Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Fairfax, VA—As we approach the next phase of the 2010 Census, the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) joined several national and local Asian American community groups to promote the Census Bureau’s visits to homes that have yet to mail in their census forms. Today’s event took place in front of Super H Mart on Lee Highway in Fairfax, Virginia, drawing over 30 participants and spectators. Among the crowd was the U.S. Census Bureau Director, Dr. Robert M. Groves. Dr. Groves emphasized the importance of filling out the Census forms by everyone living in America including Asian American and immigrant communities and reassured his audience on the confidentiality of the Census. Dr. Groves and all speakers demonstrated how to “open” the door. In response to a question from a reporter, he urged people to open up their doors to be counted regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Other speakers included NAKASEC staff who shared that Virginia’s Korean American population grew from 2000 to 2008 by 27%. NAKASEC urges the Korean American community to open their doors to ensure that the needs of our and the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities are addressed.
This event was organized by Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), and co-sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau, Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center, APIAVote!, Asian American LEAD, Asian Pacific American Bar Association of DC, BPSOS, Japanese American Citizens League, Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington, Legal Aid Justice Center, OCA, South Asian Americans Leading Together, South Asian Bar Association of DC, H Mart, the Home Depot (NE Washington, DC).
