Dear friends of ASMA:

Hazami Barmada, the founder of American Muslim Interactive Network (AMIN), is proud to partner with the US Census to lead a 2010 Census awareness campaign.

Ms. Barmada, who belongs to our Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow (MLT) network, is urging all of us to become civically engaged by filling out the census and letting our voices be heard. Even though the census does not count religious communities, you will have an opportunity to let your ethnicity or nationality be known.

Why the Census should matter to you and your community:

• Every year, the federal government distributes more than $400 billion to state, local and tribal governments based on the Census.
• Faith-based organization and institutions use census data to apply for grants and determine locations for new facilities
• Census data guide funding decisions for community facilities, such as schools, hospitals, child-care centers, senior centers and more
• Census data affect your voice in Congress, as well as redistricting of state legislations, county and city councils, and voting districts.

For detailed information on how to fill out the census please read the Press Release from AMIN.

CENSUS TIMELINE: Key Dates to Remember

• March 2010: Census questionnaires delivered (some people may receive a save-the-date first)
• April 1, 2010: CENSUS DAY - FILL IT OUT & Send your questionnaire back! Encourage others to do the same!
• May 2010 - July 2010: Census takers follow up with households that did not return questionnaires
• December 31, 2010: U.S Census Bureau delivers apportionment counts to the president.

Thank you,

Daisy Khan
Executive Director
ASMA (www.asmasociety.org)