If you want information about the 2010 U.S. Census or have questions about the forms, attend “Census Day” at the Owens Campus of Delaware Technical & Community College on March 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the dining hall of the Student Services Center.
The session is free and open to the public; college staff and students will be available to translate for non-English speaking people.
The International Club at the Owens Campus is sponsoring this public outreach effort to share with students and Sussex County residents the importance of completing the census forms. Representatives from the Census Bureau will be on-hand to answer questions, give out information, and explain the simplicity of the forms.
Cindy Mitchell, language instructor at the Owens Campus and a member of the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Hispanic Affairs, explained that the students and staff of the Language Department chose to partner with the U.S. Census Bureau because of the importance of this historic event.
“By taking 10 minutes to answer 10 questions, people have the power to influence their future. It’s a way to make certain that your community receives its fair share for political representation, more services and improved infrastructure — hospitals, schools, emergency services,” stated Mitchell.
In agreement with the importance of participating in the census is Allison Castellanos, language instructor at the college and a member of El Centro Cultural, who explained that it’s important for parents to know that children need to be counted.
“Knowing the number of children in a community impacts the availability of day care centers and the resources of schools,” she said.
“It’s also important,” she noted, “that college students complete the census because it affects the availability of future scholarships and loan programs.”
The census bureau has begun to mail the forms, with the majority being mailed during the third week in March.
For more information, visit www.2010.census.gov.
