In a new read-along video from the American Library Association, Moana star Auli’i Cravalho shares why it’s so important for all of us to get counted in the 2020 United States Census.
In the video, she reads from WE COUNT! A Census Counting Book for Kids, (and the Grownups That Love Them), an interactive counting book with illustrations of diverse American families by artists representing their own cultural heritage.
“In the movie Moana the people of my island were counting on me, a young girl, to make a difference,” she shares. “Now our communities are counting on each and every one of us, young and old, to make a difference by taking the Census.”
The results of the Census will allocate billions of dollars in federal funding to local communities over the next decade, including more than $1 billion to libraries. The deadline for U.S. households to complete the Census has been extended until at least September 30, so it’s not too late to complete your questionnaire.
As of late August, only 64 percent of U.S. households had completed their Census forms. A complete count is necessary to ensure communities don’t miss out on billions of dollars in crucial funding for libraries, schools, healthcare, and other services—take a few minutes to make sure your household gets counted today.
Learn more about how libraries are supporting the 2020 Census.
