‘Kabilang Ka, Pabilang Ka’ census campaign to launch on Mar 21

The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) will host a Census Community Engagement Launch in partnership with the 2020 Census at the Philippine Center in New York City on March 21, Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public

The launch will gather over 100 Filipino American leaders for presentations and discussions on the importance of participation in Census 2020: The ins and outs of filling out census forms, strategies to encourage family and friends to participate, and ways to galvanize community members to spread the word about this once-a-decade initiative The program will includea time slot in which attendees actually fill out the Census and will feature a keynote from Jeff Behler, New York regional director of the U.S. Census Bureau.

“Participation in the 2020 Census is critical to the Filipino American community,” said Brendan Flores, NaFFAA president and National Chairman. “We are a vital and growing sector of the American population, but we remain undercounted. By committing to being counted, we are making our voice heard in a way that affirms that we are a growing force in the American landscape, but we also have the potential to change lives.”

“Results of the Census determine the number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, how district lines are drawn across government, and how to allocate $675 billion in federal spending. By making sure we, our families, and friends are counted, we are making a strong case for increased funding for local health facilities, increased public transportation options, and better funded schools,” he added.

This event is being organized with the support of the Philippine Consulate General in New York, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), and AT&T, Community Partners include Why We Count by Next Day Better, The Filipino School of New York and New Jersey, the Philippine Community Center Services for the Aging, the Association of Philippine Physicians in America (APPA), JCI Philippine New York  and the Philippine American Foundation for Charities (PAFC).

Founded in 1997, NaFFAA seeks to promote the welfare and well-being of the 4 million Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States. As a non-partisan and non-profit organization, it is the largest national affiliation of Filipino American institutions, umbrella organizations, and individuals. Its 15-member regions cover the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands.

© The FilAm 2020