It is hard to overstate the importance of ensuring a full and accurate count for the upcoming 2020 Census. The results of this once-a-decade effort determine how much federal funding is apportioned to each state, as well as the number of elected seats individual states hold in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Census also provides critical data that funders and others rely on to inform decisions about how resources are allocated. For 2020, the risk and consequences of an undercount - especially for children, immigrants, people of color, and low-income and rural households - are higher than ever.
Join Erin Casey, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Voice and Keely Monroe, Democracy Program Manager at Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation for this webinar to learn why the 2020 Census matters; what’s at stake, both nationally and in Pennsylvania; the value of full count efforts currently underway, such as Keystone Counts; and how funders can take the lead now to lay important groundwork for a full and fair count in 2020.
Background reading:
- The Census is a social justice issue, and we all need to mobilize NOW by Vu Le, Nonprofit AF blog
- A Critical Moment for the 2020 Census and Why Philanthropy Should Care - David Biemesderfer, President & CEO, United Philanthropy Forum
Speakers
Erin Casey is Executive Director of PA Voice, a statewide coalition focused on nonpartisan civic engagement that has already begun working with national and local partners to plan for the 2020 Census. As the state leader on this issue, PA Voice has engaged communities across the commonwealth to build a broader coalition to ensure a fair and accurate count. Erin brings many years of field organizing experience to her work with PA Voice, including roles as National Partnership Coordinator for Public Interest Research Groups and Field Organizer for Green Corps.
Keely Monroe, Democracy Program Manager at Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation, is responsible for the strategic implementation and management of FCCP’s Funders Census Initiative and Money in Politics working groups. Prior to FCCP, Keely served as Counsel for the Bolder Advocacy Initiative at Alliance for Justice where she consulted with nonprofit organizations on the rules and strategies for legal and effective advocacy. Keely holds a B.A. from Fordham University and a J.D. from University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
About the Keystone Policy Series
Launched in 2017, the Keystone Policy Series of conference calls and webinars has been developed by Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania (www.gwpa.org) and Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia (www.philanthropynetwork.org) to inform all Pennsylvania funders about how their colleagues are addressing selected statewide policy issues.
Funding organizations across the state will:
- Learn background information about a community issue from a statewide perspective
- Hear about work undertaken by Pennsylvania funding colleagues to address a policy challenge
- Learn about potential solutions in Pennsylvania and potential roles for philanthropy
- Build/ strengthen working relationships with other funders across the state