IRANIANS COUNT 2010 CENSUS COALITION

The Iranian American 2010 Census Coalition includes a multitude of national and regional Iranian American organizations who have come together to ensure wide spread participation by the Iranian American community in the 2010 Census and an accurate count of the population of Iranian Americans.  These goals cannot truly be achieved without coordinated action by a broad based and diverse coalition of Iranian American communities and organizations, regardless of their divergent area of focus, or political and religious affiliations. By being inclusive and taking a proactive role in the 2010 Census, Iranian Americans can strive to have the statistics represent reality.

Watch Persianesque Magazine’s PSA about Census 2010. You Never Know What You Get!

Check Out the New Census 2010 PSA by IRANICAN. LET’S BE COUNTED!

2010 Census Forms Are On Their Way to Your Homes Don’t Forget to Complete and Return Them

March 15, 2010 - The Iranians Count 2010 Census Coalition (“ICCC”), in an effort to ensure that statistics for the Iranian-American community are accurately reflected in the upcoming 2010 United States Census (“Census”) would like to remind everyone that the 2010 Census forms are expected to start arriving in your homes between March 15-17.

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The Iranians Count 2010 Census Coalition Launches Iranianscount.org

March 1, 2010 - The Iranians Count 2010 Census Coalition (“ICCC”) is continuing its proactive role to ensure that statistics for the Iranian-American community are accurately reflected in the upcoming 2010 United States Census (“Census”). Currently comprised of 30 organizations spread throughout the United States, ICCC today launched its official website, Iranianscount.org, as an informational resource for the community. ICCC has also produced two Public Service Announcements (“PSA”) to help raise awareness about the importance of participating in the Census and how to accurately fill out Census forms to assure that Iranians/Iranian-Americans can be counted for.

Furthermore, through the utilization of viral networking and micro-blogging websites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, ICCC is expanding the reach of its message nationally.

These efforts are extremely important since the Census provides the Iranian community in the United States the opportunity to stand up and be counted. 

Census results are used as a benchmark for businesses, professional organizations, and government officials in determining how social services are allocated, the influence of a minority community, and funding for critical community programs.  Yet, the number of Iranians residing in the United States has been historically significantly undercounted by at least two or three times the actual figure.

By uniting and mobilizing for the 2010 Census, the Iranian-American community will achieve greater prominence while also gaining a better understanding of its unique needs.

The Iranians Count 2010 Census Coalition includes national and regional Iranian American organizations. Please visit www.IraniansCount.org/Partners.html for an up-to-date listing of the participating organizations and for information about joining.

Iranian American 2010 Census Coalition Ramps Up Activities

February 17, 2010, Washington, DC – On February 13, 2010, the Iranians Count YouTube Channel was officially launched as part of public awareness campaign by the Iranian American 2010 Census Coalition (IACC) about the importance of participating in the 2010 Census. The channel includes an interview conducted by Parisa DeFaie on TapeshTV with Nadia Babayi, Partnership Specialist, U.S. Census Bureau; Mahasti Afshar, Executive Director, PAAIA; and Bita Milanian, IACC Project Manager. The Iranians Count YouTube Channel is part of IACC’s campaign to reach the widest number of Iranian Americans nationally in the upcoming months.

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Iranian American 2010 Census Coalition Mobilizes

The 2010 United States Census (the “Census”) provides the Iranian community in the United States the opportunity to stand up and be counted.

Mandated by the United States Constitution, the Census is an official count of everyone residing in the United States that occurs every 10 years and includes people of all ages, races, and ethnic groups regardless of citizenship status.  The Census is used as a benchmark for businesses, professional organizations, and government officials in determining how social services are allocated, the influence of a minority community, and funding for critical community programs.  According to the 2000 Census, only 338,000 individuals were classified as Iranian Americans while the actual number is believed to be at least two or three times larger.

 

 

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Iranian American Organizations Unite to Form Iranian American 2010 Census Project Coalition

Mindful of events in Iran following the June 12th presidential election, your voice as an Iranian American will matter even more. Decision makers and Americans nationwide are looking to our community for advice and direction. We the undersigned organizations have joined forces in a show of unity to promote the importance of civic participation among Iranian Americans so that our voices are heard. A critical component of empowering the Iranian American community is securing an accurate count of the total number of Iranian Americans residing in the United States. The upcoming 2010 Census will provide a significant opportunity for Iranian Americans to stand up and be counted.

