WHAT WE DO
“Trusted Messages from Trusted Messengers on Trusted Channels”
The state of California believes achieving a complete Census count in 2020 is more important than ever and has made a historic investment to ensure this count includes all communities across the state. With “distrust of all levels of government” and “confidentiality concerns” being some of the top reasons our communities don’t participate in the Census, Black media most significantly plays a role as “trusted voice.” Through the MBC Census Lab, Mapping Black California is collaborating with Black media statewide, working collectively on Census 2020 reporting and community engagement for a complete count. The Lab understands that “Trusted Messages from Trusted Messengers on Trusted Channels” provides insight, education, and inspires action in the Black community.
Approach
Using Research and Data to Create Audience-Focused Strategies
The engagement strategy collaboratively leverages the extensive social network and legacy of Black media as community connectors to mobilize Black Californians’ civic participation. The Lab co-develops messaging, reporting, and outreach utilizing an extensive database of over 300 regional and statewide organizations through their various communication channels.
Research - Informed
Data - Driven
Audience - Focused
HTC BLACK COMMUNITIES MAP
Prioritizing Hard-to-Count Black Communities
You can zoom to any area in the state of California. The map will highlight the local hard-to-count tracts and provide details about how much of the area’s population may be at risk of an undercount.
Learn about the map methodology.
MEDIA PARTNERS’ WORK
Educating, Motivating, and Activating our Communities through Journalism
Capitalizing on Census 2020’s unique opportunity to build capacity for Black media, the Lab community works collectively to create original content for various platforms and channels. Lab training includes briefings on Census resources and research, social media policy updates on disinformation and misinformation, alongside data analysis and visualization using Esri mapping technology.
Puccia is joined by Laura Copersino of The Daniel Copersino Foundation, Alfredo Centola of We Love Whitestone Civic Association, Jessica Baeza and Karishma Rahman Azmat.
Kids in America have something to say about the 2020 Census. They say the completing the 2020 Census could mean smoother roads, more emergency rooms, and more representation in government.
Over the next few weeks leading up to the official Census Day April 1st we here at the Observer will look to showcase different organizations within our community who are doing great work to insure we are all accurately counted.
The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that it had established a task force and was carefully monitoring the coronavirus
situation and will follow the guidance of federal, state and local health authorities while tallying the population.
Starting today, Californians will begin receiving invitations to participate in the 2020 Census from the U.S. Census Bureau.
A mother sitting in the park with her toddlers may not understand the importance of the U.S. Census, but gets it upon learning that filling the survey out today can mean her children having a spot in a free afterschool program a few years from now.
FEATURED MAPS / DATA
Visualizing Data to Address Disparities and Create Change
We employ innovative technological tools to engage Black Californians in Census participation through the converged use of community engagement and storytelling. Utilizing GIS tools – specifically Esri’s ArcGIS, Story Maps, and ArcGIS Hub – allows the Lab to better understand the state of California’s Black hard-to-count population. This includes the social, political, and economic issues affecting them, and the means by which we can address these racial disparity issues through an accurate count.
Tract segments selected for their distinctive patterns of media consumption and distribution of census mindsets.
A interactive map makes hard-to-survey areas easier to identify using American Community Survey (ACS) estimates available in the Planning Database.
This Map prioritizes hard-to-count communities for your Get Out the Count campaign
RESOURCES
Technical Assistance for Census 2020 Education and Amplification
A Census 2020 digital resource archive where our media partners can receive technical assistance and sustainability training while accessing accurate and trusted research on all things Black Census 2020 including: HTC Variables, Maps, and Black Census research in addition to technical assistance tools and webinars.
OUR TEAM
Research Acumen, Content Creation, and Evaluation
Comprised of experts hailing from diverse academic and professional backgrounds enthusiastically engaged in media strategies, journalism innovation, technological development, and content creation.
Paulette Brown-Hinds, PhD
Director
Marla Matime
Media Planning Lead
Stephanie Williams
Content Lead
Candice Mays
Project Manager Partnership Lead
Professor Rickerby Hinds
Creative Lead
Chuck Bibbs
Digital Director
Maps & Data Lead
Bergis Jules
Research & Social Media
Strategy Lead
Andrew Hardin
Creative Director
Professor Anthony Jerry
Messaging Lead
Alexander Brown-Hinds
Social Media Associate
Christen Irving
Project Assistant
OUR MEDIA PARTNERS
Legacy Meets New Media
Our media partners represent trusted sources for community news throughout the state of California. Our data-driven approach with Black media includes measuring the effectiveness of message engagement through real time social listening and evaluation.
