HOUSTON, TX - On Friday April 17, 2017 the Texas Southern University (TSU) Board of Regents approved a Resolution of Support for the Barbara Jordan - Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs Let's Count People of Color and Low Income Urban Americas 2020 Census Project.

The Let's Count Project is a major national civic engagement effort focused on helping cities prepare for the 2020 census count, redistricting in 2021 and securing federal government funding for local social services, community based organizations and infrastructure projects.

Dr. Michael O. Adams, Interim Dean of the School of Public Affairs said, "the School of Public Affairs is committed to making a positive difference in urban communities across the state of Texas and the nation. Helping to reduce the historic undercounting of people of color and low income Americans during the decennial census will help make a meaningful difference in the proper allocation of federal funding and the reapportionment and redistricting process that grows out of the census count."

Texas Southern University is one of the nation's largest Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Barbara Jordan - Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs is named in honor and remembrance of two former African American members of Congress who were committed to social justice and protecting civil and human rights in support of the "common good."

The Let's Count 2020 Census Project is a confirmation of the legacies of Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland and a manifestation of the TSU motto of "Excellence in Achievement."

For more information about the Let's Count People of Color and Low Income Urban Americas 2020 Census Project or how you or your organization can become involved please contact Dr. Michael O. Adams at 713-313-7660 or adams_mo@tsu.edu

Resolution of Support

LET'S COUNT - PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LOW INCOME URBAN AMERICANS - PROJECT

Whereas, people of color and low income Americans have historically been undercounted during our nation's Constitutionally mandated decennial census; and

Whereas, one of the reasons for the undercount is how late many cities begin the preparations necessary to ensure that all their residents are counted; and

Whereas, insufficient preparation by the U.S. Census Bureau to develop and maintain a network of community based contacts in hard to count urban and rural areas have also contributed to the undercount of people of color, low income Americans and immigrants; and

Whereas, Texas Southern University (TSU) is an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) located in Houston, Texas, one of our nation's major urban metropolitan regions with a national (and international) network of alumni spread across the major urban, suburban and rural areas of our nation; and

Whereas, through its faculty, students and national network of alumni, friends, family members, donors, professional and community based contacts, TSU has the national relationships, intellectual resources and nationwide civic infrastructure capacity to help assist local communities and the U.S. Census Bureau begin preparing now for the 2020 Census Count to ensure that all Americans are counted; and

Whereas, this effort would be an extraordinary example of civic engagement and inter-disciplinarian educational opportunity for students and faculty members university wide;

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that the Board of Regents of Texas Southern University do hereby support the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs developing and implementing a Let's Count-People of Color and Low Income Urban Americans-2020 Census Project; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Board of Regents supports the School of Public Affairs seeking public, private and philanthropic funding and partnerships to help assist local communities and the U.S. Census Bureau prepare for and conduct the 2020 Census count, as well as assist governmental entities and non-profit community based organizations with post-Census Redistricting and securing federal funds.