“Portrait of America” Road Tour Visits Indian Country

Kansas City Region

Nation to Nation Census News

February 2010 Issue 4 Bureau of the Census * Kansas City Region * (816) 994-2000 * www.census.gov/kansascity

The “Portrait of America” Road Tour is well into its fifth week of touring Kansas City’s six state region. The Kansas City Re-gional Road Tour vehicle, the Decennial spent the last week of January visiting White Earth, Leech Lake and Mahnomen, Minne-sota. On January 27th, the Decennial made a stop at the Circle of Life School for Gifted on White Earth Reservation. Students from K-12 took a break from class to visit the Census table to learn about the 2010 Census and the impact it had on their reser-vation. Many students impressed us with their knowledge about the census. Students walked away with smiles and census gift bags. The Decennial (Kansas City Regional Road Tour) took part in a recruiting and education event at the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe

2010 Communication Campaign Kick-Off Washington, DC: Thursday January 14th, Sr. Partnership Specialist Al Midkiff attended the 2010 Census Integrated Com-munication Campaign kick-off event at the Regan Center in Washington DC. Gary Fuller, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Tribal Liaison and he met at the Hotel and were joined by Tim Harjo, Las Angles Regional AIAN Program Lead, and a couple of the Las Angles Region partners. Upon approaching the Regan Center, they were greeted by the staff of the National Road Show. On display were the Census 2010 NASCAR vehi-cle, the Road Show Trailer and one of the Regional Road Tour vans with trailer. The Road Tour kiosk and Census in Schools information booth were inside at the center concourse. After registration, they were directed to the large auditorium where Jim Brown, of NFL Today, was Master of Ceremonies for the Kick-off presentation. Secretary Locke spoke via satellite or video, followed by Director Robert Groves and other key digni-taries. They were then presented with a great video collage of up-coming TV commercials, PSA’s and posters for various cul-tures and ethnicities.

Of special interest were the American Indian and Alaska Native targeted TV commercials and paid radio adds that are soon to

be airing across Indian Country. They were very well done and culturally relevant. Look for them to appear on your local media outlets in weeks to come.

U.S. Census KC Regional AIAN Program Lead Al Midkiff & Red Lake Band of Chippewa Liaison Gary Fuller pose with number 16, 2010

Census sponsored NASCAR vehicle.

Continued on page 3. Road Tour

Submitted by Sr. Partnership Specialist Al Midkiff

“Road Tour” Partnership Specialist Tham Vo

We are on the eve of one of the most fundamental activities of our nation, the 2010 Census. Our entire form of government is based upon the principal of equal representation based upon the population. The 2010 Census will direct that representation at the fed-eral, state, and local levels for the next 10 years. After years of planning and preparation, it is now time for all of us to stand up and be counted.

Our communities are depending on a complete count of all resi-dents in order to provide the basic services such as education, police and fire protection, roads and transportation. The list goes on and on. Now is the time to mobilize. Now is the time for each of us to stand and let our voices be heard. Answer the census-your nation, your community, your family are counting on you! Dennis R. Johnson

Regional Director, U.S. Census Bureau Kansas City Region

As you most likely have heard, the 2010 Census has truly begun. As it was for the 2000 Census, so it is again for the 2010 Census. On January 25, 2010, the first person counted was an Alaska Native, a World War II veteran from the remote village of Noorvik, Alaska. It is only fitting that the first person counted be a descen-dant of the first inhabitants of this great land, a veteran who proudly served during war time to protect it. Just as this brave veteran stood up to be counted, so should each of us come for-ward and give voice to the fact that we are still here and still care for this land we call “our mother”. Let us not fade into the land-scape of America. Let us be a prominent feature of the American landscape. Help the people, help your community, and help your

tribe by participating in the 2010 Census. We are here. We are proud. Let our voice be heard!

Page 2 Kansas City Region

Native Voices:

Submitted by Sr. Partnership Specialist Al Midkiff

On the Road to Noorvik, Alaska U.S. Census Bureau photo

U.S. Census Bureau Director, Dr. Robert M. Groves

Photo by Curtis Zunigha

Regional Director, Dennis Johnson

From The Director’s Desk:

Mille Lacs Band of Obibwe: Census 2010 was one of the many subjects covered at the 26th Annual State of the Band Ad-dress of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Chief Executive Marge

Anderson was quoted saying: “Another opportunity we have for uniting this year is the U.S. Census. This is critical for the Mille Lacs Band. When you agree to be counted, you help en-sure that enough federal dollars will flow into our community. Only by getting an accurate count of band members will we receive enough funding for health care, education, and social welfare programs.”

The Mille Lacs Band is located in East Central Minnesota. They are a warm and friendly people who have a strong support for the upcoming 2010 Census. Partnership Assistants attending this important event were: Cecile Warren, Brenda Gregorich, and Renee Jordain. All three Partnership Assistants are enrolled members of various Reservations in Minnesota. Band members enjoyed the promotional items and asked questions about the Census and Census jobs. As they were packing up the last box to go a woman walked by, nodded and smiled so Brenda said to her “Hi, we are hiring band members”, she laughed and thanked her for the offer and gave a friendly wave as she walked away. It was then that Brenda was informed, that nice lady was the Tribal Chairwoman. Brenda just smiled and said, “I guess we reached out to everyone”.

Submitted by Sr. Partnership Specialist / Team Lead Donna Hoffer and Partnership Assistant Brenda Gregorich.

Accurate Count Critical for Mille Lacs Band

February 2010 Issue 4 Page 3

on January 28th. The Ojibwe Achievement Center hosted the road tour as we met with the locals who were more than excited to add their images and voices to the Decennial’s collection of portraits. Special guests Mayor of Cass Lake Wayne LaDuke and former Mayor Richard Neises stopped by to say hello and offer their support. They were full of entertaining stories about life and their town. The road tour team had a blast at the action packed Mahnomen High School basketball games on January 29th. The census recruiting team was on site to talk to students and parents about potential job opportunities in the upcoming months. Many were excited a b o u t t h e chance to have a great paying part-time job that required little travel. The bas-ketbal l fans sported Census hats and stick-ers. A very spe-cial thank you goes to Principal

Jeff Bisek for allowing the Census to have an event at the amaz-ing Mahnomen High School Gymnasium. The Decennial will be traveling throughout the Kansas City re-gion until April 2010. The “Portrait of America” project will live online at 2010census.gov. Everyone is invited to attend one of the Road Tour stops to experience the free, interactive and edu-cational event. Those who can’t attend in person are encouraged to experience the virtual tour at 2010census.gov.

“Road Tour” Continued from page 1.

Submitted by Tham Vo, Partnership Specialist

Chief Executive Marge A. Anderson

“The Decennial” Kansas City Regional Road Tour Vehicle

Related picture on back page

Census Road Tour Goes to Minnesota Indian Country

U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Census Bureau Kansas City region

Phone: 816-994-2045 Fax: 816-994-2089

2001 NE 46th Street Kansas City, MO 64116

The Decennial Census Road Tour Van visited White Earth Reservation in northern Minnesota, where census staff handed out promotional items to over 500 White Earth basketball fans. To see more pictures from the Road Tours go to:

http://2010.census.gov/2010census/roadtour/

From right to left, Partnership Specialist Tham Vo, Partnership Assistant Cecile Warren, Team Lead Donna Hoffer, and Regional Tech Carol Dewitt