PHILADELPHIA’S “CENSUS SERMON WEEKEND” IS MARCH 12 – 14

Local Clergy Unite to Promote Census Awareness and Full Participation;rnVow to Take Census Message to CongregationsrnrnPhiladelphia, March 11, 2010- Sermons about current events are not a new concept. But this coming weekend, spiritual leaders across the city have pledged to talk about the same current event—the upcoming Census.rnrnDozens of them are joining forces to tell their congregations that taking part in the official, national headcount is vital for everyone in the city. These leaders of churches, synagogues, temples and mosques have been enlisted in “Census Sermon Weekend” by Philly Counts 2010, the City of Philadelphia’s effort to raise participation in the Census.rnFaith leaders from every denomination are taking a lead role in raising awareness about the importance of the Census. They will call on their congregants to participate fully when the forms are mailed next week. Hundreds of clergy, representing churches, synagogues, temples and mosques all across the City of Philadelphia, are also reaching out to their congregations by including census information in their weekly bulletins. Some are serving as distribution points for organizations to pick up fliers and other materials. Others will become Questionnaire Assistance Centers where neighborhood residents can go to get help filling out their forms.rnEvery 10 years, as required by the United States Constitution, the country undertakes a Census – a complete count of all residents of the United States and its territories. Population totals taken from the Census are used to determine congressional representation and inform redistricting decisions at all levels of government.rnCensus data also determines how hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds are distributed to state and local governments each year. In addition, the results are used by businesses and government agencies to determine where to open new grocery stores, schools, shops, hospitals and other facilities in Philadelphia.rnMayor Nutter, City Council members and community leaders from across Philadelphia will join clergy at area houses of worship during Census Sermon Weekend. Their goal is to promote participation in the 2010 Census and dispel any and all misunderstandings about the purpose of the count.rn“The most significant civic duty and moral responsibility facing the citizens of Philadelphia is to participate in the 2010 Census,” said Bishop Audrey Bronson, President of Black Clergy of Philadelphia and the Vicinity. “If we aren’t counted, we won’t count when critical decisions are made regarding federal revenues needed for maintaining viable schools and essential public services required for the quality of life that we work so hard for.”rn“We understand that the Census will shape our city’s landscape for the coming decade,” said Reverend Luis Cortés, Jr., President of Esperanza. “We cannot afford to allow our communities to be underrepresented politically, or lacking in funding and resources to meet their most basic needs.”rnrnHouses of worship that have made a commitment to Philly Counts to urge their congregants to participate in the census include members of the Catholic Archdiocese, AME churches, African-American Baptist churches, the Muslim community, Caribbean community churches, Hindu temples, Vietnamese Buddhist temples, Ukrainian Orthodox churches, the Russian-Jewish community, and Hispanic Protestant and Catholic churches. Additional participants include: Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese and Russian Orthodox churches.rnrnCensus forms, along with return envelopes, are being mailed to homes across America and should be fully distributed by mid-March. The form has 10 questions. It can be done by one person in each home, and should take about 10 minutes to complete. Philadelphians who do not receive a form by March 17 should call 311 or go to phillycounts.org to locate one of the several hundred places around Philadelphia where forms may be obtained.rnrnClergy Available for Interviews:rnRev. Marguerite Handy; Rev. Raul Le Duc, Zion Assembly of God; Rev. Tamika Moore, Tenth Memorial Baptist Church; Thomas Denton, The Archdiocese of Philadelphia; Rev. Jay Broadnax, Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church; Rev. Jocelyn Hart, Hickman Temple A.M.E. Church; Rev. Terrence Griffith, First African Baptist Church; Rev. Roland McCall, St. Matthew A.M.E Church; Elder Reginald Macon, Mt. Airy C.O.G.I.C; Elder John Thomas, The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ; Dame Patricia Russell, The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ; Rev. Mark Tyler, Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church; Rev. Martha Lang, Mt. Tabor A.M. E. Church; Mr. Jim Scott, School District of Philadelphia; Rev. Elaine Ayers, Tindley Temple Methodist Church; Joyce Baum-Lee, Buddhist –SGI; Jennie Lee, Morris Brown A.M.E Church; Rev. Efrain Cotto, St. Phillip United Methodist Church; Rev. Bonnie Camarda, President, Hispanic Clergy; Rev. John Gblah, President, Liberian Ministers Association; Msgr. Peter Waslo, Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy; Rabbi Solomon Issacson, Congregation Beth Shalom; Rabbi Jay Stein, President of Board of Rabbis; Imam Mikal Shabazz, Masjidullah, Inc.rnrnAbout Philly Counts 2010rn“Philly Counts!” is a citywide campaign to raise awareness about the 2010 federal Census and encourage all Philadelphia residents to be counted. A network of diverse leaders representing many constituencies and neighborhoods have come together to help spread the word about why participating in the Census is so important to Philadelphia. The campaign is coordinating with the US Census Bureau Regional Office in planning, promoting, and implementing its action plan to obtain a complete and accurate count of the City of Philadelphia’s resident population. More information can be found at: http://www.phillycounts.org/