【時報訊】您填妥並寄回2010年人口普查調查表了嗎？為了維護您和社區未來十年的權益，請您務必要將寄到您府上的人口普查表填妥並儘快寄回，人口普查局在四月份將會統計檢查回收之郵件表格。如果沒有收到您的表格，人口普查局將在五月份派出人口普查員到您府上按鈴拜訪，請您填妥表寄回，為節省公帑及減少人口普查員登門拜訪之麻煩，請您儘快將表格寄回，如果您的表格遺失或沒有收到，請您致電聖路易時報314-432-3858。時報備有不同語言(中文、英文、越南文、西班牙文等)之表格供您索取填寫寄回。
三月二十九日中午十一時半，應聖路易國際機構之邀，聖路易美國國會眾議員Russ Carnahan抵達位於聖路易南大道之國際機構，向在場250餘位移民、難民學生等發表演說，強調人口普查和填表寄回之重要性。
根據上次(十年前，2000年)人口普查統計結果，移民社區是全美七大計數不足人口群之一，其他不足計數之人口群包括遊民和在校學生。
自三月中旬起，聖路易社區包括華裔之不同族裔社區，都展開一連串提醒居民填表之活動並有義工幫忙翻譯填表。三月二十七、二十八日週末兩天，聖路易美華協會、聖路易華人完全計數委員會、聖路易時報等義工，分別在百利超市和皇冠耆老中心，展開服務及宣導工作，成效十分良好。
聖路易國際機構總裁Anna Crosslin表示，將聖路易新移民和難民計入十分重要。人口普查局印有中文、西班牙文、韓文等族裔語言表格，讓移民、難民社區居民容易填寫，至於其他少數族裔則需要義工團體在語言方面之協助。
Anna Crosslin說，如果聖路易地區移民難民少算五千人，就代表聖路易在道路、橋梁維修，學校、醫療設施服務等方面少掉六百五十萬美元聯邦經費，可見人口普查正確人口數字對聖路易之重要。
2010 Census Road Tour at IISTLCongressman Carnahan Completes his Census Form with New Americans
On March 29: The International Institute St. Louis hosted the 2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tourfor its final stop in the St. Louis region before April 1 Census Day. At 11:30 am, Congressman Russ Carnahanin whose district the Institute is located addressed 250+ Institute students, clients and staff about the importanceof participating in the decennial census.
Immigrants are one of 7 populations which were undercounted in the last census, according to the Census Bureau.Other undercounted populations include the homeless and college students. In recent months, dozens of localnonprofits including the International Institute and the Urban League have volunteered their services to reachhard-to-count populations in their service sectors to benefit the city's overall count.
"It is extremely important that we reach as many of St. Louis' newcomers, primarily refugees from war-torn countries around the world,with the census message," said Anna Crosslin, Institute President & CEO. "Census materials have only been produced in themost common foreign languages like Spanish, Chinese and Korean. St. Louis' newcomers who speak uncommon languages includingNepalese, Karen and Swahili have had virtually no opportunity to learn about the importance of the census except from volunteers atagencies like the Institute, local churches, and government offices."
Crosslin said that undercounting our city's foreign-born population has the same negative effect as undercountingother residents. For example, an undercount of just 5,000 means our region will lose $6.5 million in federal fundsfor roads and bridges, school and other critical services. "What a shame for the entire city!" she added.
The International Institute is fortunate to host the National Road Tour Vehicle, nicknamed 'Mail It Back.' This isthe largest of the 13 Road Tour vehicles, and contains interactive displays both inside the trailer and in an outsidetent highlighting the importance of the census to individuals and their community.
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