Aurora, Elgin to host caravans, joint rally July 15 to promote the census
As part of the National Census Surge Week, Aurora, Elgin and cities in Kane County are joining forces to literally make some noise about the importance of completing the 2020 Census.
With lights, sirens and horns activated, a caravan of vehicles from the Aurora Complete Counts Committee will make a short journey through Aurora neighborhoods tomorrow, Wednesday, July 15, as it heads to meet with the caravan of vehicles from Elgin as they all convene for a rally at one central location in Geneva.
The Aurora Complete Counts Committee caravan, led by Mayor Richard C. Irvin, will leave the Aurora Public Library, 101 S. River St., at noon and wind its ways through some of the neighborhoods in Aurora with lower self-response rates on the 2020 Census.
"This is an energetic way to remind our community to complete the Census," said Aurora Mayor Richard C. Irvin. "It is important for our city and county to have a strong response rate, so we are collaborating with Elgin and other cities in Kane Country to emphasize this point. What we do this year will impact funding and representation for the next decade."
The current overall response rate for the City of Aurora is 68.9% compared to the state's 66.8%. Some of the census tract areas in Aurora through which the caravan will travel have response rates as low as 52%.
Once the Aurora caravan exits the municipality on Farnsworth Ave, it will head to the Fox Valley Ice Arena, 1966 S. Kirk Rd., in Geneva where mayors in Kane County will host a press conference at 1 p.m.
Joining Mayor Richard Irvin to speak about the Census will be Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, Elgin Mayor David Kaptain and North Aurora President Dale Berman. Other speakers will include Kane County Complete Count Committee Chair Mohammed Iqbal, Elgin Complete Count Committee Chair Denise Raleigh, Aurora Complete County Committee Chair Dr. Brian Caputo and U.S. Census Bureau Chicago Representative Laura Bedolla.
The 10-vehicle Aurora Census Caravan will step-off from the Aurora Public Library and travel:
• South on River St. to North Ave.
• East on North Ave. to Lincoln Ave.
• South on Lincoln Ave. to Simms St.
• Easton Simms St. to Fourth St.
• North on Fourth St. to Benton St.
• Easton Benton St. to Ohio St.
• North on Ohio St. to Claim St.
• West on Claim St. to High St.
• North on High St. to Jungles Ave.
• East on Jungels Ave. to Ohio St.
• North on Ohio St. to Indian Trail
• East on Indian Trail to Farnsworth
• North on Farnsworth to the Fox Valley Ice Arena.
The goal of the national Census Surge Week is to remind as many households as possible to complete the 2020 census questionnaire online.
"Getting an accurate count of the people in Aurora will help all of us since much of our funding is based on population. The more people we can count, the more funding we will receive for schools, hospitals, roads, libraries and many other necessary services," said Mayor Irvin.