Save the Date for the Ventura County Census Celebration!

Census Countdown Instagram Post (4)


Save the Date

Thursday, December 10, 2020 

9:00-10:30 a.m.


You’re invited to the virtual Ventura County Census Celebration!

This event will bring together all our wonderful Ventura County Complete Count Committee members to
reflect on and celebrate what we have accomplished together.

We hope you will join us to share your stories, gratitudes, and how the Census collaboration impacted
you, your organization, or your community.

As 2020 U.S. Census Count Ends,
Ventura County Near Top in National Response Rates

As reported in the VC Star, the 2020 U.S. Census count ended last month with Ventura County achieving one of the highest self-response rates among 3,215 counties in the nation.

Click here to read the article.

Movement Building Fellows Program Opportunity

Applications are due by January 11, 2021 at 5 p.m.
Fellows will be announced by early March 2021. 

The Weingart Foundation is now accepting applications to the second cohort of the John W. Mack Movement Building Fellows program. This program helps leaders new to their roles develop their adaptive leadership skills, hone their leadership stance, improve their ability to develop more effective campaign strategies, and better access resources that support them as leaders in movement organizations and networks, all through a racial justice and equity framework. Twelve emerging leaders will be selected to engage in transformative leadership development training, peer learning and coaching over an 18-month period.

For more information on the John W. Mack Movement Building Fellows program, including eligibility,
selection criteria and how to apply, click here.

I Count. You Count. We ALL Count.

Census Thanks

Thank You and Celebration!

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
– Nelson Mandela
Dear Ventura County 2020 Census Complete Count Committee,
 
I just love this quote by Nelson Mandela and think it pretty much sums up these past two years of our 2020 Census Complete Count efforts, lol!
 
Seriously, what we’ve accomplished together is just amazing! Because of you, Ventura County has gone from being 59th out of more than 3,400 communities at-risk of an undercount, to being in the top 95th percentile in the nation for an accurate count. This is historic! And the impact will be felt for generations. 
 
We are working on coordinating a meaningful virtual celebration and would love your ideas! We will send more details in the very near future. 
 
In the meantime, we wanted to send a quick summary of the self-response rates as of 10/15/2020 for Ventura County:
 
Overall
  • U.S. – 66.9%
  • CA – 69.6%
  • Ventura County – 76.7%
 
By City
  • Moorpark – 83.5% (ranked 19th in the State of CA!)
  • Camarillo – 83.3%
  • Thousand Oaks – 82.2%
  • Simi Valley – 82.2%
  • San Buenaventura – 75.6%
  • Santa Paula – 75.2%
  • Ojai – 73.6%
  • Fillmore – 72.6%
  • Oxnard – 69.9%
  • Port Hueneme – 68.9%
 
Please take a moment with me to pause and just imagine the difference that you have made. I’m so proud of each of you and can’t wait to see what we tackle next! Broadband equity for all? High quality preschool for all? Climate change? No matter what, I can’t imagine anyone I’d rather have by my side than each of you. 
 
In celebration and heartfelt gratitude,
 
Vanessa
President and CEO
Ventura County Community Foundation

Mid-September Updates

Final 2 Weeks for the Census!

It’s the final 30 days of the Census! Be sure to remind your friends, family, colleagues and neighbors that it’s not too
late to complete the Census!

Census Bureau MQAs This Week

Heads up! The U.S. Census Bureau will be hosting Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) events in the following cities in Ventura County this week:
 
  • San Buenaventura – 9/17
  • Southwinds Oxnard – 9/19
  • Virtual Facebook Live event with Oxnard Performing Arts Center – 9/19
  • Virtual event with Ojai Unified School District – 9/22 English and 9/23 Spanish

Service Based Enumeration
Taking Place Sept 22-24

Service Based Enumeration provides an opportunity for people without conventional housing or people experiencing homelessness to be included in the Census by counting them at places where they receive services or at outdoor locations such as encampments.
 
