Committee formed to ensure Cape Cod counts in 2020

Hard-to-count populations the focus of September training

With less than a year before the 2020 Federal Census, the Cape Cod Commission has partnered with the Town of Barnstable and Barnstable County to increase awareness about the importance of responding to the 2020 Federal Census.   

A Cape-wide training facilitated by Regional Office of the U.S. Census and staff from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth will be held at 11:00 AM on September 11, 2019 at Barnstable Town Hall in Hyannis. This training will provide an overview of the Census process, methods for communicating and sharing information, and ways to promote participation. It is intended for municipal leaders and staff, along with non-profits connected to hard-to–count populations. 

Hard-to-count populations include young children, seniors, snowbirds, racial and ethnic minorities, non-English speakers, those with low incomes, those experiencing homelessness, and those who do not live in traditional housing. 

Barnstable Town Manager Mark Ells, County Administrator Jack Yunits, and Commission Executive Director Kristy Senatori serve as co-chairs of the Cape Cod Complete Count Committee, which kicked off during this year’s OneCape Summit, held in July. This volunteer advisory committee represents a broad cross-section of Cape residents and brings together those best suited to reach traditionally hard-to-count populations. 

“The importance of a complete and accurate count can't be overstated,” Senatori said. “The Commission depends on data from the Census to better understand who our residents are, and the challenges and opportunities they experience.” 

Data collected through the 2020 Census will set more than just population estimates for the next 10 years. It will serve as the basis for elected representation, federal and state funding formulas and program eligibility.

For more information about the Complete Count Committee and the 2020 Census, visit https://www.capecodcommission.org/our-work/census-2020/

The Complete Count Committee kicked off at the OneCape Summit, held in July 2019.
Back Row, L to R: Bert Jackson, Executive Director, Cape Cod Technology Council, Inc.; Wendy Northcross, Executive Director, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce; Sean O’Brien, Director, Barnstable County Dept. of Health and Environment; Tom Cahir, Administrator, Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority; Mark Ells, Barnstable Town Manager;  Ron Bergstrom, Chairman, Board of Regional Commissioners; Alisa Magnotta, Executive Director, Housing Assistance Corp.; Chris Flanagan, Selectman, Town of Dennis; Heather Harper.  
Front Row, L to R: Lynne Poyant, Barnstable Director of Community Services;  Lauren Barker, CEO Cape Cod Young Professionals; Jack Yunits, Barnstable County Administrator; Paul Hebert, Barnstable Town Council; John Barr, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office; Vatsady Sivongxay, Statewide Complete Count Committee Coordinator; Kristy Senatori, Executive Director, Cape Cod Commission; Bridget Burger, Cape Cod Community College, Cape Cod Regional STEM Network; Ann Quirk, Barnstable Town Clerk;  and Georgia Lowe, U.S. Census Bureau.