Why The Census Matters Event Coming To Heights Libraries

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — With the 2020 Census around the corner, the Heights Libraries are hosting a special event to tell residents why the Census matters. The session will be led by Audrey Wynne, a partnership specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau.

The event will be held Feb. 10 at the Lee Road library branch. The session is scheduled to run 90 minutes and will begin at 7 p.m.

Wynne will explain how the Census impacts funding for Cuyahoga County and Ohio. She will also answer any questions attendees have about the Census.

“The data collected by the census has a profound impact on communities,” said Heights Libraries Director Nancy Levin. “Decisions about the amount of money spent on roads, where hospitals are built, how many new schools open, and how many representatives states get in the House of Representatives are all determined by census data, so we will be ready to help our citizens understand the process and get their forms filled out, whether online, over the phone, or on paper.”

When the 2010 Census undercounted the number of children under 5 in the nation, it led to cuts in funding for nutrition programs, education programs and social support services, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

“We want to make sure people understand that filling out the census is a safe process that will benefit our community,” said Levin. “That’s why we’re making sure folks have access to accurate information at each of our branches, as well as on our website. It only comes around once every 10 years, so we don’t want to miss our chance to be counted.”