Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - Census forms will start arriving on March 18, 2010.  Alachua County and the City of Gainesville are raising awareness about what the 2010 Census means to our community.  Census Awareness Day will take place at the Bo Diddley Community Plaza in downtown Gainesville on March 6, 2010 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Bob Williams of TV 20 will be there to host the event, which will include music, food, and family friendly activities. 

Speakers will include:

• A recorded message From Alachua County Commissioner Rodney J. Long
• Gainesville City Mayor, Pegeen Hanrahan
• Alachua County Manager, Randall H. Reid
• Gainesville City Commissioners Jeanna  Mastrodicasa and Jack Donovan
• Reverend Milford Griner
• Vice President of the Alachua County Branch of the NAACP, Mrs. Evelyn Foxx
• Ms. Joanna Pakula, and Ms. Melissa Hinote, from the U. S. Census Bureau

Entertainment:

• 2010 King Celebration Talent Winners
• Bernard Batie "B Magic" will perform his magic show
• Weeds of Eden
• 2010 King Celebration Choir Ensemble
• The Passion Band featuring Jimmy Young
• Prize giveaways

Informational tables:

• Alachua County Equal Opportunity Division
• Faith-based Organizations
• Supervisor of Elections
• Census - Operations
• Census - Partnership
• CHOICES
• 5^th Avenue Arts Festival/Cultural Arts Coalition
• NAACP

Information for every group in our community affected by getting a complete census count will be available.

Census Complete Count Committee Outreach Chair, Sally Palmi said, "Bring your family and friends, win prizes, listen to some great local music and enjoy a Census Awareness Saturday in the plaza." 

Census Champion Rodney J. Long, said, "This is the most important event of the decade.  It is simple, safe, and confidential and means dollars being brought back into our community and insures that we have the proper representation in Washington."

For more information, contact  Sally Palmi, 352-374-5213.