Census 2010: Responsibility in Our Hands

Published: Wednesday March 24, 2010

The U.S. Census 2010 forms are arriving in the mail, and from now until the April 1 deadline, the fate of more than $400 billion in federal funds and all 435 U.S. House of Representative seats will be literally in your hands. Participation is important, required, easy, and safe.

Journalists and educators often ask, "How many Armenians live here?" Elected officials want to know, "How many Armenian constituents do I represent?" Schools, churches, businesses, advocates, and service providers-Armenian and non-Armenian-need an accurate count to better serve our community. Everyone, citizens and non-citizens alike, must be tallied.

Ten years ago, Census 2000 enumerated less than 400,000 self-identified Armenians, whereas community estimates have been closer to 1 million, possibly leaving 75% of Armenian Americans unaccounted for.

This year, the Census Bureau is reaching out with educational materials in Armenian and Russian.

The Armenian National Committee-Western Region's ANCensus 2010 Project, headed by Tamar Baboujian, is assisting a panoply of Armenian religious, social service, educational, compatriotic, advocacy, and youth organizations to raise awareness of Census 2010.

Now it's up to you.

There are only ten questions on the form, and it only takes ten minutes to fill out. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share the answers with anyone, including any other government agency. Census employees are sworn for life to protect the data.

On Question 9, you can identify yourself as "Armenian" but only if you write it in under "some other race." 

Armenians, it's time to stand up and be counted!

For more information:

• FAQ on Armenians and the Census in English
• Official US Census posters and fact sheet in Armenian
• Flyer introducing the 2010 US Census in Armenian
• Sample 2010 US Census Questionnaire in Armenianand Russian (note Question 9)
• Call the ANCensus 2010 Project toll-free1-888-666-4761 for assistance in Armenian or English.