A Time to Be Counted

The 2010 U.S. Census is underway. And Driada Rivas is urging everyone in the BMCC community to take part.

Rivas, who is coordinator of the college’s Center for Career Development, is overseeing participation in a two-pronged initiative designed to recruit students for a range of Census-related temporary positions as well as boost campus-wide awareness of the census.

Help wanted

“There are openings for office clerks, field staff enumerators and crew leaders, many of whom will be dealing directly with the public,” says Rivas. “Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Social Security number and pass a written test.”

While U.S. citizens will be given preference, all students are encouraged to apply. The pay for field positions ranges from $18.75 to $21.75 an hour and workers can expect to spend much of their time locating and interviewing households. Office clerk positions pay $14.75 an hour.

But whether or not you apply for a Census position, it’s essential that everyone complete and return their Census questionnaire, Rivas says. Nor do the responses of some individuals weigh more importantly than those of others.

“Every person counts—students, children, infants, everyone. “It’s not just a question of civic duty,” she adds. “An accurate population count will directly impact the services and resources available to you in your community—and thus your quality of life.”

Tying population to community resources

If a community shows an increase in the number of infants and young children, for example, that would affect the funding it receives for schools, day-care centers and child-related services. Allocations for other community resources and infrastructure, such as highways, railroads and hospitals, are also tied directly to local populations.

And, of course, Census figures determine the number of representatives each state sends to Congress, “which in turn determines how clearly your voice will be heard in Washington,” Rivas says.

The Census was first conducted in 1790, when the U.S. population was less than 4 million. The 2010 Census projects a final count of nearly 309 million. Questionnaires, printed in five languages, are already arriving at households across the nation.

“The form has been dramatically simplified and takes just a few minutes to fill out,” says Rivas. “But the information you provide will yield benefits for years to come.”

For more information, visit www.2010census.gov.