How many Ethiopian-Americans and Ethiopians reside in the United States? Is it ten thousand, one hundred thousand, one million?  Although this question always crosses the minds of many, the exact number is unknown. Currently any available numbers of Ethiopians residing in the United States are all based on estimation. That is until now. The 23rd United States census is now officially underway starting April 1, 2010. This is our opportunity to be officially counted.  Will you be counted?  Will you help us be counted?

As an Ethiopian, regardless if you are a recent immigrant, green card holder or a citizen, it is imperative that you are counted. By law, your immigration status is kept in strict confidence by the United States Census and cannot be shared with any governmental agencies. The count is only used to gather information on how many people live in the United States irrespective of them being citizens or residents.  The objective of the official census is directly related to the number of congressional seats allotted to each state, and the number of federal money allocated to each region. The data gathered will determine how $400 billion per year in federal funding is appropriated between local and state government. In addition, this data will also impact the decisions that small and large businesses make regarding your community. The census is extremely important and the opportunity to participate only comes every 10 years.

Key dates

March 2010 – Census forms were mailed or delivered to households.
April 1, 2010 – National Census Day (a point of reference day for mailing completed forms back ).
April – July 2010 – Census takers visit households that did not return a form by mail.
December 2010 – By law, the Census Bureau delivers population information to the President for apportionment.
March 2011 – By law, the Census Bureau completes delivery of redistricting data to states.

The 10 questions on the 2010 Census consist of the following:

• Name
• Sex
• Age
• Date of birth
• Hispanic origin
• Race*
• Household relationship
• If you own or rent

* Below is an example of how we should fill out question #9 on the Census form. 

Please note: The census DOES NOT ask about the legal status of respondents or their Social Security numbers.

The 2010 Census will help communities receive more than $400 billion in federal funds each year for things like:

• Hospitals
• Job training centers
• Schools
• Senior Centers
• Bridges, tunnels, and other-public works projects
• Emergency services  

Didn’t receive a form?

If you have not received your form by April 12, contact one of the 2010 Census Toll-free help lines.

For more information about Census 2010, how it works, why it’s important - how it affects the nation, how it benefits our community, protection of our personal information and to see the 10 questions on the census form, please go to http://2010.census.gov/2010census/index.php.

Completing the 2010 U.S Census
It’s easy.
It’s safe.
It’s confidential.
It’s required.

It is vital that our numbers in the United States are quantified.  Why?  With a hard count, we will be able to get funding and attention to some of the most pressing matters in our community.  Politicians and policies are influenced by numbers, the more we can quantify and verify our numbers in the United States, the more we can seek relief and lobby congress for those things which matter the most to our community.  We are an emerging voice in the United States, our voice can be that much more powerful if we have a true idea of how many Ethiopian-Americans and Ethiopians reside in America.  We need you to help our voice get counted, we need you to help many in our community emerge from the shadows by filling out and mailing back the Census 2010 form. The opportunity to get ourselves and our community officially accounted for and acknowledged is in our hands. Our community is depending on us to be counted. Can our community count on you?

Ethiopian-Americans for Change will host a Census program in the coming weeks where you will have the option of asking questions and getting answers to concerns that you have.  In the meantime, it is vital that you act, please make sure to mail the Census form in as soon as possible in the postage-paid envelope provided.

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 Please pass this on to EVERY Ethiopian you know, it is VITAL that our voices are counted in 2010