亞太裔社區：你們很重要,務必參與2020年人口普查
亞太裔社區：你們很重要
務必參與2020年人口普查
加州亞裔社區上周齊齊慶祝農曆新年，許多人忙著大掃除，準備迎接即將來訪的親人，孩子們期待領壓歲錢，家家戶戶都盼望能多代同堂。我的祖母和母親教我，「誰知盤中飧，粒粒皆辛苦」，所以不可以浪費食物。這個原則可以應用在2020年的人口普查：每個人都同等重要，所以必須被統計在內。自1790年以來，人口普查一直是美國公民生活不可或缺的一部分，事實上，美國憲法規定，住在美國的每一個人都必須接受人口普查，參與人口普查是美國夢和國家結構的一部分。2020年人口普查將協助決定數十億美元資金如何分配給各個家庭和社區，透過確保家庭中每一個成員都被統計在內，不單是父母與子女，還有同住的叔叔和阿姨，我們可以幫助政府決定提供多少資金給各項計劃，包括學校、醫院、道路、公園等等。我們當中有許多人來美國尋找機會，一個可以幫助我們親友的機會，這個機會今年就在我們的掌握中。
2020年的人口普查對亞太裔社區而言格外重要，因為我們過去經常被忽略，移民和不諳英語的居民尤其容易被漏計。此外，還有一些族群擔心隱私問題、對政府不信任，或是根本不知道即將舉行人口普查。這正是為何加州許多社區團體正在努力宣傳，希望確保數以百萬計的加州亞太裔了解並參與人口普查。特別是沙加緬度，本縣完整統計委員會（County Community Complete Count Committee）正努力深入難以統計的社區，透過活動、資訊文件和社群媒體，對亞太裔居民進行宣導。我們的目標是透過亞裔民眾熟悉並信任的個人和機構，來教育亞裔社區。在難以統計的社區中，尤其是苗族（Hmong）社區，雙語志工正挨家挨戶進行宣傳，還特別在優勉族（Iu Mien）長者午餐活動上，與優勉族居民分享訊息，協助他們了解和完成人口普查。
在我們所有教育亞太裔關於人口普查的工作中，我們知道，最值得信賴的訊息傳播者是我們身邊的朋友和家人。美國人口普查局將從3月中旬開始邀請加州居民參與人口普查，每戶家庭可以透過電話、郵件或網路回答問卷。5月起，人口普查員會親自上門拜訪還未參與的民眾。人口普查問卷很簡短，每個人只需回答九個問題，網路上更提供13種不同語言的問卷版本，包括中文、越南話、他加祿語（Tagalog）、韓語和日語，意味著，與其由家人詢問您關於您的工作和未來，您可以用更少的時間為所有家人回答問卷。教育加州人他們在人口普查時提供的訊息會很安全，是我們工作中重要的一環。法律規定，美國人口普查局必須對收集到的個人資料進行保密，這些資料也不得用於執法目的，或用來決定是否能獲得政府福利的資格。許多人來到美國是為了尋求更美好的未來和穩定的生活，我們還將我們的傳統帶來這裡，像是慶祝農曆新年。我們的家庭很重要，2020年人口普查和完整統計也很重要，這不僅是為了加州，同時也為了我們的長者、我們的子女、我們的社區、我們所有人。
Asian American, Pacific Islander communities: You matter. Be counted in the 2020 Census
As Asian American communities across California gathered last week to celebrate the Lunar New Year, many of us rushed to clean our homes in anticipation of impending family visits. Children excitedly awaited red envelopes with money inside, and families looked forward to having many generations together under one roof. One of the lessons learned from my Grandma and Ma about rice was that every grain mattered, so never waste it. This same principle applies to the 2020 Census: Everyone matters, and you need to be counted. The Census has been an integral part of American civic life since 1790; in fact, the U.S. Constitution requires that the count include every person in the country. Participating in the Census is part of the American Dream and the fabric of our nation.
The 2020 Census will help decide how billions of dollars will reach our families and communities. By ensuring that every person in our home – not just parents and children, but aunties and uncles who may live with us – is counted in the Census, we will help determine funding for dozens of programs, including for schools, hospitals, roads, parks and much more. What so many of us have come to America seeking – the opportunity to help our friends and loved ones – is within our grasp this year. It’s particularly important that Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in California participate in the 2020 Census because in the past we have often been missed. Immigrants and people who don’t speak English are particularly vulnerable to being undercounted. There are also groups who may be concerned about their privacy, skeptical about the government or just not know about the upcoming count.
That’s the reason community groups throughout California are working to spread the word and ensure the millions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (APIs) in the state know about the Census and are counted. In Sacramento especially, the County Community Complete Count Committee is working in hard-to-count communities, reaching APIs through community events, informational materials, and social media. Our goal is educating Asian American communities through individuals and organizations they already know and trust. For our hard-to-count communities, especially the Hmong, bilingual volunteers will canvass door-to-door. For the Iu Mien, information sharing at senior lunch programs will help them understand and complete the Census. But for all our organization’s work to educate Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders about the Census, we also know that the most trusted messengers are our own friends and family members.
Starting in mid-March, the U.S. Census Bureau will invite all Californians to complete the Census. Households can participate by phone, mail or online; in May, Census enumerators will visit homes in person to count those who don’t respond. It’s a short form – 9 questions per person – and it’s available online in 13 languages, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean and Japanese. That means that in less time than it takes for your family to ask you about your job and future, you could complete the form for your entire household. A key element of our work is educating Californians that the information they provide during the Census is safe. Not only is the U.S. Census Bureau required by law to keep any personal information it collects confidential, but that information also cannot be used for law enforcement purposes or to determine eligibility for government benefits. Many of us came to this country in search of brighter futures and stability; we brought with us traditions like the celebration of the lunar new year. Our families matter, the 2020 Census matters and a full count matters – not just for the state, but for our elders, for our children, for our communities. For all.
