HOUSTON (June 18, 2020) – Unifying. Diverse. Inclusive. Three things that books, libraries and Census 2020 have in common.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo debuted the fourth of five Yes! to Census 2020 murals on June 23, 2020 at High Meadows Library located at 4500 Aldine Mail Rte. Rd, Houston, TX 77039.
Commissioners Adrian Garcia, Rodney Ellis, and Representative Armando Walle were on site to provide important updates regarding census self-response and why completing the census is so important to secure federal funding for accurate representation and improved resources that are vital to creating vibrant, informed, and progressive communities.
The Aldine mural, like its predecessors, is a visual representation of the urgent need for more citizens to complete their census questionnaire prior to the October 31, 2020 deadline. The design is a “picture-perfect postcard” view of the neighborhood with the caption, “Greetings from Aldine!” The mural was conceptualized and installed by local artist Colors Oner 713. The mural’s location at High Meadows Library has a special significance and deeper relationship to the goal of a complete count with a 100% response rate. Not only is federal funding for libraries determined by the census, but as Census 2020 is the first to be conducted primarily online, libraries remove barriers to census completion by providing a place where citizens who do not have home access to internet services can go to respond to the questionnaire. To that effect, Harris County Library Director Edward Melton will announce that the library will kick off a Yes! to Census 2020 initiative through October 31, 2020, which will include: