You count. We count. Everyone counts.

The census happens only once every 10 years and it's a snapshot of who is alive and where. It's outside of our normal wheelhouse at Upcycle Parts Shop, in that it isn't about creativity, environmental sustainability, or community building.  But actually it's about all of these. The census helps us count and then strengthen our communities.  The grocery store we hope for in this neighborhood? They'll be looking at census data when making decisions about coming here. The roads, schools, public services, and funding for public programs are funded by money that is determined by population counts.  The census might feel like some big governmental paperwork thing to many of us, but we encourage you to recognize that you are part of it. You, your loved ones, your neighbors, and everyone you know needs to be counted. It's a snapshot in time, and you count! 

We've taken this on in a few ways at Upcycle Parts Shop, first by collaborating with partners at CMHA and our friend artist Gwen Garth, to reach families in Cleveland's Central neighborhood.  Our project there was to highlight that everyone in your family counts, and we contracted nationally recognized local photographer Natasha Herbert  --who lives just down the street in our St. Clair Superior neighborhood! --to capture family portraits.  It was a meaningful morning, watching families come together for a socially distanced outdoor photo shoot while talking with them about how everyone in the families, yes, including babies, needs counted in the census. One of the most emotional moments of the day for me was when a high school graduate came in cap and gown with her family. She got an individual senior picture and one with her family. I didn’t know them, they didn’t know me. I tried to keep it to myself that my emotions were bubbling over when sometimes a whole project comes together in meaning, purpose, and shared pride in one fleeting moment, among a recent high school graduate, friendly strangers and a beautiful sky.

After that project ended, we realized right here in the neighborhood we call home, our census completion rates are low. We talked with our neighbor and friend David Van Horn. Ee agreed that he wanted to begin talking about the census as he offers art programming to neighbors from his bicycle cart, a project he leads called Art Block. David is awesome and we are happy to call him a partner and friend!  Keep your eye out for David these next weeks in St. Clair Superior, bicycling, crafting, and offering census clinic hours in collaboration with Santanna Watson, our neighbor, board member, and community-minded art gallery owner who is happy to partner up and host neighbors in his beautiful space. Connect with David, his census clinic, his sparkling personality, and his mobile art cartt on instagram at: art_block_mobile_art

All this important census work has been supported by The Cleveland Foundation through funding made possible by partnership between The George Gund Foundation, The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation, Saint Luke’s Foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, New Venture Fund, Cleveland VOTES, and The Ohio Census Advocacy Coalition. 

I've been asked to share a bit about how we've done our census outreach work as part of the Cleveland Foundation's Annual Meeting Tuesday, Sept. 1. I'll join other Cleveland leaders on a panel about the census and working toward a complete count in Cleveland neighborhoods. The panel discussion is live and it's free (Tuesday Sept. 1st, 12:30-1:30pm) Registration information for the Annual Meeting can be found here!

Simply put: our work is about people, place, and trust.  Always and forever, including every 10 years. We all count. Thanks for doing what you do and please help us talk to others about completing the census (it's quick and can be done online or over the phone: census.gov). Pass it on!

Love, Nicole