queens gets counted!: Rally and Outreach
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2020
Location: Richmond Hill, Queens
Organization: Caribbean Equality project in partnership with South Queens Women’s March
On Saturday, September 26, Caribbean Equality Project, in partnership with the South Queens Women's March hosted a 2020 Census "Queens Gets Counted! Rally and Outreach" in Richmond Hill, Queens. This powerful community-led Census event took place at the heart of Little Guyana, Lefferts Blvd. and Liberty Ave. The day included a press conference, tabling, Census street canvassing, voter registration opportunities, PPE and sexual health products distribution, music, and free giveaways to incentivize Census engagement and participation.
As of September 22, New York City's self-response rate is 60%. While this represents a significant closure of the gap between New York City and the nation compared to 2010 (just below six percentage points now vs. 14 percentage points in 2010), many communities in New York City, including immigrant-rich neighborhoods in Queens and Brooklyn, are still lagging. Currently, Richmond Hill and South Ozone Park have a self-response rate of 51% to the 2020 Census. "Our thriving multicultural Caribbean immigrant communities are already under-resourced and underfunded, not just in Queens but throughout New York City. We are now at risk of losing half the essential federal funding for housing, healthcare, schools, public transportation, parks, and so much more," said Mohamed Q. Amin, Founder of the Caribbean Equality Project. At this culturally-responsive call-to-action, the organizers and speakers alike reaffirmed community members that the 2020 Census is safe for everyone, regardless of your immigrant status. Nirmala Singh, one of the co-organizers and founding board member of the South Queens Women’s March, echoed “Queens, we were undercounted 10 years ago and have seen the devastating impacts it has had on our communities” during the rally. A powerful reminder that “our communities deserve better; we really do.”
Queens Gets Counted! was a borough-wide marquee event during NYC's Census Week of Action. The Richmond Hill location was one of the thirty-plus events that took please throughout the most culturally-diverse borough in New York City. The event was organized in partnership with the Queens Museum, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the NYC Census 2020, the Office of Council Member Adrienne Adams, and six Indo-Caribbean and South Asian-led Southeast Queens community- based organizations, including Chhaya Community Development Corporation, DRUM - Desis Rising Up & Moving, Jahajee Sisters, Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus, United Madrassi Association, and Kaurageous Love. Together, over 20 staff and volunteers hit Richmond Hill pavement and counted over 300 households (approximately 900-1000 individuals).
For the first time in history, the 2020 Census counts same-sex households. It is deeply unacceptable that the Census does not offer gender responses beyond the male and female binary. However, it is essential to note that the U.S. Census Bureau will accept forms in which the gender question is skipped. Hundreds of billions of dollars are on the line, including funds for many programs that directly support the LGBTQ+ community, including job programs, housing, education, senior centers, and HIV-prevention & treatment programs. The Census is the only civic engagement opportunity for all New Yorkers to be heard and for Indo-Caribbeans to continue to build political power and respect from our government.
The Richmond Hill Queens Gets Counted! rally featured messages from Amit S. Bagga, the Deputy Director the NYC Mayor's Office of the Census, Kathrine Mooney, the Deputy Chief of Staff and Budget Director of the Office of Councilmember Adrienne E. Adams Office Representative, Khaleel Anderson, the NYS Assembly Districts 31 Democratic Nominee, Richard S. David, the District Leader for NYS Assembly District 31, Annetta Seecharran, Executive Director of Chhaya Community Development Corporation, Anusuya Singh, the NYC Co-Chair of Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus, Vijah Ramjattan, President of the United Madrassi Association, Shivana Jorwar, Co-Director of the Jahajee Sisters, Harmehar Kohli, Executive Director of Kaurageous Love, and Aarti and Kesar, two DRUM - Desis Rising Up & Moving member.
It's not too late to Get Counted NYC! On September 28, 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau announced a target date of October 5, 2020, to conclude the 2020 Census self-response and field data collection operations. To ensure ample resources and respect, complete the Census by visiting my2020census.gov or call 888-330-2020 and let’s get our Caribbean people counted! EVERYONE COUNTS, regardless of immigration status, age, or gender!
To complete the 2020 Census, visit my2020census.gov.
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