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NBCSL Calls on Legislators to Lead Effort in Final Phase of 2010 Census

"Billions of dollars will be lost in our communities - where resources are needed the most - unless we reach the hardest of the 'Hard-to-Count' population," said NBCSL President Calvin Smyre. "NBCSL is calling on its members to ramp up their final stretch of outreach activities between now and mid-August."

The goal of NBCSL's Census Project, funded by the Ford Foundation, is to reduce the near certain undercount by assisting legislators in reaching those Hard-to-Count constituents. The greatest undercounts among members' districts have been projected in New York, Florida and Illinois followed by Georgia, Michigan, Louisiana, Texas, Pennsylvania, Mississippi and North Carolina. For that reason, the Census Project wishes to concentrate its technical support on NBCSL legislators from those states, although it will be available for all members.

"This project is ambitious, and we are asking legislators to roll up their sleeves and pitch in over the next few weeks to make sure their community members get fully counted," said President Smyre. To that end, the Census Project has staff trained in demographics and community outreach available by phone and online to support legislators. The website, http://census2010.nbcsl.org, features tools for legislators as well as targeting maps. The Census Project will also mail posters to legislators so that they can "blitz" community locations such as day labor sites, beauty salons and daycare centers.

NBCSL Executive Director LaKimba DeSadier stated, "Our legislators are the best ones to lead census efforts in this last leg of the race against time. They know their communities better than anyone, and we have no doubt they will be able to reach those who have been left out."

To find out what you as a legislator can do, please call the hotline at 1-800-781-0251 or e-mail census staff at info.census2010@nbcsl.org.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL BLACK CAUCUS OF STATE LEGISLATORS (NBCSL)

The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) is a membership association representing over 600 African American state legislators hailing from 42 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. The NBCSL members represent more than 50 million Americans of various racial backgrounds. The NBCSL monitors federal and state activity and provides this information to its members through policy symposiums and conferences. Each year, NBCSL members pass policy resolutions that directly impact federal and state policy. The organization focuses on issues that directly impact US domestic policy and is committed to policies that positively affect all Americans.

NBCSL
Gabrielle King, 770-389-1437
gabrielleking@gdkassociatesllc.com