The deadline to respond to the Census 2020 is less than a month away. Now more than ever it is important for Houstonians to unite for the good of their community. The census-dedicated Second Ward mural depicts the historic cultural bond the East End community members share between the past and present. With cultural ties visually reinforced through the artwork, the Yes! to Census 2020 campaign hopes to remind all to respond before it is too late.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Councilwoman Karla Cisneros will host the 6th and final mural release on Friday, September 4, 2020, from 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. at the seminal Lenox Barbecue at 5420 Harrisburg Boulevard. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Senator Carol Alvarado, Representative Ana Hernandez, and other elected officials are invited to deliver urgent census remarks at the final mural event.

“This Yes! to Census 2020 mural aims to keep the culture of Harrisburg and the East End alive while reminding us that participating in the census is vitally important to retaining our neighborhood’s unique identity by funding programs for improvements to infrastructure, keeping our past alive, and our eyes on the future,” states Councilwoman Karla Cisneros. “The time to complete the form by phone, mail or online is now. Census door-knockers will be canvassing neighborhoods and visiting those residents who have not responded to date.”

The mural was created by artist Carlos “Empire” Alcaraz, a Second Ward native who works at the Harrisburg Art Museum. Empire created a homage to the past and present of the Second Ward through easily recognizable images that are unique to the area. A series of painted Polaroid photographs depicts a timeline of this Houston legacy neighborhood, beginning with a view of Harrisburg Blvd.; the Grupo de danza Azteca that performs during Second Ward East End events; the iconic Maxwell House Coffee Factory; a group of Mariachis, reflective of the deep-rooted ties to Mexican culture; the Harrisburg Art Museum, complete with a smiling Cheech Marin; and finally, an image of Eastwood St. depicting the tree-lined street with beautiful homes that were constructed in the early 1900s.

“With the deadline to complete the census moved to September 30, it is critical that anyone who has not completed the questionnaire do so immediately. Our response rate is 55.6%, well below the national average. We are the 4th largest city in the nation and the most diverse, but if we leave federal funding on the table because of low census response rate, it will affect our quality of life,” added Cisneros. “We encourage everyone to self-respond online or open their doors to in-person enumerators.”

Completing the census is important, urgent, safe and easy. To respond online, visit my2020census.gov.