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With Early Census Deadline, Connecticut Has Less Than A Month To Get Counted

U.S. Census Bureau
A cenus taker wears a mask in this photo from an official simulation of 2020 Census enumeration activities

The U.S. Census Bureau will end its counting efforts early later this month. But in many of Connecticut’s large cities, half or more of all residents did not fill out the self-reported survey.

Today, we talk about what’s at stake if Connecticut doesn’t get an accurate headcount.

From political representation to federal funding, an undercount could put Connecticut’s most vulnerable communities at risk. We hear from community leaders in Waterbury and Bridgeport who are trying to mobilize despite the pandemic’s restrictions.

And we want to hear from you, too. Have you filled out your census survey? What questions do you have about this once-in-a-decade federal headcount?

GUESTS:

  • MaLisa Blasini - Community Census Outreach Coordinator for the Waterbury Complete Count Committee
  • Jeffrey Mervis - Senior correspondent for Science Magazine, where he covers the intersection of science and government
  • Barbara López -  Director of Make The Road CT, an advocacy organization for immigrant, Latinx, and working class communities in Bridgeport and Hartford

Cat Pastor contributed to this show

Lucy leads Connecticut Public's strategies to deeply connect and build collaborations with community-focused organizations across the state.
Carmen Baskauf was a producer for Connecticut Public Radio's news-talk show Where We Live, hosted by Lucy Nalpathanchil from 2017-2021. She has also contributed to The Colin McEnroe Show.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that Connecticut Public relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what’s been lost.