The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) today, on Muslim Census Day, is encouraging American Muslims to participate in the 2020 U.S. Census, which is happening now. Muslims can fill out the census form online using their computer, phone, or tablet. Community members may also respond by phone or by mail.
Full participation in the census ensures that American Muslims will be better represented in Congress and that their communities receive an equal share in state and federal programs.
CAIR and its national network of chapters are working with local Islamic centers to ensure a community-wide awareness about the 2020 Census and more accurate counts of the diverse racial, ethnic and ancestry characteristics that make up the American Muslim community.
CAIR-SFBA Advocacy Manager Aliza Kazmi said in a statement:
“The Census is a unique, once-in-a-decade opportunity for all of us – regardless of immigration status – to count ourselves in and continue to work together to increase and enhance the resources we need to thrive and grow as a community.”
The 2020 Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, counts every person living inside the United States and five U.S. territories once every 10 years. Information from Census Bureau data affects congressional representation and school district boundaries.
SEE: United States Census 2020
Census data also helps determine how more than $675 billion in federal funding is distributed to states and communities in the form of public assistance like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), health, education, transportation, disaster recovery, and much more. Faith-based organizations and institutions can also use census data to apply for grants.
CAIR California will be hosting a live Census Chat on tonight at 5:30pm on CAIR-LA’s Facebook page. They will be informing the Muslim community about the census and answering questions