PWC trains volunteers to help in getting out word about the 2020 census

Prince William County trained volunteers Jan. 14 and Jan. 16 to get the word out about the upcoming 2020 Census.

The training in the eastern end of the county was 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, in the Leesylvania Conference Room at the Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building, 15941 Donald Curtis Drive in Woodbridge. The western Prince William training session was on Thursday, Jan. 16, in the Jean McCoy Conference Room at the Sudley North Government Center, 7987 Ashton Avenue in Manassas.

Prince William County Demographer Brian Engelmann said people who volunteered have been trained to go out to scheduled community events, festivals, block parties, and other places that people might gather, to pass out Census fliers, educate people about the Census and answer questions. “They will be able to answer questions, such as what languages the Census is offering to take the survey, what each question is, when it’s taking place and ‘what if’ scenarios.”

The information volunteers gather will help their friends and neighbors by helping the county get as much federal funding as possible. Federal funding helps with education, transportation, public safety, public services, housing and more, Engelmann said. “An accurate Census count ensures that Prince William County gets its appropriate share of federal funds.”

An accurate count is also about the representation states get in the U.S. Congress, he said. “Every 10 years, the results of the census are used to reapportion the House of Representatives, determining how many seats each state gets.”

Some of the volunteers who complete the training classes will staff information tables at county libraries for “Census Saturday!” at Bull Run Regional, Chinn Park Regional, Haymarket-Gainesville Community, Montclair Community and Potomac Community libraries on Saturdays between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. from March 14 to April 11. A table at Dumfries Neighborhood Library will be staffed Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. “At each of these events, we will be having Census staff and our volunteers present to provide people with the information and resources they need to understand the Census and take the Census,” Engelmann said.

Following are the “Census Saturday!” dates:

Saturday, March 14th
Saturday, March 21st
Saturday, March 28th
Saturday, April 4th
Saturday, April 11th

People who wish to get even more involved may apply for a Census job at https://2020census.gov/jobs .

People can start taking the Census survey online beginning in the middle of March this year, Engelmann said.

More information about the Census and the county’s efforts is available at pwcgov.org/census.