  • Emergency and Transitional Shelters with sleeping facilities: Sept 22-24
  • Soup Kitchens, Food Banks, and Mobile Food Vans/Service Sites: Sept 22-24
  • Targeted Non-Sheltered Outdoor Locations: Sept 23-24

Get Out the Count Materials Webpage

The CA State Complete Count Office put together the Get Out the Count webpage, This webpage includes tons of essential outreach tools needed to conduct activities in your communities in one convenient location.
 
Be sure to visit the page to find the following tools and more:
 

Reminders for CCC Grantees

To all of our Complete Count Committee Grantees, please remember the following:
 
SwORD Reports
 
Inventory Report and Equipment Return
  • If you purchased any equipment through grant funds, you will need to file a final inventory listing of the equipment. The listing should include the dates the equipment was acquired, the per unit cost and number of units, serial numbers, model identification. Once the listing is accepted, equipment may be scheduled for return to the State Census Office via shipment by October 31, 20202. Please contact Stephanie Bertsch-Merbach and Dr. Gabino Aguirre for any questions on this.

Read the Op Ed from Our Partners in Santa Barbara County

Last month, Pedro Paz, Ph.D., co-chair of the Santa Barbara County Census 2020 Complete Count Committee and Director of Grantmaking for the Santa Barbara Foundation, wrote an Op-Ed, “Census is about community, not politics” for the Santa Barbara News-Press.
 
In the Op-Ed, Pedro states:
 
“2020 has been a difficult year for our county, state and the nation amidst the global pandemic. However, we can’t lose sight of our future by choosing not to participate in 2020 census by Sept. 30. 
 
Ten years ago, no one could have imagined that the accuracy of that census would impact the resources to our hospitals and clinics for us to locally combat and recover from this pandemic. If we are undercounted, we lose resources for when we need them the most.”

Census PSA "Film Festival"

Be on the lookout this weekend for a special “Film Festival” edition newsletter and social media campaign where we will share all of the Census PSAs and videos that our partners have produced throughout the Census!
 
Please email Stephanie Bertsch-Merbach with VCCF if you have any videos of your own that you would like to highlight!
 
In the meantime, please enjoy the following videos from two of our Census Partners and a brand new NPR-style Census podcast from Child Development Resources! Feel free share with your networks!

Oxnard Performing Arts Center - PSA

Nueva Vista Media - PSA Spanish

Nueva Vista Media - PSA Tagalog

Child Development Resources - Ventura County Counts Podcast

UPCOMING EVENTS
Education and Outreach Subcommittee Meeting:
Thursday, Sept. 17, 10:30 am to 11:30 am

Oxnard Performing Arts Center:
Count Me In Livestream
Sept. 19, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Oxnard Performing Arts Center:
2020 Halloween Census Caravan
Sept. 27, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Census “Film Festival”

Ventura County Counts – 2020 Census – "Film Festival" Edition

Census PSA “Film Festival”

The most important lesson we’ve learned through this journey we’ve taken together with the Census is how creative, ingenious, and innovative our partners truly are!
 
Many of us have had to pivot our activities to continue our outreach during COVID-19 while maintaining social distancing. We could have never imagined the brilliance that our partners brought to problem solve and continue to share the message about the importance of the Census.
 
This is why we are taking a moment to celebrate all of your creativity in this Special Census PSA “Film Festival” Edition of our Newsletter.
 
We have compiled an extensive (though not exhaustive!) list of the videos you produced and shared on social media. We will be sharing these videos on our Ventura County Counts Facebook page starting this weekend and through next week so we can continue to share these amazing videos with our community during the final days of the Census.
 
 
Without further ado, for your consideration…

Child Development Resources

County of Ventura

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Ventura County Alumnae Chapter

Diversity Collective

Faith-Based Subcommittee

Inlakech

September 1, 2020 – Last 30 Days of the Census

Final 30 Days for the Census

It’s the final 30 days of the Census! Be sure to remind your friends, family, colleagues and neighbors that it’s not too
late to complete the Census!

Get Out the Count Materials Webpage

The CA State Complete Count Office put together the Get Out the Count webpage. 
This webpage includes tons of essential outreach tools needed to conduct activities in your communities in one convenient location.
 
