Also available in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean By Kathleen Weinstein - as told to Ethnic Media Services Since 1910, the Census Bureau has defined rural America as any place that doesn’t meet its criteria for urban. Those criteria include having a...
The U.S. Census question that may trip up Latinos
Also available in Spanish. The Obama administration started multi-year research on approaches that would improve data on Latinos of all races, but the Trump administration dropped all efforts and went ahead with questions that will probably undercount...
Congress checks in on Census Bureau readiness; Nonpartisan report finds hiring, partnership deals behind schedule
By Mark Hedin, Ethnic Media Services In a Feb. 12 Capitol Hill hearing that stretched more than three hours, Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham updated the 2020 effort and fielded questions from the House of Representatives’ Oversight and Reform...
What will the 2020 Census ask you? Here is a list of every question on the 2020 Census questionnaires
By Mark Hedin, Ethnic Media Services We’ve had years of worry about the confidentiality of people’s census responses, what purposes those responses would be used for, plus the possibility – now abandoned – of being asked about citizenship status. With the...
Fight Over Public Charge Rule Change Isn’t Over; Advocates seek to calm fears
By Mark Hedin. Ethnic Media Services The fight over the Trump administration’s effort to change the “public charge” rule continues, advocates gathered on a teleconference call for ethnic media on Jan. 31 agreed, despite a Supreme Court ruling earlier in...
Kids face long-term inequities if census doesn’t count them this year – all the way through elementary school: Mayra Alvarez
Mayra Alvarez, president of Children's Partnership, warns of long-term effects that would result from an undercount of young children in the U.S. Census this year (photo by Pilar Marrero). Also available in Spanish. Leader of nonprofit that advocates for...
Coming
Events
BRIEFING ON THE HIGH STAKES FOR HOUSTON IN THE 2020 CENSUS
WHEN/WHERE: Feb 21, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Houston Health Department, Southwest Multi-Service Center, Houston
WHY: Just months before the first mailings go out for the 2020 Census, what are the high stakes for the people of Houston in a complete count and what can ethnic media and community stakeholders do to inform and engage their constituencies? What are the special risks for an under-count of the youngest kids?
THE WORST SCAMS OF 2019 – A TELEBRIEFING ON THE FTC’S ANNUAL SURVEY
WHEN: Feb 27, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
WHY: Every year, the FTC releases an annual survey of the most pervasive scams plaguing the country. The survey also highlights consumer fraud trends by geographic region and spotlights new patterns and strategies by fraudsters.
RECENT EVENTS
TELEBRIEFING ON THE IMPACT ON PUBLIC CHARGE
WHEN: Jan 31, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM PST / 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST
WHY: On January 27th the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily set aside the preliminary injunctions that prevented DHS’ public charge rule from taking effect nationwide. Your audiences need to know how this will affect immigrants planning to apply for green cards and what experts advise them to do. The briefing will also include next steps planned by advocacy organizations and their Congressional allies.
PRESS BRIEFING ON LA COUNTY FIREFIGHTER/ PARAMEDIC 2020 PARCEL TAX MEASURE FD
WHEN/WHERE: Jan 24, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM. Los Angeles County Fire Department HQ, Los Angeles
WHY: L.A. County Fire is proposing Measure FD, a local parcel tax measure, on the March 3, 2020 ballot. The 6 cents per square foot parcel tax will be used to support and improve emergency response. Measure FD will require approval of 2/3rds of local voters, and will provide additional resources for local 911 fire and increased emergency medical response and rescue.
THE HIGH STAKES FOR ETHNIC ARIZONANS IN THE 2020 CENSUS
WHEN/WHERE: Dec 6, 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM. Indian School Visitor Center, Phoenix
WHY: Just months before the first mailings go out for the 2020 Census, what are the high stakes for ethnic Arizonans in a complete count and what can ethnic media and community stakeholders do to inform and engage their constituencies? What are the special risks for an under-count of the youngest kids?
THE NEXT STEPS FOR DACA RECIPIENTS AND FAMILIES
WHEN/WHERE: Dec 11, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM. Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration #743, Los Angeles
WHY: While Dreamers and their families await a ruling by the US Supreme Court on the future of DACA, elected officials, experts and advocates will discuss options and opportunities for them to pursue and provide an update on the legal case. Dreamers representing diverse backgrounds will share their lived experiences and personal stories firsthand.
