Call for Artists: You can COUNT on Us!

Local 2010 Census Kick-Off

Focused on Diversity

City of Modesto and Stanislaus County host community kick-off event

Modesto, CA – The City of Modesto and Stanislaus County are partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau to achieve a complete and accurate count of the U.S. population in 2010. The partnership is part of a collaborative effort to have an accurate local count during the 2010 Census.
The government agencies are sponsoring a community kick off event on January 26, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the outdoor plaza of the City/County Administration Building at 1010 Tenth Street in Modesto.
The event will begin with music at 10:30 a.m., with the formal event starting at 11 a.m. featuring speakers representing a variety of what have traditionally been “hard-to-reach” community populations. Speakers will represent the African-American, Latino, Arabic, southeast Asian communities, youth and more.

Also featured will be Arturo Vargas (invited), the Executive Director of NALEO Educational Fund. NALEO is the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials and is the non-partisan leadership organization of the nation’s more than 6000 elected and appointed Latino officials.

“Having a complete count of the City of Modesto and its surrounding communities is vital to preserving and protecting important federal funding,” stated Modesto Mayor Jim Ridenour. “As the largest city in the community, Modesto is honored to lead this effort locally.”
“We’re pleased to partner with our local cities, community-based organizations and all involved organizations in promoting a complete count of the community,” stated Jeff Grover, chairman of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors. “Working together will lead to better results.”
Other speakers at the event will include Ruby Kennedy (King-Kennedy Board of Directors), Reverand Nathaniel Green (representing the faith community), Sal Yang (Hmong Association), Chay Khun (Watt Cambodian Temple), Jim Christiansen (Peer Art Recovery Project), Andrew Silva (Project Uplift).

Entertainment will be provided by the Modesto High School Quartertet and dj Frank Johnson.

If people would like to call to get involved with the local census, contact Larry Sanchez with the City of Modesto at (209) 571-5580.
Locations of the US Census Questionnaire Assistance Centers will be announced at the event and information tables for the public will be staffed by various agencies with census-related materials.