Be sure to visit the page to find the following tools and more:
 

September Social Media Toolkit

The CA State Complete Count Office also put together a Social Media Toolkit for the month of September.

A Message from Our CCC Co-Chair

Check out this video from Vanessa Bechtel, President and CEO of VCCF and Co-Chair of the Ventura County Complete Count Committee, about the importance of the Census and the fast approaching deadline!
 
Feel free to Like and Share on Facebook too!

PPE Available for Ventura County Partners

PPE is available for Census partners in Ventura County who need the equipment to conduct their Census outreach. Stop by VCCF’s office to pick up your supplies. Please contact Dr. Gabino Aguirre with any questions.
 
The following materials are available:
  • Face Shields
  • Surgical Masks
  • N95 Masks
  • Surgical Gloves
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Door Hangers

CDR's Extended Census Challenge

Child Development Resources has extended their Census Challenge one last time to correspond with the new census self-response deadline of September 30. That’s means they’ll continue to provide updates and new challenges until then and raffle off prizes on the final day of September. 
 
This month’s first challenge: Use any of your social media platforms to remind your followers that September 30 is the final day to complete the census. Be sure to use the hashtag #CDRChallenge and follow CDR on Facebook @cdrvta, on Instagram @child_development_resources and Twitter @ResourcesChild.

A Telenovela for the Census

While you’re visiting CDR’s social media, be sure to check out “CENSOmientos de mi Corazón,” the tale of achieving an accurate count, all in the name of love. This fun and informative video was a collaboration between Child Development Resources of Ventura County, Inc., and Teatro de las Americas. 

Getting a Census Taker Visit When You’ve Already Responded

Census takers are now visiting households across the nation that have not yet responded. Understandably, some households that have already responded have expressed confusion over why they, too, are being visited. These visits are part of the U.S. Census Bureau’s efforts to be absolutely sure that they count everyone. If you get a visit and you’ve already responded, please be patient and kind and answer the census taker’s questions.
 
Click below to read more on how you can help explain these follow-up visits to your friends and neighbors.
As Enumeration and other field operations get underway, there may be questions about the legitimacy of the Census workers. 
 
If you have any questions, the Census Fraud Hotline number is: 844-330-2020, and Click Here to visit the Census page on fraud and concerns.
 
Also, Click Here to read how you can help fight inaccurate rumors about the Census.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Diversity Collective Ventura County: LGBTQIA+ Community Townhall Sept. 8 5pm-6:30pm

Oxnard Performing Arts Center: Present! Let's Be Counted Event Sept. 6, 1pm-4pm

Oxnard Performing Arts Center: Count Me In Livestream
Sept. 19, 12pm-4pm

Getting a Census Taker Visit When You’ve Already Responded

Aug 20 CCC Follow-Up Email

Look for the Ventura County Census Caravan Tomorrow!

Be on the lookout for the Census Caravan taking place throughout Ventura County, tomorrow, Aug. 22!!

The caravan will start in Thousand Oaks at 9:30am and then travel through most cities in the County ending in Simi Valley around 3:00pm.

Help spread the word with friends and neighbors that we have until September 30 to get a complete count for Ventura County!

Go to my2020census.gov to complete the Census today!

August 20 Complete Count Meeting Follow-Up

Thank you to everyone who could join us on Zoom for the August 20th Complete Count Committee Meeting! Plus, a big shout out to Lourdes Gonzales from Translate Ventura who was able to provide live Spanish interpretation!

If you were unable to join us on zoom, here is the link to the recording of the meeting complete with chat text: (Password: 8gq4qKq@)

Click here to view all of the PowerPoint slides, including the slides from Matt Carroll on the response rates in Ventura County.

Census PDI and PPE

Are you interested in volunteering with Census PDI, our phonebanking platform for Ventura County?
 
If so, please email Dr. Gabino Aguirre to get an account
set up and join a training session!

In need of PPE to conduct your Census outreach?

Stop by VCCF’s office
Monday, Aug. 24, 9am-12pm or Tuesday, Aug. 25, 9am-12pm to pick up supplies for your organization.

