Making Sense of the Census
����������������������������
������������������������������������������������������
Why The
Census
Counts
By Julie Menin, Director of
NYC Census 2020
By now, hopefully, you’ve
heard that the 2020 Census is
underway that it’s safe and easy
to fill out, and that it will shape
our communities for the next decade.
You may have even heard
that the census determines our
representation in government,
and how hundreds of billions
of dollars are distributed to our
communities. But you might be
thinking, how does that affect
me?
Let’s take a step back and
think about it in the context of a
budget. Recently, the Mayor and
City Council finalized our budget
for fiscal year 2021, sparking
significant conversation about
how and on what our public
dollars are spent. The federal
government’s budget, which is
in the trillions, is much larger
than New York City’s budget,
and we’re going to need every
federal dollar we can get to help
close the gaping holes we have
as a result of insufficient federal
stimulus. That means we cannot
miss out on a single cent of
the $1.5 trillion in federal funds
are allocated to states and cities
across the country based on the
census, which means that if we
want the federal government’s
spending to be based on true
need, hard data -- and focused
on our communities that have
suffered so much -- we must all
participate in the census.
So to make sure everyone understands
just what’s at stake,
let’s talk about what the census
funds and why it matters for
you.
��������������������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������
The census determines millions
in funding for Title I, special
education, Head Start, child
care, and more. In 2017, the city
received $700 million in Title 1
funding.
����������������������������������������������������
������������������
The census helps fund the
Department of Housing Preservation
& Development (HPD),
which administers nearly
40,000 Section 8 vouchers and
helps fund new affordable housing
priorities.
������������������������������������������������������������
��������������������������
The census helps provide
funding for meals for seniors
either at senior centers or delivered
to their homes, as well as
nutrition education, transportation,
legal, and employment
services for seniors.
������������������������������������������������
������������������������������������������������������
The census helps provide the
critical funding they need to
serve you and your neighbors.
��������������������������������������������������������
��������������������������������
The census helps fund antipoverty
and community revitalization
services, including
employment, education, financial
literacy, housing, nutrition,
health services, and countless
other social services.
In sum, if you live in NYC, you
are almost guaranteed to be affected
by the census. And that’s
why it’s so critical that we’re all
counted. Remember, the more of
us are counted, the more funding
we get. So help do your part - get
counted today, spread the word,
and let’s make sure our communities
get the funding that is
rightfully theirs.
“Making Sense of the Census”
is a weekly column from Julie
Menin, Director of NYC Census
2020. Every week we will be publishing
pieces from Julie and guest
authors laying out the facts and
answering tough questions about
this year’s census. Fill out the census
now at my2020census.gov.
BRONX TIMES R 28 EPORTER, JULY 17-23, 2020 BTR
A zoom screenshot of the virtual camp. Courtesy of Urban Dove
Virtual Day Camp
Hosted by Urban Dove charter school
BY JASON COHEN
With day camps in the city in
limbo and cuts happening in the
city budget, a Bronx charter school
is moving forward with hosting
virtual summer school sessions and
summer day camp.
The camp, which started on July
6, is hosted by Urban Dove, a school
that focuses on at-risk youth and
transfer students. The school is
paying high school counselors from
their own pocket and accommodates
campers ages 6 to 7 and 11 to 13.
Instead of their usual camp,
which they held every summer,
kids will be enrolled in an online
program where they participate in
educational projects in the morning
and then fun activities in the afternoon.
Jaden Dubois has been attending
the camp for three years, but wasn’t
sure what to expect this summer.
13-year-old Dubois of the south
Bronx, is an eighth grader at P.S./
M.S. 31 at 250 E. 156th St.
“I was honestly surprised when
I heard that we were going to do it
this year,” he said. “It’s provided
me with some enjoyment and some
comfort.”
Dubois, who describes himself
as an “indoors type of guy,” is enjoying
the activities the camp is
offering. So far, they have done Simon
Says, a singing game and the
five second game, where they name
as many people in a category in five
seconds.
During the first week the kids
did a lot of traditional ice-breakers
and team building activities that
have been adapted to the virtual experience,
such as a combination of
“Heads Up Seven Up” and “I spy.”
The kids also do physical activities
like rotations of jumping jacks
and push ups. They’ve done sock
“bowling” and soccer and basketball
using items the kids have found
around the house.
The camp also sent art care
packages to the kids, which include
construction paper, card stock,
yarn, scissors, mason jars, art supply
sets, Popsicle sticks and googly
eyes. They will also get a mini-basketball
and jump rope.
The virtual camp, also allowed
teens to stay employed this summer.
Selina Bishi is camp counselor
for the first time, but worked with
kids in an after school program this
past year.
While she was a bit apprehensive
at first, she is now at ease because it
seems everyone is enjoying the experience.
“I didn’t know if I was going to
like it at first,” she explained.
Her campers are ages 11 to 13 and
she has done her best to get acclimated
with the kids and make sure
they are comfortable with one another
and virtual camp.
After being shuttered inside for
four months, this at least provides
some type of stress relief, she said.
“They’re very anxious to leave
the house, but we try our best to
keep them engaged,” she said.
Raven Furs, a head counselor,
has been with the camp for 10 years.
She told the Bronx Times some of
the planned activities for the kids
included yoga, a scavenger hunt, acting
out a scene from a famous movie
or TV show and a puppet show.
Overall, the children have
adapted to virtual camp and are
having fun, she said.
“The response we have gotten is
that a lot of our kids are really excited,”
Furs said. “We found a way
to make it work for them at home.”
/my2020census.gov
