Every ten years, the U.S. government conducts a count of every individual in the United States. Known as the Census, this count will be used to determine how nearly $675 billion in federal funds are distributed annually to state, local and tribal areas. For Leon County, Census numbers are used to determine federal representation and funding of programs, grant distribution, political representation and future planning.
As Chair of Leon County Census 2020 Complete Count Committee, I am excited to share with you our efforts in this very important project. The purpose of the Complete Count Committee is to communicate the importance and safety of completing the census questionnaire to constituents to ensure the Census Count for Leon County and Tallahassee is as accurate as possible. Part of the local support for this undertaking includes an outreach program to increase participation, particularly in geographic areas with historically low participation rates.
We understand how important it is that influential leaders and residents of our community participate in the work of the Complete Count Committee and we are committed to achieving a complete and accurate count in 2020. To learn more about the work of the Committee, please contact Cherie.Bryant@talgov.com or call (850) 891-6400.
Cherie Bryant, Director, Tallahassee-Leon County Planning
Leon County Complete Count Committee
Committee Members
Historically, in 2000 and in 2010, Leon County has taken the lead on forming a Complete Count Committee (CCC), a model recommended by the U.S. Census Bureau. CCCs play a key role in educating and motivating residents to participate in the U.S. Census, and such committees have proven effective for Leon County and the City of Tallahassee in the past. A CCC is comprised of a broad spectrum of community leaders from education, business, faith-based, nonprofits, and other sectors, all who lend their trusted voices to implementing a 2020 Census awareness campaign.
As demonstrated in past census years, this diverse, “grassroots” approach helps to increase participation from Hard to Count (HTC) populations who have historically been undercounted or have low response rates. These groups include “ethnic/minority populations, renters and low-income households.” Due in part to the efforts of the 2010 CCC, the response rate in Leon County improved by four (4) percentage points from 69% in the 2000 Census to 73% in the 2010 Census.
The Leon County Census 2020 Complete County Committee serve one- year appointments and convene four times leading up to and through the 2020 Census. The Committee is comprised of 27 community members as follows:
• Cherie Bryant, Director of Tallahassee-Leon County Planning
• Ed Young, Tallahassee-Leon County Planning
• Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations
• Alison Faris, City of Tallahassee Communications
• Richard Fetchick, Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality
• Jarrett Terry, Florida State University
• Abdul Sharif, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University
• Brielle Crooms, Tallahassee Community College
• Amber Tynan, United Partners for Human Services
• Leroy Peck, Council of Neighborhood Associations
• Michelle Gayle, Leon County Schools
• Karen Cyphers Halperin, Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce
• Antonio Jefferson, Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce
• Elizabeth Ricci, Capital City Chamber of Commerce
• James Vaughn, Faith-based Community Representative
• Deborah Kearney, County appointee by Commissioner Bill Proctor
• Willie Vann, County appointee by Commissioner Jimbo Jackson
• Na’im Mutaqee Akbar, County appointee by County Commissioner Rick Minor
• Jeff Hendry, County appointee by County Commissioner Bryan Desloge
• Tim Center, County appointee by County Commissioner Kristin Dozier
• Holly C Hohmeister, County appointee by County Commissioner Mary Ann Lindley
• Adela Z. Ghadimi, County appointee by County Commissioner Nick Maddox
• Steve Beasley, City appointee by Mayor John Dailey
• Brittany Gather, City appointee by City Commissioner Curtis Richardson
• Matthew Isbell, City appointee by City Commissioner Jeremey Matlow
• Darwin Gable, City appointee by City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox
• Marilyn Henderson, City appointee by City Commissioner Elaine Bryant