NEW! #VenturaCountyCounts Video

Check out the latest Census video produced by Child Development Resources and featuring some familiar faces
from around our county to help!

Census Toolkits and Materials

Get Out the Count Outreach for College Students Toolkit

The State Census Office has developed a toolkit, fact sheet, and social media
guide to help Get Out the Count to college students.
 

August Social Media Toolkit

Click here to download the August Social Media Toolkit created by the State Census Office.
 
Be sure to share with all of your networks!

Census Icon Flyers Available

Now available: Census Icon Flyers in English, Spanish and 10 other languages!
 
Click here to download them.
 
Check them out today and use them in your communities!

Partner Spotlight: First 5 Ventura County

Census t shirts hallway
Recently, First 5 Ventura County hosted a distribution event for childcare providers, and those providers who pre-registered received cleaning supplies, PPE, diapers and wipes, and also a goodie bag full of Census information and materials.
 
Those Census shirts are looking good on you! Thanks for your incredible outreach!

May Somos Vecinos Newsletter

May 21 Complete Count Meeting Follow-Up

Thank you to everyone who could join us on Zoom for the May 21 Complete Count Committee Meeting!
Here are the resources and follow-up items from today’s meeting.
 

Plus, a big shout out to Lourdes Gonzales from Translate Ventura who was able to provide live Spanish interpretation!

Here is the link to the recording of today’s Zoom meeting complete with chat text:

Click here to view all of the PowerPoint slides, including the slides from Matt Carroll on the response rates in Ventura County and Census PDI.

Additionally, here is the list of resources and link below to the MICOP PSAs that Genevieve Flores-Haro from MICOP provided in today’s chat.
Thank you, Genevieve!!

Ideas for Census Outreach from Others

Phonebanking

A number of partners throughout the State are phonebanking with their own client phone lists and contacts. These types of calls are generally more friendly and welcomed than cold calls. Here are scripts and best practices in phonebanking from our parters at United Way Bay Area.

If interested, please email us!

Click here to access Phonebanking Training

Virtual QACs/QAKs

Are you a Community Based Organization that was looking to host a QAC or QAK? One idea is to move the QACs/QAKs to a virtual setting! You can host a dedicated phone line with your volunteers ready to answer Census-related questions. Our friends at the United Way of Bay Area have put together a few trainings and resources to get started.

If interested, please email us!

View Virtual QAC Training Slides

View Virtual QAC Webinar

CDR Census Challenge!

Child Development Resources is challengeing everyone to complete their 2020 Census form. Share your census photos and video clips to CDR’s Census 2020 Outreach Specialist at: Luis.Guereca@cdrv.org They will update their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with your images and stories. Everyone who participants will be entered into a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses. Deadline is July 31, 2020.

Viral Videos from Delta Sigma Theta

The amazing Kelly Owens of the Ventura County Alumnae Chapter (VCAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority put together some incredible videos on the Census.

Please click the links below to view the videos and share, share, share!

Counting On My Sistahs – video

DoThisNowChallenge – video

Social Media Toolkit

Our Region’s marketing partner, JPMarketing, has created a great social media template with ideas for content that you can share on various platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and so on.

Click here to access the Toolkit

Click here to for the full-sized graphics

Census Caravans

Our partners in Kern County recently put together a Census Caravan where they decorated their cars with magnets and Census flyers and drove through different neighborhoods.

Click here to watch the KGET News clip about the parade!

More Ideas:

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  • Facemasks with Census info modeled here by Suki Sir from Turning Point Foundation!
  • Post bilingual yard signs
  • Place banners in visible places
  • Flyer inserts with delivered meals
  • Utility bill inserts
  • Flyers at grocery stores
  • Engage trusted messengers to connect with their community via phone banking, text, and email
  • Flyers at grocery stores

Can We Count On You?!

Census Updated Timeline Impacts

COVID-19 and shelter-in-place measures have impacted the Census timeline, which has been extended until October 31. Here are a few updates from our speakers about how this timeline change will impact our Census outreach:

Justine Fischer, Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, shared that the Camarillo Census Office is projected to open around June 1, pending approval from the County. Also, in-person enumeration should begin mid-August and will follow strict health guidelines.