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PAAIA's New York Chapter Partners with the U.S. Census Bureau

November 3, 2009, New York, NY - The Tri-State New York Chapter of PAAIA has joined the U.S. Census Bureau’s Regional Partnership Program in order to increase awareness amongst the Iranian American community about the importance of participating in the upcoming 2010 Census.  The regional partnership was launched in concurrence with the PAAIA/NexGen kick-off in New York City on September 17th.  

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Census Bureau Releases Language Assistance Guide in Persian for 2010 Census

August 14, 2009, Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Census Bureau recently published a language assistance guide for the 2010 Census in Persian (Farsi). This guide, which is an exact replica of the short form every household will receive for the 2010 Census, is translated into Persian (Farsi) to assist those who have more familiarity with the Persian language. The guide in Persian will be made available at all local Questionnaire Assistance Centers of the Census Bureau. Likewise, PAAIA will make it readily available to community members and encourages other Iranian American organizations to do the same. The language assistance guide however is not a substitute for the official English version of the 2010 Census short form which will have to be completed and mailed to the Census Bureau.

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PAAIA Partners with the U.S. Census Bureau

April 9, 2009, Washington, D.C. - The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) has joined the U.S. Census Bureau’s Partnership Program in order to increase awareness amongst the Iranian American community about the importance of participating in the upcoming 2010 Census.

2010 Census Partners are government, non-profit, corporate or community organizations that have formally pledged their commitment to share the 2010 Census message and mobilize their constituents in support of the Census Bureau's goal of achieving a complete count. The Census Bureau provides promotional materials, regular updates and data assistance to partners to assist in this effort.

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PAAIA Launches the Iranian American 2010 Census Project

April 1, 2009, Washington, D.C. - The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) is pleased to announce the launch of the Iranian American 2010 Census Project aimed at securing an accurate count of the number of Iranian Americans residing in the United States. The specific goals of this Project are to reach every Iranian American household in the country to educate them about the importance of participating in the 2010 Census, to assure them that the information provided to the Census Bureau will be confidential, and to urge them to respond to questions relating to race, ethnicity or national origin in a consistent manner. This effort will not only be of great benefit to our community, but will also help in further understanding the overall demographics of the United States. The 2010 census will be undertaken beginning on April 1st, 2010, but given the critical importance of this Project to the Iranian American community it is being initiated a year in advance to allow adequate time and preparation. Read More

What is the US Census?

* The census is a count of everyone living in the United States every 10 years - in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Island Areas.
* The census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution.
* The next census is in 2010.
* Your participation in the census is required by law.
* It takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
* Federal law protects the personal information you share during the census.
* Census data are used to distribute Congressional seats to states, to make decisions about what community services to provide, and to distribute $300 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year.

When is the Census conducted?

Every 10 years.  Every household in the country will receive a questionnaire in 2010. To ensure an accurate and fair count of all populations at all geographic levels in the nation, the Census Bureau needs you or someone in your household to respond to the census questionnaire. Census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to every household in the United States in March 2010.

The first Census was conducted in 1790 and has been carried out every 10 years since then.

Why is filling out the US Census important?

* It’s important. – Census data affect funding for your community, your community’s representation in Congress and your community leader’s planning decisions. More info. . .
* It’s easy. – The census questionnaire takes only a few minutes to answer and return by mail.
* It’s confidential. – Your responses are protected by law (Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 9). All Census Bureau employees have taken an oath to protect confidentiality and are subject to a jail term, a fine – or both – for disclosing any information that could identify a respondent or household. Learn More
* It’s required by law. – The information you provide is combined with responses provided by your neighbors and other households across the country, to provide summary statistical data that are used by various local, state and federal agencies.

What does the Census affect?

* Census affects funding in your community
Census data directly affect how more than $300 billion per year in federal and state funding is allocated to communities for neighborhood improvements, public health, education, transportation and much more. That's more than $3 trillion over a 10-year period. Spending just a few minutes to fill out your census form will help ensure your community gets its fair share of federal and state funding.

* Census affects your voice in Congress
Mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the census is also used to apportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and to redistrict state legislatures. Click here to for more information about the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program.

* Census affects your representation in state and local government
Census data are used to define legislature districts, school district assignment areas and other important functional areas of government.

* Census informs your community's decisions
The census is like a snapshot that helps define who we are as a nation. Data about changes in your community are crucial to many planning decisions, such as where to provide services for the elderly, where to build new roads and schools, or where to locate job training centers.

For a sample of the Census form, click here!