Being born Alaska Native is a political act, asserts La quen náay Liz Medicine Crow. If Alaska Natives had more representation in elected
offices and adequate resources to help keep Native peoples safe, this could mean being able to build a better, stronger, more equitable
Alaska. One way to help do this is to complete the census.

The census is important because there has been a determined effort to disenfranchise people of color and women, explains Tracie Kimbrough. Being undercounted has put these communities at a disadvantage, but a proper count in the census could mean better
distribution of resources, especially for much-needed improvements in school and public services.

Howard Shih knows it is essential to quantify the pace of growth of the Asian American racial group to be able to advocate for the needs
of the community. An accurate count means services, like English language classes for new immigrants, new classrooms for growing
neighborhoods, and meals at senior centers, will have access to funding.

Pastor Damaris Whittaker is concerned that gentrification is displacing Latinx families out of the homes they have lived in for decades. They
need protection — but first, the government needs to know they exist. Accurate census data can reflect the economic makeup of the
community, leading to services that address these inequities.

A full, fair, and accurate census is crucial for organizations like YWCA, which Alejandra Castillo leads, to continue to provide federally
supported, life-saving services to women and girls. With those resources, they can better their health, education, safety, equity, and
overall well-being, leading to an improved life for families and stronger communities.

Sahra Nguyen advocates for a complete count of the Southeast Asian and Vietnamese American communities. She believes the
census can make their stories, struggles, and fight more visible, which will lead to inclusion in conversations around their needs and
in conversations for racial justice and building an equitable world.

Lizette Escobedo believes that as a Latina millennial, daughter of immigrants, and single mom, the chances of people like her being
missed or undercounted is quite high. In fact, despite being the second-largest population group in the country and among the
fastest-growing, Latinos are severely undercounted.

Suher Adi believes that Arab Americans must take charge of their educational materials so they can bridge access to language resources
for English language learners or those who have a language barrier. A language gap also impacts the Arab American community’s ability
to advocate for the issues that matter the most to them.

The participation of our marginalized communities in the census means providing us access to our fair share of resources to respond to
crises like the coronavirus pandemic, says David J. Johns. An accurate count means we can secure the social resources that will be critical to ensuring we thrive in the near future.