Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts announces the Community Create-a-thon: Census 2020, calling on creative artists, social activists, and community members of all ages and backgrounds to help spread awareness of the 2020 Census to undercounted communities.
The David Rubenstein Atrium, long a hub for artistic innovation, activism, and civic engagement, hosts the event on Friday, February 21 from 2 pm – 6 pm. For more information and to RSVP (recommended, not required), visit the Community Create-a-thon event page.
The Community Create-a-thon brings people from across New York together to produce creative content that spreads awareness about the importance of an accurate Census count—creating works of digital media, physical artwork, posters, poems, songs, dance, and more. Lincoln Center teaching artists will be on hand throughout the day to help facilitate and shape ideas. These vital materials and creative messages will be used to magnify outreach to undercounted populations.
“We strive to reflect the vibrant diversity of New York City (NYC) in everything we do at the Atrium. In fact, the census itself has been a guiding force in helping shape an inclusive and welcoming space, with a program representing 100 countries in our first 10 years,” said Jordana Leigh, Director of the David Rubenstein Atrium. “We’re proud to invite New Yorkers of all backgrounds to the Atrium to help reach fellow community members and spread the word about the importance of Census 2020.”
During the four-hour event, participants can connect with city leaders, event partners, and staff knowledgeable about the 2020 Census, including Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York (CCC). The full schedule for the event can be found below and on the Lincoln Center website, HERE. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided throughout the day.
The David Rubenstein Atrium, a lively public gathering space with a history of presenting performers who are activists, provides a creative space for community leaders and artists to connect and collaborate on civic issues that affect everyone in NYC. The Census has guided the curation of performances and artists in the space to be a reflection the city’s racial, ethnic, and immigrant communities.
To fill out the Census form online, attain free access to a computer and internet, and learn more information about Census 2020, New Yorkers can visit any NYC public library—including The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts on the Lincoln Center campus—for help. Libraries in all five boroughs are conducting community outreach and hosting Census informational sessions, discussions, and gatherings to fill out the forms. Libraries will also offer Census materials and resources in multiple languages. Visit NYPL.org or your local Library’s webpage for additional information and events.
The Census directly impacts representation in government and funding for schools, housing, neighborhood programs, and more. Over 675 billion dollars per year is allocated based on Census data, only occurring once every ten years. One individual, if not represented in the Census count, can lose out on funds impacting direct services like SNAP, WIC, hospitals, transportation, and road maintenance. An accurate count helps ensure everyone has equal access to political representation and federal funding for their community.
Many communities are historically considered hard to count, including people of color, immigrants, LGBTQIA people, people experiencing homelessness, rural communities, low-income families, renters, single-parent households, those with limited English proficiency, and children under 5. At the Create-a-thon, artwork and messages will be focused on a few of the most often low self-response groups by the Census.
For more information on the Community Create-a-Thon and to sign up, visit the Community Create-a-thon event page.
The 2020 Census will be the first time residents can fill out their census form online. They can also be completed via mail or phone. For more information on how to fill out the 2020 Census, visit 2020Census.gov.
For more information on the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center and to see a full schedule of events, visit LincolnCenter.org/Atrium for directions.
Photo credit : DESIREE NARANJO (Lincoln Center).
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