census 2020: WE COUNT
We Count Cuz You Count
Universe City NYC is redefining the importance of building a strong economy around our Community by emphasizing Agriculture, Social Enterprise, and Community Healing practices. To do this, we must identify who lives in our communities and provide what they need.
In December 2019, Universe City NYC and non-profit The FARM (Foundation of the Advancement and Rehabilitation of the Marginalized) were
awarded the consortium opportunity to work with CUNY NYC for the 2020 Census, and help increase community outreach and raise the count number for the East New York and Brownsville communities.
We’ve put our mark on the Census: calling it “We Count Cuz You Count.” Our initiative originally consisted of “olden day norms” like going door-to-door and tabling at community events. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the team shifted to using the 2020 Census online resources, VANS, and Hustle networks. These systems allow the “We Count”
team to reach out to our community via phone calls and text messages to check in on the wellness of our neighbors and share the importance of the 2020 Census.
The lack of resources, support, and economic opportunity available in East New York and Brownsville is reflected in the 2010 Census, where only 36,000 residents were counted in these neighborhoods combined. It is imperative that the count in East New York and Brownsville in the 2020 Census is accurate, so the funds for schools, public housing, hospitals, and more are fairly distributed.
