community
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE December 23-29, 2009 Page C-6
The Census and those
who give year-round
It’s the time of year when important to an agency such
many of us are giving gifts as Focus: HOPE. We use anal-
An Accurate Por-
and enjoying festivities, even ysis drawn from census data
trait Means Ade-
as the recent economic down- to assist us in developing and
turn has required many of us
delivering relevant and effec-
quate Funding
to change our holiday plans.
tive services and programs to
The economy has also put
the people we serve. Also, like
Latin Americans for Social
those who give year-round in
many other nonprofit organi-
and Economic Development
an uncertain situation, those
zations, Focus: HOPE relies
(LASED) is based in South-
whose doors are always open
on federal funds to support its west Detroit.
to serve: nonprofit, human
programs.
service agencies. In recent
The services LASED offers
memory there has been no
“An accurate count will the community have by neces-
greater need for support from
ensure that Michigan and De-
sity greatly expanded over its
those who supply job training
troit receive their fair share
40 year history. As needs and
services, help for youth and
of federal funds and also that
services expanded, there was
seniors, food assistance or
we maintain a strong voice in
also a greater need to under-
housing placement. One way
Washington by ensuring maxi-
stand the community. Census
all of us can help these agen-
mum representation in Con-
People’s Bakery for the holidays
cies is by completing and mail-
gress.”
data is a very important part of
LASED’s service delivery, says
ing the census form that will
arrive in the mail next March.
The Census helps
executive director Blanca Al-
manza.
People’s Bakery, 2765 S. Fort St., will be offering a variety of selections for last minute holiday While the census is written
baking needs. From custard pies, apple pies and their popular sweet potato pie, People’s pro-
into the U.S. Constitution to
us understand
“Census data has only in-
vides friendly service and a wide range of pastries. It is open Monday through Saturday, from 7
determine how many congres-
the community
creased in importance to our
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, call (313) 383-9090.
sional representatives each
serving the community since
community gets, it also affects
Often those of us who reside
our founding, in particular be-
resources and funding for a
in a particular community rely
cause the Southwest Detroit
QUILTING BY DESIGN
wide variety of human service
on instinct or past knowledge
community has increased in
agencies.
to form our vision of the com-
size significantly in recent
munity. But funders need ac-
When you complete and
curate data to dispense cash
years. We now serve everyone,
By Shirley Talley
mail the census form next
March, you will be helping
and resources. That is where
from youth to seniors, with a
Season greeting and happy
those agencies that use public
the Census comes in. One case
variety of services from health
quilting throughout the new
and private grant money to
in point can be shown with the
screening, to job placement,
year! God’s blessing to all quil-
create job training, education-
Arab Community Center for
to housing. Public and pri-
ters. This is just a potpourri of
al programs and programs for
Social Services (ACCESS).
vate funders require us to give
quilting subjects.
youth and seniors.
them a detailed picture of the
Though based in Detroit’s
In response to readers that
The people who work in
Arab American community,
size and needs of our commu-
called to inquire about pur-
community organizations that
ACCESS has served millions of
nity. We can’t do that unless
chasing a quilt for Christmas
house those programs have to
clients of every color, ethnici-
everyone completes and mails
giving, there is a website that
use census numbers to sup-
ty, background and religion in
in the form next March.”
specializes in selling hand-
port their work and serve the
its 38-year history. The expe-
These are just three ex-
made things. The website is
community.
rience of its Employment and
etsy.com. More than 15,000
amples of the hundreds of
Training Program with census
quilts and/or quilted items are
agencies across the state that
data shows why ACCESS en-
listed for sale on this cyber-
Federal funds serve our community and rely
courages those they serve to
bazaar. You’ll also find jew-
complete and mail the census
on census numbers for fund-
elry, apparel, ceramics, etc.
and community
questionnaire. Sonia Harb,
ing and information.
Quilters with items to sell can
service Director of Employment and
The Detroit Regional
use this website to sell their
Training told us:
wares. It’s free to join but there
Focus: HOPE — Rising from
Census Center is collecting
is a small 3.5 percent transac-
the ashes of Detroit’s 1967 “ACCESS relies on census
testimonials from commer-
tion fee for selling your items.
civil disturbance, the agency,
data to make the case for need
cial businesses and nonprofit
founded by the late Father Wil-
in the community. We recent- agencies that use census
Superbowl Sunday Quilt
liam T. Cunningham and Elea-
Extravangza: Presented by
ly did an analysis of census numbers to serve clients and
nor M. Josaitis, has helped
The Great Lakes Quilter’s Net-
information and learned some support their enterprises. We
more than 8,000 individuals
work, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010,
startling truths about our
will be posting video of the
establish successful careers.
10 a.m, until. Bring your own
target zip codes in Dearborn.
testimonials on the Web and
projects. Demonstrations,
Shirley Talley
From machinists to work in
“One would not imagine
distributing them in printed
“make and take,” prizes and
needle, but with a longer em- offers less thread twisting and
information technology, Focus:
that the level of poverty was
brochures. If you work for
surprises. RSVP by Jan. 15.
broidery-style eye for easier allows faster stitching.
HOPE has been helping Detroi-
as high as it is or that poverty a commercial business or a
You may contact Marian Coak-
threading, Good for metallic
ters find meaningful careers
rates were so high for female non-profit agency that uses
ley at (313)863-5459 or e-mail
and pearl-cotton.
Curved Quilting Needle: De-
signed for tying quilt layers for decades and census data headed households with chil- census data and would like to
msquilt@twmi.rr.com.
Twin Pointed Needle: This together; also good for other has played a crucial role. Pat- dren under age 5.
add your voice to this project,
There is a host of new spe-
needle has sharp points on crafts. rick O. Lindsey, Focus: HOPE’s
This information helped us
please contact Kim Hunter at
cialty quilting needle;
both ends and a traditional director of External Affairs and
quilting needle eye in the
For questions or informa- build a case for bringing head
the Detroit Regional Census
Development, puts it this way:
Big-Eye Quilting Needle:
center. It decrease wrist strain,
tion, call (313)881-3873 or e- start services to the commu- Center: (313) 396-5200 or De-
Like a traditional quilting
mail quilter@sbcglobal.net. “The census is extremely nity. troit.2010.PDS@census.gov.
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