Patricia Vazquez Topete, our Region 5 Program Manager, discussed how the extended timeline will impact Update Leave and provided this Guidance. Also, talking points for social media in English and Spanish are on their way. Given that the Non-Response Follow-Up (NRFU) period has been extended from August 14 to October 31, many partners will be impacted. The State Complete Count Office will share plans for this extension based on feedback they receive from the NRFU report.

Dr. Gabino Aguirre, our Region 5 Census Coordinator, shared that the third round of Census funding has been put on hold during shelter-in-place, but the application period will be open soon as the restrictions are lifted.

Breakout Discussion Questions

COVID-19 and shelter-in-place measures have impacted the Census timeline, which has been extended until October 31. Here are a few updates from our speakers about how this timeline change will impact our Census outreach:

Justine Fischer, Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, shared that the Camarillo Census Office is projected to open around June 1, pending approval from the County. Also, in-person enumeration should begin mid-August and will follow strict health guidelines.

Patricia Vazquez Topete, our Region 5 Program Manager, discussed how the extended timeline will impact Update Leave and provided this Guidance. Also, talking points for social media in English and Spanish are on their way. Given that the Non-Response Follow-Up (NRFU) period has been extended from August 14 to October 31, many partners will be impacted. The State Complete Count Office will share plans for this extension based on feedback they receive from the NRFU report.

Dr. Gabino Aguirre, our Region 5 Census Coordinator, shared that the third round of Census funding has been put on hold during shelter-in-place, but the application period will be open soon as the restrictions are lifted.

February Somos Vecinos Newsletter

Next Complete Count Committee Meeting

Thursday, March 12, 9-11am
NEW LOCATION at VCOE

room of people
Next Complete Count Meeting
lease join us at the next Ventura County 2020 Census Complete
Count Committee meeting on
Thursday, March 12 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am
VCOE Conference and Educational Services Center
Salons A, B, and C
5100 Adolfo Road, Camarillo, CA 93012
 
~ Please note NEW LOCATION ~

Jan. 16 CCC Meeting Follow-Up

Thanks to all Complete Count Committee members for attending the meeting on January 16!
Here are a few items from that meeting:

Videos from Somos Vecinos

QAC/QAK Guidelines

Census Volunteer Website: www.countingtogether.site

SwORD Activity Report

Save the Date! Census Kick-Off Event

Join us as we celebrate the official Census Day!

 
 
Date: Wednesday, April 1
Time: 5pm to 7:30pm
Location: The Palazzio Event Center,
814 E Main St, Santa Paula, CA

 

Third Round of Funding Applications Due Feb. 29

~ Two Ways to Apply ~

Click below to apply for funding for community-based organizations. Funding requests will also be considered for private businesses and individuals through this link. 
 
The deadline to apply is January 15.
The application for Subcommittees to apply for funding for their specific outreach efforts is now available online. Please click the button below to follow the link. 
 
The deadline to apply is January 15.

We are grateful for the work and commitment of our first and second round grantees!
Click here to read more.

Reminder: CBO Grantees Training Sessions

For all CBO Grantees, be sure to join us on March 11 at VCCF from 9am to 11 am for our next Coordination Meeting.

Resource Updates

First 5 Ventura County
Census Resources

First 5 Ventura County has created census materials
geared towards families with children age 0-5.

Census Toolkit
for Business Owners
ReadyNation created a toolkit for business owners to share information about the Census with their employees and customers.
 
View Small Business Toolkit Resources
(under Complete Count Committees)

Community Highlight: Animal Census Days at America's Teaching Zoo

On Feb. 8 and Feb. 9, America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College and the City of Moorpark’s 2020
Census Complete Count Committee held Animal Census Days where children could learn about the U.S. Census by helping the zoo count its animals and learn why we all count!

Committee Member Spotlights

Somos Vecinos. We Are neighbors.

