As 2020 winds down, some communities are pulling out all the stops to encourage their residents to finish completing their Census surveys. (Quick reminder: the Census, which is Constitutionally mandated and takes place only once every 10 years, counts each resident in every state across the country.) You may have received your Census form by mail, spotted ads and emails, or you've met a Census volunteer knocking on doors around the neighborhood.
The Census is crucial to not only determining how many people live the United States—and how many representatives those states are apportioned in Congress—but it helps the government figure out how much funding each community needs in order to thrive. Unfortunately, misconceptions about the enumeration (counting) process cause some folks to ghost on their surveys.
Thankfully, New City Kids of Jersey City are taking action. Tired of the same old Census ads, they created a rap video, entitled "A Better Future (Census PSA)," featuring local teens that breaks down exactly why the Census is so important. It even includes a few verses in Spanish—and we've gotta admit, the song is hella good.
The aim of the video is to encourage youth and their families to complete their Census forms and to encourage their neighbors to do the same. Teens can take the Census challenge by uploading their own rap videos to social media using the hashtag #censusrapchallenge or gathering three friends for a socially distanced #censusselfie (wear your masks)!
Take Action
Here's how to fill out your Census survey online and more:
- Take the 2020 Census >>
- Find your state's 2020 Census response rate >>
- Find all #censuschallenge videos and selfies >>
- Share your own video or selfie >>