February 24, 2020

City of Chicago Grants $700K to Local Organizations to Boost Participation in the 2020 U.S. Census

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

CHICAGO—Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today announced $700,000 in grant funding for 32 community-based organizations to support the City’s efforts in educating and engaging residents about the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census. The City partnered with Forefront’s IL Count Me In 2020 initiative to disperse a portion of its $2.7 million Census investment – the largest amount of funding Chicago has ever committed to the Census – to grant funding for community organizations. These grant funds will be used to support targeted community outreach and other initiatives to help increase Census participation for hard-to-count communities. The City of Chicago contributed $500,000 toward this community outreach effort, Uber provided an additional $100,000, the Illinois Department of Aging contributed $75,000 and the McCormick Foundation contributed $25,000.

Grant funds will be used by organizations for outreach within the City’s hardest-to-count community areas. Awardees will leverage grant dollars for community events, social media campaigns, accessible materials, and other on-the-ground outreach designed to build awareness and activate Chicago residents to complete the 2020 Census.

“Achieving a full and fair count in the upcoming census is critical to determining the necessary federal funding levels for our city, appropriate representation in Congress, and securing the continued strength of our regional economy,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “These grants stand as a vital tool to supporting Chicago’s many passionate and committed community partners who will be on the ground and working hard to include all our residents in this important process, and ensuring every voice is heard, felt and accounted for.”

A list of organizations that received funding, along with their respective communities served, can be found below:

ORGANIZATION

COMMUNITY

Center for Changing Lives

Humboldt Park

Center on Halsted

Citywide

Chicago Veterans

Citywide

Claretian Associates

South Chicago

Community Organizing and Family Issues

Humboldt Park, Englewood

Faith in Place

North Lawndale, Englewood

Fathers Who Care

West Garfield, East Garfield

Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corp.

Englewood

Hanul Family Alliance

Citywide

I AM ABLE Center for Family Development Inc.

North Lawndale

Institute for Positive Living

Washington Park

Japanese American Service Committee

Asian American Community

Latin United Community Housing Association

Lower West Side, West Englewood

Leave No Veteran Behind

Citywide

Metropolitan Tenants Organization

Lower West Side, South Chicago

Midwest Asian Health Association

Citywide

Muslim Community Inc

Citywide

Northwest Side Housing Center

Citywide

Peace and Education Coalition

New City

Puerto Rican Cultural Center

Humboldt Park

Red Clay Dance Company

Fuller Park, Englewood

Resident Association of Greater Englewood

Englewood, West Englewood

Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference

West Garfield, New City, Washington Park

Sinai Community Institute

Humboldt Park, North Lawndale, South Lawndale

South Asian American Policy and Research Institute

Citywide

Spanish Coalition for Housing

Lower West Side, South Chicago

St. Paul Church

Lower West Side

STM Reader LLC (The Chicago Reader)

Citywide

Teamwork Englewood

Englewood, West Englewood

United African Organization

Citywide

Westside Health Authority

West Garfield, East Garfield

Workers Center for Racial Justice NFP

Citywide


“It has been an honor to work closely with Mayor Lightfoot’s team and the City of Chicago to ensure these funds support communities not yet reached through our statewide Illinois Count Me In 2020 Funders’ Collaborative, state funding, or funding from Cook County,” said Forefront President and CEO Eric Weinheimer. “These grantees have demonstrated a clear commitment to educating and activating their communities around a complete count. Forefront looks forward to supporting these grantees as we prepare for Illinois’ Census count this spring.”

Nearly half of Chicago’s 2.7 million residents are considered “hard-to-count” by the U.S. Census Bureau. This includes families of color, children under five, the elderly, veterans, returning residents, individuals with high rates of mobility and housing instability, residents with disabilities, those with limited access to the Internet, and those who may be afraid to participate.

An accurate count is vital for Chicago as it determines whether the City receives an appropriate level of representation in Congress, as well as the funding that is instrumental to maintaining infrastructure, public safety, public health, and other City services. Funding for many programs benefitting Chicagoans is allocated based on the Census, including Medicaid, Head Start, SNAP, Section 8, Title I and Special Education Grants. The City of Chicago stands to lose $1,400 each year for every resident missed in 2020, with other adverse implications in redistricting.

To learn more about the City’s 2020 Census efforts, please visit census2020.chicago.gov to find up-to-date information on how to participate in the census, city resources aiding to ensure a full count, and what’s at stake for next year’s count. Follow the City’s census efforts on Twitter and Instagram at @ChiCounts2020, and search #ILCountMeIn2020 for updates on Forefront’s IL Count Me In 2020 initiative.

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