From Mayor’s Neighborhood Advocate Kayla Wright
INDIANAPOLIS – This fall, Count Me INdy is passing out and partnering with community organizations to plant 5,000 tulip bulbs across Indianapolis to encourage residents to “plant a brighter future for Indianapolis.”
“The idea is that people will plant the bulbs this fall and then they’ll bloom in the spring as a reminder it’s time to participate in the census,” said Callie Kennington, Manager of Count Me INdy. “We are constantly thinking of creative ways in which to engage, educate, and encourage residents to participate in the 2020 Census, as the next ten years of Indianapolis’ future – and the dollars for it – will be determined by our count.”
Count Me INdy has been passing out bulbs at farmers’ markets and other events, as well as partnering with local community organizations to get the tulips planted. Community organizations who are assisting with plantings include Downtown Indy, Inc., Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, and the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick. As the tulips start to bloom in the spring, yard signs will be installed in planting areas to explain the significance of the yellow tulips. Census Day will take place April 1, 2020 and will be the first time in our nation’s history where residents are invited to respond online.
Since the kick-off event in February, Count Me INdy has formed partnerships across the city to form a Complete Count Committee. Complete Count Committees are community-based programs affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau designed to create awareness about the census and motivate residents to participate. Committee members are volunteers and represent a diverse cross-section of the Indianapolis community, with representatives from local government, community-based organizations, faith-based groups, schools, businesses, the media, and more. Count Me INdy’s campaign is particularly focused around reaching historically undercounted populations within Marion County.
About Count Me INdy
Count Me INdy is the City of Indianapolis’ Census 2020 Complete Count Campaign, dedicated to counting all residents – whoever they are and wherever they’re from. The counts are used to distribute power at every level of government and distribute more than $675 billion each year to communities across the nation. Learn more online at countmeindy.com.