 2010 response rate of 80 percent, said Richard Romero, partnership specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau.

Avon’s response rate so far is 78.4 percent, while Grafton’s is 77.2.

Most of Lorain County’s cities are approaching the 2010 response rates, although Lorain and Elyria are lagging, according to figures supplied by Romero.

Elyria’s response rate is 65.5 percent, while Lorain’s is 59.9 percent.

The two cities rank No. 3 and 6, respectively, for Census returns among Ohio cities with populations of 50,000 people or more.

But the complete count committee members want more people to fill out the forms on paper, by telephone or online.

Responding soon is important because as weather gets better, summer distractions may keep people from completing the form, said Lorain County Commissioner Matt Lundy.

In the era of the novel coronavirus pandemic, people who complete the form won’t have to interact with Census workers who arrive later, Lundy said.

Caravana

From 1 to 2:30 p.m., June, 6, El Centro and the community partners will have a “caravana,” a caravan with cars, music and volunteers to promote Census responses.

The line of cars will head out to areas of South Lorain and the central part of the city, where the census tracts historically had low response rates and may be undercounted.

“The object is to bring awareness of the Census, and hopefully, motivate those who have not filled out the Census questionnaire to fill them out and return them,” said Rick Soto, Lorain Complete Count Committee leader and chief of staff to Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley.

The event will include music and announcements from radio station Cleveland La Mega 87.7 FM, which is assisting with the project.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, residents are invited to watch from their homes and yards, but should not join in with their own cars.

Volunteers will distribute bags with printed information about the Census.

The packets will include face masks for families and information about the importance of using masks to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“So, this is really what I would consider an example of a safe event during the pandemic time,” Romero said.

New videos

There are a half dozen new videos promoting Census returns across Lorain County.

Lorain County Community College assisted with production of videos targeting the southern area of the county, Lorain and Elyria and community services.

Guest speakers include Amy Szmania, director of the LCCC Wellington Learning Center; Kaleena Whitfield, urban programmer for Lorain County Metro Parks; Parris M. Smith, executive director of Lorain County Urban League; Avon Lake Mayor Greg Zilka, Economic Development Director Ted Esborn and Avon Lake City Schools Superintendent Bob Scott; North Ridgeville Mayor Kevin Corcoran; Lorain County Health Commissioner Dave Covell; Jackie Boehnlein, president and CEO of Lorain County Community Action Agency; and Julie Chase-Morefield, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio.

The Complete Count Committee members will launch a social media campaign with links to the videos starting June 5.