We Count LA Census Impact Report

LOS ANGELES – September 6, 2019 – In preparation of the landmark Get out the Count census effort in Los Angeles County, the California Community Foundation (CCF) awarded $7 million in grants to local nonprofits for education and outreach efforts across the region. Earlier this year, CCF was named the region’s Administrative Community Based Organization (ACBO) by the State of California. This designates CCF as responsible for leading and coordinating education and outreach in Los Angeles County – which is ranked the hardest to count region in the nation.  In addition to resources from the state for this role, philanthropic leaders have stepped in to contribute to a pooled fund supporting community-based outreach efforts for the 2020 Census. Key funding partners of the pooled fund include the Weingart Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, Ballmer Group, the California Endowment, Smidt Foundation, Mindy and Gene Stein, Libra Foundation and the City of Los Angeles. Grantees will receive funding ranging from grants of $35,000 to $500,000 to support community education, digital media outreach, direct outreach, coalition building, assistance centers and technical assistance. “Census data drives federal funding in Los Angeles County for services and programs that are critical to the health and well-being of our communities, particularly our most vulnerable populations. Accurate data also impacts our political representation in Congress,” said Antonia Hernández, president and CEO of the California Community Foundation. “There is simply too much to gain – too much at stake – to not do all we can to ensure everyone is counted.” Nearly half of L.A. County residents meet the hard-to-count criteria, including racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants, mixed-status families, young children and the homeless. For the first time, the census will be principally administered online, creating major concerns around privacy and digital literacy. Controversy around the citizenship question, though no longer on the census questionnaire, leaves many immigrant communities suspicious of how their information will be used. Compounding these issues is anticipation that bad actors will emerge to suppress participation. The cohort of community groups awarded reflect the county’s incredible diversity and breadth of engagement required to Get Out the Count. Their work, understanding and credibility among diverse populations will be crucial to count all of Los Angeles. CCF will continue to work with community and government partners to ensure that no Angeleno goes uncounted. A second request for proposals will open on September 9th, which will fund additional community-based outreach and education activities across the region. CONTACT Roshin Mathew [cryptx]rmathew@www.calfund.org[/cryptx] (213) 452-6229 ### See below for full list of grantees. We Count L.A Grantees: A New Way of Life Reentry Project (ANWOL) Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON) Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice Community Partners fbo California Native Vote Project Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanas en Norte America Korean American Federation of Los Angeles (KAFLA) Korean Immigrant Workers Advocates of Southern California NALEO Educational Fund Pars Equality Center, Los Angeles Pomona Economic Opportunity Center Salvadoran American Leadership & Educational Fund (SALEF) Social Justice Learning Institute Southeast Los Angeles Collaborative Families In Schools Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles Black Women for Wellness Central City Neighborhood Partners Centro CHA Inc. Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County (CCALAC) Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition Los Angeles Black Worker Center (LABWC) Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California Proyecto Pastoral South Asian Network (SAN) Special Service for Groups, Inc. / API Forward Movement Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) International Rescue Committee Filipino Migrant Center Long Beach Forward, A project of Community Partners Asian Youth Center Building Skills Partnership Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE) Equality California Institute Pukuu Cultural Community Services InnerCity Struggle California Black Women’s Health Project AltaMed Health Services Corp Antelope Valley Partners for Health (AVPH) Greater Long Beach Interfaith Community Organization  (ICO) Community Coalition for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Children’s Institute, Inc. Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE) LA Voice YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Community Development Technologies Center (CDTech) ACCE LA Human Services Association California Calls LA Partnership