OCEIA CENSUS WORKSHOP (Second)
WHEN/WHERE: Nov. 21, 4 PM – 5:30 PM. San Francisco Public Library – 100 Larkin St. (The Mix)
WHY: A creative performance/writing/art workshop for youth participating in the Why My Family Counts census contest.
A TELEBRIEFING WITH CONGRESSMAN RO KHANNA
WHEN/WHERE: Nov. 12, 11 AM – 12 PM PST
WHY: India Currents and Ethnic Media Services host a conversation with Congressman Ro Khanna on the role of Silicon Valley in the 2020 Elections.
OCEIA CENSUS WORKSHOP (First)
WHEN/WHERE: Nov. 2, 1 PM – 2 PM. San Francisco Public Library – 100 Larkin St. (Latino/Hispanic Room A & B)
WHY: A creative performance/writing/art workshop for youth participating in the Why My Family Counts census contest.
CLIMATE CENTRAL BRIEFING IN FRESNO
WHEN/WHERE: Oct. 28, 11 AM – 1 PM. Arte Americas, Fresno.
WHY: EMS and Climate Central are holding a briefing to focus on the latest data on “smoke waves” from wildfires impacting air pollution in the Central Valley.
NATIONAL TELEBRIEFING ON DEPT. OF HOMELAND SECURITY RULE CHANGE RE. PUBLIC CHARGE
WHEN/WHERE: Oct. 17, 11 AM – 12 PM PST
WHY: Legal experts and immigrant rights advocates will update ethnic media on the government programs involved in Homeland Security’s new rules limiting legal immigration. Topics include: the immigrant populations targeted, the legal challenges to stop the new rules from going into effect and what immigrants applying for green cards should do.
COUNTING THE YOUNGEST MATTERS MOST IN 2020 CENSUS
WHEN/WHERE: Sep. 27, 11 AM – 1 PM. World Affairs Council, 312 Sutter St, Suite 200 San Francisco, CA 94108
WHY: EMS is launching a contest for 14 to 21 year olds to produce creative messages about why their families count. We’re asking our local media partners to join us in recruiting contestants and promoting awareness of why the youngest among us must be counted.
ETHNIC MEDIA BRIEFING: CONSUMER FRAUD
WHEN/WHERE: Sep. 18 11 AM – 1 PM. Charleston, West VA
WHY: Federal Trade Commission briefing with ethnic media and community stakeholders on consumer fraud.
NATIONAL TELEBRIEFING: FOR ETHNIC MEDIA WITH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE EDUCATION FUND
WHEN/WHERE: Aug. 30, 10:00 AM PST – 11 AM PST
WHY: As the fall semester begins, the telebriefing will provide vital new data and information on efforts to reduce the disparities in access to higher education.
LA COUNTY ETHNIC MEDIA SUMMIT ON 2020 CENSUS
WHEN/WHERE: Aug. 28, 2019, 1 PM – 5 PM, California Community Foundation’s Joan Palevsky Center, 281 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
WHY: A Census strategy summit of the ethnic media community within the greater Los Angeles media market, coordinated by ImpreMedia, California Black Media, EMS. Whether it’s print, radio, TV or digital, the ethnic media sector is poised to play a central role in informing, engaging, and mobilizing the diverse communities in our region about their stakes in a complete count in the 2020 census.
Stay tuned for our exclusive event coverage on these events.
Current
Focus
Areas
The 2020 Census
Raising awareness of what’s at stake for immigrant and minority communities with the upcoming 2020 Census.
Immigrant Rights
Tracking the politics of immigration reform and how it intersects with human and civil rights.
Consumer Fraud
Helping to build ethnic media’s capacity to report on scams in communities.
Safe, Clean Water
Promoting awareness of LA County’s efforts to modernize its water management system.
Environment
Expanding ethnic media’s coverage on and about the environment: from sea level rise to wetlands reclamation.
Voting Rights
Enlisting ethnic media as an advocacy voice to promote voting rights and shine a spotlight on voter repression.