Natalie Harnandez, Chair of PR & Marketing Subcommittee, Assistant Public Information Officer, County of Ventura. Natalie Hernández is the Assistant Public Information Officer for the County of Ventura, specializing in bilingual communications that extend the County’s outreach into Spanish-speaking communities and supports the County’s overall public information program throughout its 25 agencies. Natalie manages communications with Latino media, as well as supports digital communications and key messaging to Spanish-speaking residents. She serves as the Public Relations & Marketing Sub-committee Chair for the Ventura County Complete County Committee and manages the marketing and awareness campaign for local Census outreach. 

Natalie has more than eight years of domestic and international marketing and public relations experience in the nonprofit and corporate sector, as well as over a decade of experience in translating, transcribing and interpreting from English to Spanish and vice versa. 

She holds a BA in Spanish from Azusa Pacific University and an MA in Latin American and Iberian studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Ken Maryanski, Partnership Specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau in Ventura County. Ken is a former longtime journalist now putting his communications skills to work on the 2020 Census. As a newspaper reporter and editor in the Bay Area, he covered the Loma Prieta earthquake, the Oakland Hills fire, and yes, the 1990 Census before landing an editing job 20 years ago at the Ventura County Star.

He led The Star’s coverage of breaking news, education, courts, business and just about everything else at various times. Most recently he served as the news organization’s opinion editor, writing editorials and the Pa Ventura column. When The Star downsized in 2019, he was grateful to land a job with the Census Bureau.

Journalism is, above all else, a public service that informs and educates the public, and Ken believes the same is true for his new job. Helping Ventura County understand the complex undertaking and importance of the 2020 Census is both challenging and rewarding for him. “Some people consider participating in the census as important as voting,” the Census Bureau wrote more than 20 years ago. “But, unlike voting, the census touches everyone living in the United States – regardless of age or citizenship status.”

December Somos Vecinos Census 2020 Newsletter

Next Complete Count Committee Meeting
Thursday, January 16, 9-11am

room of people
Next Complete Count Meeting
Be sure to join us at the next Ventura County 2020 Census Complete
Count Committee meeting on

Thursday, January 16 from 9:00 to 11:00 am
VCCF, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd in Camarillo.

Second Round of Funding Applications Due Jan. 15

~ Two Ways to Apply ~

Click below to apply for funding for community-based organizations. Funding requests will also be considered for private businesses and individuals through this link. 
 
The deadline to apply is January 15.
The application for Subcommittees to apply for funding for their specific outreach efforts is now available online. Please click the button below to follow the link. 
 
The deadline to apply is January 15.

We are grateful for the work and commitment of our first round grantees!

Read more about VCCF funding

CBO Training Schedule

For all CBO Grantees, please see the following dates for Grantee Orientation:
 

January 9, 9-11 am – CBO Orientation Session

February 11, 9-11 am – CBO Coordinating Meeting

March 11, 9-11 am – CBO Coordinating Meeting

VCCF, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd in Camarillo.

Resource Updates

Naleo image

NALEO Webinar & Policy Brief on
Hispanic Question in Census 2020

Recently, the NALEO Educational Fund created a webinar and policy brief providing context and a comprehensive overview of the Hispanic origin and race questions in the Census.
 
Census logo
US Census Bureau Group Quarter
and Transitory Location Information
The United States Census Bureau has created several one pagers to explain the operations and key dates for the Group Quarter and Transitory Location enumeration process. 
 
View Resources (under Specific Populations)

New Census Volunteer Sign Up Tool

hands in the air
During our Complete Count Committee meeting, we unveiled our new Volunteer Sign-Up Tool: CountingTogether.site. Right now, this tool is set up for volunteer registration, but starting in January, this tool will help with volunteer coordination, event organization, and become a one-stop-shop for sourcing materials.
 
Be sure to sign-up if you haven’t yet! And contact Joe De La Cerda with any questions.

Committee Member Spotlights

Somos Vecinos. We Are neighbors.

