COMMUNITIES RESPOND

Yes! to the Census! Communities of Focus Coordination with Houston in Action 

Since mid-March, households across the country have had the opportunity to complete their Census. The U. S. Census Bureau has been providing a daily count of how many households have responded to their Census questionnaires by state, county, city, and Census block level—and with the support of our data partners, January Advisors and Civis Analytics—by neighborhood, giving us strategic insight into the communities where our focus is most needed.

Because of the COVID-19 crisis’s effect on U. S. Census operations plans for non-response follow-up and phone assistance to change, the U. S. Census Bureau has also shared that trained volunteers, who follow strict protocols, will be able to call and assist community members by filling out and submitting community members’ online Census questionnaires with the information community members provide to volunteers while on the phone.

Learn more about direct assistance to community members and the communities of focus from the online event we hosted April 27, 2020.

Ready to take action in one of the priority communities of focus? Here’s how to get started.

(STEP 1) Getting Started ↓

(STEP 2) Plan & Strategize what activities make sense for you community ↓

(Step 3) Organize your community to support your efforts ↓

(Step 4) Plan your activity/ies ↓

(Step 5) Recruit & Outreach ↓

(Step 6) Complete your activity/event! ↓

(Step 7) Tell us how it went ↓

(STEP 1) Getting Started (for community organizers and/or organizations)

Complete the Getting Started questionnaire here to let us know where you’re working and a few other things about your community.

(STEP 2) Plan & Strategize what activities make sense for you community

Start by understanding what others are already doing and what gaps need to be filled. You can find that information in the Communities Respond Working Document for your community of focus. If you have not received access to the Working Document, or your information is not shown in the document, please complete the coordination efforts form/s by clicking the “Add your name to the coordination efforts” link beneath the relevant communities above.

In the working document, identify others working in the community. What important activities may not have been considered yet, or which key community groups may have not yet been engaged.

(Step 3) Organize your community to support your efforts

(Step 4) Plan your activity/ies

Some activity types we’re currently able to support include the below. Learn more about what to expect from each:

• Putting up Yes! to the Census! posters and/or yard signs
• Calling friends, members or your network (phonebanking)
• Texting friends, members or your network
• Educate and/or assist your community with Census completion
• Or join an existing effort (visit the calendar for details)

Submit your event/s or activity/ies to the Houston in Action activity/event calendar

Funded Partners Activity/Event Submission Form

All other Activities/Event Submission Form

Once your activity/event is submitted:

• You will receive a confirmation email that your activity/event was submitted for review
• Once approved, you’ll receive an email indicating that your activity/event was approved, as well as materials and details you may need for your event
• Following your event, you’ll receive instructions on how to share how your activity/event went.

(Step 5) Recruit & Outreach

Once your activity/event is submitted to the Houston in Action event calendar:

• You’ll also receive information about how to recruit volunteers and do outreach to potential participants for your event 
• You’ll receive a link to your event page

Once you receive the link to your event page, you can use the event page to register people to participate in your activity

• Share it before your event and recruit people to join your activity
• Share the your registration link on social media - use the hashtag #HTownCounts so we can share your event also
• Recruit people from your social media network by making a video. Here are some tips on making a video.

Check out these partners and other community assets to see if they’d like to participate in your event or help you recruit.

Need volunteers? Houston in Action partners can register for an account on volunteerhouston.org for free and post their volunteer opportunities for free.

(Step 6) Complete your activity/event!

• Take photos or video of people in action
• Post photos on social media using relevant hashtags like #HTownCounts, #YestotheCensus and #SialCenso
• Tag @houstoninaction
• Use Facebook or Instagram to “go-live” from your event for 5-20 minutes

(Step 7) Tell us how it went