Nonprofit Engagement Highlights
Intentional coordination of diverse Census outreach tactics have been critical to driving SELA resident participation in the 2020 Census. Each community based organization tapped into their expertise to design different engagement tactics, nurture resident relationships remotely, and deliver relevant and meaningful messages.
From community-based organizations to city staff to elected offices to resident groups, coordinated efforts have augmented civic engagement collective power in SELA. As the region’s most trusted messengers, it is very important to reflect on the role the nonprofit sector has played in our region’s Census participation. When thinking about future civic engagement opportunities in SELA that maximize reach, engagement, and advocacy, consider reaching out to these regional leaders who have learned powerful lessons and have developed innovative resident engagement techniques.
Community Reach Tactics: Human Services Association (HSA), Southeast Community Development Corporation, AltaMed Health Services, Southeast Rio Vista YMCA
Resident Engagement: Latino Equality Alliance (LEA), Council of Mexican Federations in North America (COFEM0, East Los Angles College (ELAC), Families In Schools (FIS)
SELA “Complete and Accurate Count” Advocacy: SELA Collaborative Charlas, We Count LA, Pat Brown Institute at Cal State LA, First 5 LA/Best Start Communities
Check out the highlights below. Why do you think this combination of outreach tactics has been important for the SELA region?
Nonprofit Highlights
SELA Collaborative’s Census Charlas
Direct SELA resident feedback on the concerns and opportunities around Census 2020 set the foundation for all regional Census conversations on best outreach and engagement practices
Council of Mexican Federations in North America (COFEM)
Immigrant residents were effectively reached through food distribution events such as Leche-ton and driving COFEM’s Census van through low-responding HTC tracts to excite and remind residents the value of participating in Census 2020
Southeast Community Development Corporation (SCDC)
From distributing laptops to address the digital divide to Census banners, safety kits, and lawns signs to the mobile RV, SCDC ensured that Census message was visibly integrated throughout SELA
Human Services Association (HSA)
Continuous engagement with their client base, phone and text banking, and canvassing in SELA neighborhoods deepened reach for 0-5 populations and senior citizens – and everyone in between
AltaMed Health Services
The 5-touchpoint model to ensured Census messaging was clearly integrated with the delivery of healthcare services and made the connection clear that participating in Census 2020 is connected to healthcare resources
Latino Equality Alliance (LEA)
Weaving the significance of Census to SELA’s LGBTQ+ community included blending messaging with community-specific issues such as health care and environmental justice and programming that resonates with audience (drag performance, poetry, etc.)
Faith-based communities
Address core concerns of faith-based communities in southeast LA by speaking on the intersection of faith, COVID-19, and Census resources – all in Spanish and with trusted faith-based leaders
PBI
Providing timely regional data and reports to SELA stakeholders on “Living and Working in SELA” and Census perceptions pre-COVID and during COVID
We Count LA
Elevating SELA Census outreach activities from SELA Car Caravans and on-the-ground community outreach through Univision, Spectrum1, Que Buena Radio, and NBC4.
YMCA Southeast-Rio Vista
YMCA Southeast-Rio Vista – integrating Census messaging with resource food and resource distribution services
Families in Schools (FIS)
Families in Schools – bilingual, how-to fill out the Census guides created by parent leaders
East Los Angeles College (ELAC)
ELAC – big push Census digital outreach campaign with student leaders at the Southeast LA Campus
First 5 LA
Funded Census outreach efforts for the Best Start SELA community