HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSS 2020-04-27 Item 1E - Discussion - Census 2020 Outreach and Community Connectors ProgramCity of Tukwila
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Community Services and Safety Committee
FROM: Niesha Fort -Brooks, Community Engagement Manager
CC: Mayor Ekberg
Date: April 1, 2020
SUBJECT: Census 2020 Outreach and the Community Connectors Program
ISSUE
Staff has been requested to provide an update on Census 2020 outreach and the status of the
Community Connectors Program.
DISCUSSION
2020 Census Outreach
Staff has been working in partnership with various stakeholders to ensure that Tukwila
residents receive real time information about the 2020 Census. Staff has established
partnerships with Refugee Women's Alliance (REWA), the Tukwila School District Community
Liaisons and Tukwila Food Pantry, as well as other organizations to get the word out on the
importance of the Census. Like all communities across the country, Census outreach has been
affected by the coronavirus pandemic in Tukwila.
City staff in collaboration with REWA's Census Program Coordinator presented to REWA's social
workers about self -responding online, utilizing the 59 language guides provided by the U.S.
Census Bureau, and the option to call in or use the paper form. This work was done before the
"Stay Healthy, Stay Home" order. This partnership has allowed the City to work with both
REWA and Tukwila School District Community Liaisons to ensure Tukwila's non-English speakers
have equitable access to the 2020 Census. Staff has worked with other organizations such as
Tukwila HealthPoint, Global to Local, Foster High School, Tukwila King County Library and South
King County Census Table.
Post -pandemic, staff is working with the Tukwila Food Pantry to insert half -sheets encouraging
residents to participate in the 2020 Census with new updates from the Census Bureau. The City
will translate this material into the top five languages to ensure inclusive outreach.
The US Census Bureau extended the window for enumerators going door to door and self -
responders to October 31, 2020, which allows for the apportionment counts to be delivered to
the President by April 30, 2021, and redistricting data to be delivered to states no later than
July 31, 2021. This extension will allow staff to continue with its outreach efforts by utilizing
various messaging platforms and working in partnership with our stakeholders.
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
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Community Connectors Program
The Community Connectors Program is currently on hold. Global to Local, the City's partner in
this program, has had staff changes and capacity limitations that have limited their ability to
support the program. As such, the City of Tukwila did not pursue its contractual relationship
into 2020. Additionally, it has become clear that there is a need to re-examine the City's
Community Connectors program in order to ensure it is meeting the intended goals. Earlier this
year staff began a "listening tour" with former Connectors, representatives from community -
based organizations and other stakeholders to determine next steps. The idea is to identify
new stakeholders that have the capacity and resiliency to work in partnership with the City to
meet our goals of inclusive outreach and communication.
Previous to the pandemic, the plan was to develop a proposal for a "Community Connectors
2.0" once the Census outreach was complete this Spring. Due to the uncertainty of the
unknown with regard to the pandemic and shifting priorities to support senior meal delivery
and the Tukwila Pantry, staff currently expects to have the program developed by third quarter
of this year.
66 Administrative Services Department Community Connectors Program 2020