Gloria Massey Chinea, Chair of Faith-Based Subcommittee Ventura County Counts Wife, mother, grandmother, and resident of Ventura County, Gloria Massey Chinea also has an extensive professional and educational background. She has a Masters in Public Health and has retired from her administrator position at SJRMC and was an Oxnard College and CSUN University Profession. She is also a POV Founding Member, EIPCa Ventura County Coordinator, Residential Care administrator and an active Public Notary.

She is spiritually driven, involved with her local parish ministry, and her passions include providing education to people in our community and facilitating services to the community with simple processes, the truth and integrity.

Gloria joined the Ventura County 2020 Census Complete Count Committee as Chair for the Faith-Based Subcommittee because she believes it is important that everyone will be counted in Ventura County. “It is my personal believe that the faith-based community leaders are the “trusted messengers” in the process of all residents of Ventura County being counted, said Gloria. 

Join us in the endeavor of being counted. We all Count, We all are Neighbors! ¡Todos Contamos, Somos Vecinos!

Justine Fischer, Partnership Specialist for the 2020 Census in Ventura County.  Justine is an ardent community advocate and has a background of working with and for children and youth, especially those in under-served and vulnerable communities. 

She has hones skills in leadership development, non-profit management, stakeholder engagement, creating welcoming environments, volunteer engagement and storytelling for advocacy. She has spent her life working in the non-profit world both professionally and as a volunteer. She is a Past-President of California State PTA, splitting her time between her home in Ventura County and Sacramento. Spending time in schools and being an advocate for students and families. 

She was the Director of Religious Education for the Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for fifteen years. Part of her responsibilities included outreach and service to the Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP), the Children’s Service Auxiliary (foster care), the LGBTQ+ population and children with disabilities.

She is passionate about the 2020 Census. She knows from personal and professional experience Census data touches all the services, programs, public institutions and common use areas, like freeways throughout the county.  Ventura County is her home and she feels everyone living here is her neighbor. She is working to ensure that everyone here in the county knows they count!

Census For All signin

Census for All
California’s Partner Portal

Finally, be sure to sure to sign up with California’s Census for All Partner Portal to access communication and marketing materials from the State.
 

Ventura County Counts September Newsletter

Last Meeting Update

room of people
 
Be sure to join us at the next Ventura County 2020 Census Complete Count Committee meeting on
Wednesday, October 9 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at VCCF, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd in Camarillo.

Ventura County 2020 Census Implementation Planning Workshop Thursday, October 10, 4-8pm

People in Group Meeting
We invite you to join us for the Ventura County 2020 Census Implementation Planning Workshop.
This workshop is critical as it will help create a shared understanding of Census priorities, approaches, strategies, roles and
responsibilities to ensure an accurate, complete and inclusive count of all Ventura County residents.
 
Thursday, October 10 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm
VCCF, 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd in Camarillo.

New Census Volunteer Sign Up Tool

hands in the air

As mentioned in the August 27 Complete Count Committee meeting, Matter Labs (special thanks to them!) has developed a new online platform that will help us to better coordinate volunteer activities and share information. Please sign up today by clicking on the link below. Also, please share with everyone you know is interested in joining the Census outreach.

Committee Member Spotlights

Somos Vecinos. We Are neighbors. 

Zubi Ruth Olin , Partnership Specialist with the United States Census

Zubi Ruth Olin Zubi Ruth Olin, Partnership Specialist with the United States Census will be aiding Ventura, Santa Barbara and SLO counties with regional outreach. Prior to working for the Federal Government, Zubi, a Cal Lutheran graduate worked for the Los Angeles Kings and LA Dodgers fundraising for their local foundations. Zubi and her fellow Partnership Specialists Ken Maryanski, Justine Fischer and Dianna Guevara are here to assist all CCC committee members with events, speaking engagements and planning meetings. Throughout the year the team will be working with local school districts, businesses, non-profits and more to spread the word about the Census. Please reach out to Zubi and her fellow partnership specialists with any needs you have
 

Miguel Orozco, President of Nueva Vista Media, Inc.

