NYC Census 2020 And BRIC Announce New Ad Demonstrating Importance Of 2020 Census Amid COVID-19

New York City officials encourage all New Yorkers to fill out the census at home to ensure funding and resources for the next decade

NEW YORK - NYC Census 2020 and BRIC today released a new ad calling on New Yorkers to fill out the 2020 Census at this critical time for the City and the country. This ad features images of New York City in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and makes the case that New Yorkers must fill out the census to maintain crucial public services in the future, including hospitals, schools, and transportation. The ad will run on television and digital media platforms and is part of a broader 15-video campaign produced by BRIC based on an award from NYC Census 2020 as part of the NYC Complete Count Fund. A Spanish language version will also be used in advertising during a future flight of the campaign.

“During this unprecedented time, New Yorkers can make sure their community is counted and supported for the next decade just by taking a few minutes to fill out the Census right now, either via phone or online,” said Julie Menin, Director of NYC Census 2020. “Now more than ever, we must ensure that New York City receives its fair share of critical resources for children’s health insurance, hospitals, senior centers, and more.”

"We're thrilled to be a partner of NYC Census 2020 by producing this campaign to deliver the urgent message of being counted to our audiences across all platforms and on every screen," said Kristina Newman-Scott, President of BRIC. 

Given the spread of COVID-19, it is imperative that all New Yorkers take just a few minutes to self-respond to the 2020 Census now by visiting my2020census.gov or by calling 1-844-330-2020. If New Yorkers take a few minutes to self-respond now from the safety and security of their own home, they will avoid a knock on their door during the door-to-door enumeration period over the summer.

The census is now more accessible than ever, and it can be completed without leaving home or coming into contact with any other person. The census determines whether New York City receives its fair share of hundreds of billions distributed by the federal government every year for important programs and services. The census also leads to direct investments in New York City's health care system. For example, census data determines allocations for funding for CHIP and hospitals. What's more, it’s how public health officials get the foundational data that public health experts use to plan for and manage situations like COVID-19.

The more New Yorkers who fill out the census, the more money the city receives for schools, hospitals, transportation, job training, and so much more. The census also determines each state’s fair share of representation in Congress, as well as how local, state, and federal legislative district lines are drawn, meaning the power of New York City’s voice in Washington, D.C., and Albany is also based on the census.

New Yorkers can fill out the census at my2020census.gov or via 15 different phone lines:

About NYC Census 2020
NYC Census 2020 is a first-of-its-kind organizing initiative established by Mayor de Blasio in January 2019 to ensure a complete and accurate count of all New Yorkers in the 2020 Census. The $40 million program is built on four pillars: (1) a $19 million community-based awards program, The New York City Complete Count Fund, empowering 157 community-based organizations to engage historically undercounted communities around the 2020 Census; (2) an in-house "Get Out the Count" field campaign supported by the smart use of cutting-edge data and organizing technology, and a volunteer organizing program to promote a complete count in each of the city’s 245 neighborhoods; (3) an innovative, multilingual, tailored messaging and marketing campaign, including a $3 million commitment to investing in community and ethnic media to reach every New York City community; as well as (4) an in-depth Agency and Partnerships engagement plan that seeks to leverage the power of the City's 350,000-strong workforce and the city's major institutions, including libraries, hospitals, faith-based communities, cultural institutions, higher educational institutions, and more, to communicate with New Yorkers about the critical importance of census participation. Through close partnerships with trusted leaders and organizations across the five boroughs, this unprecedented campaign represents the largest municipal investment in census organizing nationwide and will build an enduring structure that empowers New Yorkers to remain civically engaged.

ABOUT BRIC
BRIC is a leading arts and media institution anchored in Downtown Brooklyn whose work spans contemporary visual and performing arts, media, and civic action. For over forty years, the institution has shaped Brooklyn's cultural and media landscape by presenting and incubating artists, creators, students, and media makers. As a creative catalyst for the community, BRIC ignites learning in people of all ages and centralizes diverse voices that take risks and drive culture forward. BRIC is Building Brooklyn’s Creative Future.

This census ad was written and directed by Andrew Filippone Jr. for BRIC.