The 2020 U.S. Census will not contain a question on citizenship, but is this enough to engage the Latino population? This is just one of the questions that face the McHenry County Complete Count Committee in striving for a complete count.
McHenry County Board member Carlos Acosta, a social worker, was among a group of county leaders, business leaders, and others at a census rally in Woodstock. They are all intent on making sure McHenry County has appropriate representation and that the county receive every bit of money it should. Acosta wanted the Ad Hoc Committee to focus on the undercounted, specifically the Latino community. He told of a time in 1990 when 6,000 Latinos were counted in the U.S. Census for McHenry County. Acosta believed this population was clearly undercounted so he helped distribute flyers to make sure Latinos knew about the census ten years later. By 2000, McHenry County’s census counted 19,000 Latinos. Acosta hopes to make sure the committee partners with organizations that will be heard by Latinos.
“One of my goals is to reduce the fear and stigma of completing the census form. People may not trust the government but they trust their neighbors and community leaders. Our job is to do the outreach and tell neighbors and friends it’s okay to complete the census form,” Acosta said.