Miguel OrozcoMiguel started his career in Washington, DC on the Hill as a U.S. Senate staffer. He’s held various program analyst and management positions at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the Chicago Job Corps Center and the National Office of Job Corps in Washington, DC.  Miguel obtained a Master’s degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh. In 2019, Miguel Orozco received an MFA in creative writing from Mount Saint Mary’s University. In 2007, Miguel launched Nueva Vista Media, a digital media company that develops outreach strategies and multi-platform campaigns for diverse communities.  Nueva Vista Media has created local and national outreach campaigns for The California Endowment, the U.S. Dept. of Education, and a National Parent Engagement Campaign sponsored by the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the Ad Council.  In 2016, Miguel founded Ánimo Film + Theatre, a non-profit organization to produce films and plays to increase cultural awareness of diverse communities.  Recently, Miguel wrote, directed, and produced the award-winning short film “Mixteco Boy” (Ojai and Oaxaca Film Festivals), directed and produced the award-winning short documentary, American Migrant Stories, and produced and directed the theatre play, “El Bracero – A Mariachi Opera.”

Ben Suber, GIS Manager for Schmitz & Associates in Agoura Hills

Ben Suber Ben Suber, who is part of the Complete Count Committee, is the GIS Manager for Schmitz & Associates in Agoura Hills. A Tempe, Arizona native and an Eagle Scout, Ben earned a BS in Regional Development from the University of Arizona in 2009 and earned two Master’s Degrees, including an MPP from Pepperdine University in 2012 and an MS in GIS & Technology from USC in 2017. Ben joined the Complete Count Committee in August 2019 through the recommendation of Pepperdine University Davenport Institute Executive Director Ashley Labosier. His GIS experience & enthusiasm will come in handy for the Complete Count Committee in instructing the public on how to use web maps for Census 2020, advise on demographic trends and even the use of GIS to pinpoint outreach opportunities for Hard-to-Count Census Tracts And Blocks.

Sub-Committee Highlights

Community Based Organizations & HHS
Cynder Sinclair, Community Action
Sonia Kroth, Co. of Ventura Human Services
Meetings: Last Monday of month, 10:00 a.m. VCCF: Founders
Conference Room
 
Business/Economic Groups
Rebecca Evans, Ventura County Workforce Development Board
Gary Cushing, Camarillo Chamber of Commerce
Meetings: Not established
 
Faith-Based Organizations
Susan Seale
Gloria Massey Chinea
 Meetings: Not established
 
Education & Outreach
Jack Hinojosa, Child Development Resources
Heather Cousin, City of Thousand Oaks
Meetings: 3rd Thursday of month
10 a.m. -12 p.m.
CDR: Conference Rooms A&B
 
Everybody Counts
Genevieve Flores-Haro, MICOP
Meetings: Established monthly
 
Government Coordination
Trevor Zierhut, Zierhut Consulting
Betsy Patterson, League of Women
Voters-VC
Meetings: 2nd Thursday of month
3:30-5:00 p.m. Camarillo City Hall:
Central Conf. Rm.
 
PR, Marketing & Media Co-chair
Natalie Hernandez, County of Ventura
Meetings: Not established
 
Philanthropic Coordination
Claudia Armann
McCune Foundation
Meetings: Not established

Interested in joining a subcommittee? Please reach out by filling out the contact form below and select “Subcommittee.”

A Lot Riding on 2020 Census

census 2020
On Sunday, Sept 15 the Ventura County Star published an editorial by Rebecca Evans and Vanessa Bechtel discussing that there’s “A lot riding on the 2020 Census.”
 
“Ventura County has a population of about 850,000. An estimated 251,000 are at risk of not being counted. Out of the over 3,000 counties in the U.S., Ventura County ranks as 59th most at-risk of an undercount in the 2020 Census. Close to $2 billion or more in funding for our community over the next 10 years is projected to be lost due to an undercount — that is, if we fail to take action as a community…” 
 
Read the full article below.

Why the 2020 Census is Good for Latino Small Business

Latinos ready to be counted photo

The Latino Community Foundation recently released an important blog on how Latino small-business owners can ensure an accurate count in the #2020Census. 

Census Discussions in the Community

If you would like to request a presentation, please reach out by filling out the contact form below and select “Request a Speaker.”