Thursday morning the US Census Van pulled into the Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex, located at 182 Thurbers, Avenue in Providences South side. The van is used as a training and educational tool for people new to the Census concept which also offers interactive educational games, and an opportunity to participate in the 2020 Time Capsule and to make 10 resolutions for 2010.

Students from the school took turns touring the bus and learning about the Census its importance and Constitutional requirement. Speakers for the event included Attorney General Patrick Lynch, Senator Harold Metts, Mayor David Cicilline, Superintendent Thomas Brady, Secretary of State Ralph Mollis and Senator Goodwin.
The Van is scheduled to make many stops throughout New England and the up and down the East Coast prior to Census Day April 1st.

The Van stop coincided with the kick off of the Providence Complete Count Committees awareness campaign. Marta Martinez one of two Specialists hired by the US Census Bureau to coordinate grass root efforts around the state of Complete Count Committees with the Federal and State wide efforts in a successful count in 2010. The 2000 Census yielded a les than desired result with undercounts estimated to be as much as 50% in the Providence Metro area. This Census year we are looking for 100% count of Rhode Islanders, a fete not yet accomplished by Rhode Island.

For more information about the 2010 Census you may contact Mart Martinez at marta.martinez@census.gov, or by telephone at 228-0901

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