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Murphy High School Varsity Cheerleaders performed the 2020 Census “Count Everyone” song at the Cherokee County Commissioners Meeting on August 19. The lively ditty speaks to counting everyone once, only once, and in the right place for a complete and accurate count. The Cherokee County Commissioners adopted a resolution to partner with the 2020 Census in support of a complete and accurate count.
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Local Census Jobs, Federal Funding, and Fair Representation

According to the Census Bureau, 384 Cherokee County census taker applicants are required to achieve a complete and accurate 2020 Census for the county. This week the Andrews Valley Initiative, the Andrews Chamber of Commerce, the Nantahala Libraries, and community volunteers mobilized by Mary Ann Anderson serve the county to bring those Census jobs, as well as the federal funding and just representation that will follow. The community joins the 2020 Census Community Partnership and Engagement (CPEP) program in a Census recruitment kick-off headquartered at the Andrews Chamber of Commerce. Volunteers and CPEP partnership specialist Debbie Denise Reese, PhD, will engage and prepare Cherokee County residents to apply as 2020 Census takers.

The word here at the Census is that the mountain folk of western North Carolina believe anything worth doing is worth doing 100%. The 2020 Census partnership effort in Cherokee County seeks a 100% applicant recruitment and 100% response to the 2020 Census next April.

The Census Recruitment kick-off runs this week between 10 AM and 4 PM, Tuesday through Friday. Attendees will learn how to prepare and submit a Census application. They will learn why an accurate Census count is essential for services that affect everyone in Cherokee County. The count determines funding for programs such as roads, education, housing, economic development, and assistance to children, young mothers, seniors, and veterans.

The kick-off sessions target prospective applicants and those in the community who provide services to individuals who might apply as Census takers (train-the-trainer).  The schedule repeats every hour, with some flexibility:

• On the hour: Why the 2020 Census Is Important to Everyone in Cherokee County
• First quarter hour: A video of the Murphy High School Varsity Cheerleaders performing the 2020 Census song “Count Everyone” represents the Cherokee County Schools-Census partnership.
• On the half Hour: The 2020 Census taker application – Presentation followed by questions and answers
• 10-minutes to the hour: An opportunity for any attending area youth and adults to learn and perform the “Count Everyone” song.

The Census taker application is submitted online. Nantahala libraries partner with the 2020 Census to provide computers and Internet connections for applicants. To arrange FREE group or one-on-one assistance in completing the Census application contact Mary Ann Anderson  (creeksideservices004@gmail.com).

Future 2020 Census recruitment events are being planned for Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon, and Swain Counties. For more information, contact Debbie Denise Reese, 2020 Census Partnership Specialist, 678-662-2816 or debbie.d.reese@2020census.gov.