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MESA- A “Spirit of Community Celebration” was the unifying theme at the new Mesa Census office that serves the Gila River Indian Community and the cities of Chandler and Mesa. The office is located at 1102 North Higley Road.
Kevin Harke, Pastor, Chandler Trinity Christian Fellowship Church, said, “The Census is easy, 10 questions to millions of households will give key demographics on age, gender, and race, of all household residents from grandparents to friends.”At a minimum, answers to Census questions provide data for voter/legislative representation and redistricting, Social Security and Medicare benefits, and projections for highways, schools, hospitals, cemeteries, and veteran’s benefits.
“The cornerstone of the duty of the U.S. Census Bureau is to count, one time, and only one time, and in the right place,” said Scott Smith, Mayor of the City of Mesa. “It’s so important that it’s embedded in the Constitution.”
Smith went on to say, “It’s important we exercise and get our fair share of state and federal dollars. Our founding fathers wanted to know who we are and define where we call home. We are diverse, yet similar. The Census is a serious task and we are in favor of the efforts to get the message out at forums, schools, and associations.”
The three-minute GRIC public service announcement, produced by Edit Box, a division of Employment and Training, aired wherein Governor Rhodes implores to viewers, “We need to participate to be sure we benefit from it. We have been losing out of the benefits because the numbers weren’t correct,” referring to the 2000 Census count.
Jane Johnson-Woody, GRIC Census Tribal Liaison, previously said, “In the 2000 Census, we were massively undercounted.” GRIC answers were erroneously credited to Salt River-Pima, or Salt River-Maricopa, or to other southern Arizona tribes.
The 2010 Census “race” question establishes five subcategories. Johnson-Woody stresses, “Use the write-in area to report your enrolled tribe. Remember to write in ‘Gila River Indian Community’ at question 9.”
By law, information cannot be shared with federal or law enforcement agencies. The Census is safe.
For employment opportunities please contact the GRIC Recruiting Assistant Jan Stewart (520) 840-1239, or the Mesa office at (480) 270-8361, or refer to the schedule for district testing times and sites.
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