Students Say, "Count Us In!"

The week of February 18, Karla Hernandez '20, Business Major, Community Action and Social Change Minor, sent out an electronic poll to students with one question: Why Would I Take A Class That Incorporates Community Engagement Projects to Support An Accurate Count In The 2020 Census?

Responses arranged by major:

Biology

1. An accurate population count will allow funding and aid to be distributed to communities in need. This in turn will strengthen organizations, or create new ones that better support the needs and goals of our communities. (Scherina Chi '22)
2. To have a better understanding of who is in our community's, who could need or be of service, and how can we do this appropriately. (Stephanie Kyne’ 20,)

Business

1. A class that incorporates the census would allow members of the Dominican Community participate with the greater community of San Rafael, learn about the population distribution in the area, and work with the community to have their voices heard. (Patricia Garcia, '21,)
2. A class that incorporates census activities is needed because often misrepresentation of identities and data occur. For example, Southeast Asian folks get overshadowed and grouped into a general Asian category which prohibits us from receiving support needed. (Marissa Vang '21)
3. I would take a class that incorporates community engagement. The US Census, is something I feel is not discussed enough and I would love the idea to find out more information and take my part in incorporates the greater community! (Jacquelyn Jacinto’20)
4. I would take a class that incorporates census activities so that I can learn more about the community outside of the Dominican Campus itself. I want to be able to inform myself what the San Rafael community is made up of. (Jasmin Olvera '22)
5. A class that incorporates census activities would allow the opportunity for every voice to be heard and and be directly involved with decisions being made. (Alexandra Duran-Esparza '20)
6. It would allow for more voices to be heard, and allow for everyone to play a part in the decision making role. (Brendan Adame '20)
7. that incorporates census activities would give students the ability to interact with and learn from a community larger than that of the Dominican campus. (Jeffrey Farley '21 Business/English)
8. I would be interested in a class involving community engagement as it would help me get involved with different communities. (Jessly Chicas '22)
9. To learn more about the census and what it entails. (Sydney Kushida '20)
10. I would be interested in learning more. (Matt Albert, '19, Marketing)

Communication and Media Studies

1. I would take a class that incorporates community engagement for an accurate census count because if resources are needed for marginalized populations and an accurate count could help shape policies to meet those needs it'd be a great program. (Ashley Moreda’19)

Education Studies

1. I would take a class that incorporates census activities b/c a component of service is the acknowledgement of all humans, so we need to serve to those whose voices aren't heard as well as others and help them be heard. (Patricia Lopez-Chavez ’20)

Global Public Health

1. Taking a course that incorporates census activities will allow us to build valuable knowledge about our community that will allow us to engage in our careers adequately in the future. We are limited to the information we grew up with, we need the learning experience to build on our perspective. (Nancy Hernandez '20)
2. I would take the class because community engagement can help provide an accurate representation of marginalized communities. (Daijah Harvey '20)
3. Taking a class that incorporates community engagement will help me understand the community more and understand underlying problems. Being a public health major I will be able to see the differences. (Tiffanie Cruz '22)
4. By taking a class that incorporates community engagement projects it always myself as well as my fellow peers to interact and expierence real like situations that may accompany our major. (Saoirse Mccormack '21)
5. By interacting with the community this allows me to apply this to my major. (Emma Digman '22)

Humanities

1. We're a diverse community and now more than ever we must equip ourselves with this knowledge. By educating students about the benefits of an accurate census and projects like Everyone Counts, we can educate marginalized communities about why the census matters. (Leeann Francisco '20)
2. The census is incredibly important so I would want to take part in helping raise awareness of its importance. (Evelyn Valenzuela’22)

Nursing

1. A class that promotes community engagement projects will continue the conversation of representation/diversity. Our school tries to foster a diverse culture, but how can the students live out diversity, if there is a gap in understanding the importance of it? (Bella Rey’ 20)
2. I would engage in a class that incorporates community engagement projects because of the accurate representation that is vital for minorities in the community to be accounted for and have applicable services able to be provided for them. (Analise Mendez '22 )
3. I believe that if we are not all counted for, then our contributions that we make in our community are silenced. A class to expose students to the inequality surrounding the census would bring about awareness and change. (Julia Miller '22)
4. I have been having an amazing experience at the Marin County Jail. Being informed about community engagement frames my interactions with the population I am engaging with. (Jennifer Moline ’19 )
5. It is important to engage with our community to foster social awareness and promote a deeper understanding between members. (Katrina Mutchie '21 )
6. It gives a better understanding of the community around me, and I am able to learn where I am the best help. (Amberln Heskett, 22')

Political Science

1. It is important that the government have an accurate count of its citizens so that it can ensure all people have access to things like education, helthcare, and housing. Some areas of Marin risk being undercounted and we can help prevent that. (Allison Kustic ’21)

Psychology

1. I want to be confident in my response to clients that have fear and concern about the census questions. This would be a completely relevant/appropriate class for any major that has unique interactions with underrepresented Marin populations. (Victoria Grajeda '19 Counseling Psychology)
2. Community engagement projects would gives us, as young adults, the opportunity to know who is in our community as well as their experiences. The understanding that results from these interactions can inspire us to share how an accurate census will impact them. (Lynn Arquiza '20)
3. It is important it include all our voices because then we get a better sense of what is really all for the greater good. (Mark Moreno '20)
4. I would take class because it is just another way of seeing the world in a different light and helping others in a small but big way. (Danielle Davis '19)

Occupational Therapy

1. As a Native American living in a privileged community, I feel unheard and unrecognized. this census will provide an opportunity to have a voice in a majority white community. (Krysta Gastelum '21)
2. This could help me understand what it means to spread awareness of the present societal issues we must pay attention to for the purposes of making our community better and equal. (Chanelle Bautista '22)
3. Taking a course that incorporates census activities helps emphasize the need to apply classroom skills into the community and to make a difference with the abilities people have. (Noémie von Kaenel, BS in Health Science in '20 and Masters in Occupational Therapy in '21)
4. I would take a class that incorporates community engagement projects to support an accurate count in the 2020 Census because it's important to our society and everyone should have be accounted for. (Cathy Kintanar’ 22 )

Undeclared

1. An accurate 2020 Census count is crucial for getting sufficient government funding to meet the needs of all people. We must spread awareness to our Dominican community and our larger Marin community about the importance of everyone being counted, especially immigrants. (Julia Reinhard '22)