CHICAGO — With two weeks left to fill out the census, a group of organizations is looking to drive up participation by offering a quinceañera to one lucky family.
As participation lags in Latino neighborhoods across Chicago and the state, a coalition of groups and businesses, including Imagen Marketing and Hazte Contar, have teamed up to incentive folks into filling out the decennial count.
The group is offering the winner a dress, shoes, accessories, cake, videographer and photography.
Other participants who confirm they’ve filled out the census will receive a digital bag worth $1,500 in coupons, said Cesar Rolon, president of Imagen Marketing.
People who complete the census Aug. 15-Sept. 30 are eligible to win. Families must go to the group’s website and provide their contact information and census confirmation number to be eligible.
Vendors have been trying to find creative ways to convince Latinos to fill out the critical count, Rolon said. They previously distributed 50,000 tortillas with census information.
By offering the prize packages, they hope young Latinas can encourage their family to fill out the census.
“We wanted to do something that would transcend all the counties in Illinois,” he said.
More than 400 people have entered for a chance to win the quinceañera, Rolon said.
The census can be filled out online or over the phone by calling 844-330-2020. It typically takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
Census participation helps determine federal funding for critical services including education, child care, workforce training and health care. The state risks losing $195 million per year for each 1 percent of the population undercounted.
Illinois could also lose two congressional seats to census-based redistricting.
The deadline to complete the census is Sept. 30.
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