In an effort to raise public awareness about the 2010 U.S. Census, LAUP participated in a recent event urging Los Angeles County residents to participate because too much is at stake, including the availability of quality preschools.

Celia C. Ayala, Ph.D., COO of LAUP, participated in recent well-attended National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) press conference in Los Angeles, during which she implored residents to participate in the census.

"There's too much at stake," Dr. Ayala said. "When we plan our budgets for preschool services in L.A. County, we depend on accurate information about population trends. If every individual isn't included in the census and we cannot get an accurate count, then we cannot help the children in our communities who benefit from an early childhood education as much as we otherwise could.

"The message of the census is clear," Dr. Ayala concluded. "I think we can all agree that in America, education counts. And I think we all can agree that in America, being counted counts, which is why I urge everyone to participate in the census."

What is the Census?

The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States, and is required by the Constitution to take place every 10 years.

The 2010 Census is critical because it will help communities receive more than $400 billion in federal funds each year for things such as:

• Schools
• Hospitals
• Job training centers
• Senior centers
• Bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects
• Emergency services

The data collected by the census will also help determine the number of seats California will have in the U.S. House of Representatives, as that number is determined according to a state's population.