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It may seem a ways off, but planning for the 2020 Census is in full swing – and it’s important that Alaska nonprofits are aware of how the census affects them.
Most importantly, the Decennial Census and its counterpart, the ongoing American Community Survey (ACS), have a significant impact on the amount of federal dollars Alaska receives with much of the funding directed to our nonprofits. With that in mind, Foraker has made the census one of its public policy priorities. Specifically, we are committed to ensuring that everyone in Alaska is counted and that the annual ACS estimates are accurate for Alaska communities. The census is important because it helps decision makers, businesses, and civic leaders better understand their communities and the people who live there.
What can you do now? It’s not too early to let Governor Walker and our congressional delegation know that you support an accurate census that counts all Alaskans, and that you expect sufficient resources to be devoted to the process. Senator Dan Sullivan is on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation that oversees the census. He is a key player in making sure resources are available. You can reach Sen. Sullivan here.
We also want you to be aware that a working group has been established in Alaska under the direction of Carol Gore, President and CEO of the Cook Inlet Housing Authority. Carol also is the Vice Chair of the National Advisory Committee for the census, a group that has been charged with considering the needs of Alaska Native populations and communities with limited access to technology. The Foraker Public Policy Committee is part of the Alaska working group. In the next few weeks we’ll be identifying primary issues to ensure an accurate census count, especially in our rural and remote communities.
We urge you to learn everything you can about the Census and prepare to advocate for it. We will continue to pass along information as we receive it. And we encourage you to look at the website for the U.S. Census Bureau and one for the Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation. Both provide helpful information to understand the process and why it’s so important to our communities.
If you have questions, please contact Mike Walsh, Vice President and Director of Public Policy, at 907-388-5561 or mwalsh@forakergroup.org.