Congressman William Clay, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Other CBC Members Join African, African American, Afro-Latino, & Caribbean leaders for Press Conference Marking 30-day Countdown to National Census Day

Washington, DC - The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation’s (The National Coalition) Unity Diaspora Coalition (UDC), its partners and supporters, will hold a press conference to kick-off the UDC 30-Day Countdown to Census Day, Wednesday March 3, 2010 at 10:30 am at the US Capitol.

The launch marks the first of several events planned in nine states leading up to Census Day on April 1. The coalition seeks to decrease the undercount of the Black population by educating residents in hard-to-count neighborhoods on the importance of completing and returning Census forms. Also, to help reduce the confusion about question nine on the Census form, the UDC is encouraging the Black immigrant community to check the “Race” box then write in their country of origin.

Following the national announcement activities will take place in cities where the UDC is working: Houston, TX; Jackson, MS; Gary, IN; Chicago, IL; New Orleans, LA; Los Angeles, CA; NYC, NY; Atlanta, GA; and Miami, FL.

WHO: The National Coalition’s UDC partners:
Dr. Dorothy I. Height, National Council of Negro Women
Melanie L. Campbell, The National Coalition
Makani Themba-Nixon, The Praxis Project
Marc Morial, National Urban League
Benjamin Afrifa, African Federation
Dr. Claire Nelson, Institute of Caribbean Studies

Also in attendance: Congressman William “Lacy” Clay, chair, Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census & National Archives, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, chair, Congressional Black Caucus, and other CBC members, Dr. Barbara Skinner, Skinner Leadership Institute, Ron Daniels, IBW, Vanessa Williams, National Conference of Black Mayors, Foster Stringer, American Federation of Teachers, Jackie Davis, UniverSoul Circus, and Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Hip Hop Caucus.

WHAT: Press conference kicking off The UDC 30-Day Countdown to Census Day

WHEN: DATE: Wednesday March 3, 2010 TIME: 10:30 A.M. – 11 A.M.
(Next steps discussion 11:15 A.M – 12 Noon)

WHERE: US Capitol Rayburn Building, Room 2247, Washington, DC.

RSVP: Edrea Davis edmedia@dogonvillage.com or 770.961.6200
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The National Coalition is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of over 80 member organizations dedicated to enhancing the full participation of the Black community in all levels of civil society. For more information, please visit : www.ncbcp.org www.unitydiasporacoalition.net.

Contact Information

Edrea Davis

Communications Director

The National Coalition

Contact via E-mail