idealist.org

Moderated by Steve Padilla, Assistant National Editor, Los Angeles Times

The Census Bureau is fundamental to American democracy — its ten-year counts determine representation in Congress and in the Electoral College, and influence federal and state funding for health, education, transportation, and more. Businesses rely on the Census to predict demand and choose locations; governments use it to make housing decisions, study communities, map roadways, create police and fire precincts, and plan local elections. But because of this vast impact, the Census also confronts controversy each time it sets out to count. Americans of all political leanings have strong preferences for whom and what they want counted, and obstacles often prevent the Census from making full counts, particularly of minority groups. Some, recalling the Census' history of providing information on various groups for national security reasons, regard the count with skepticism and mistrust. With the 2010 Census looming, Zócalo invites a panel of experts to consider how the Census works, how it might improve, and why it is relentlessly controversial.
***Hosted wine reception after program***
Zócalo Public Square is a non-profit organization that builds community by broadening access to civic discourse. Zócalo presents lectures, panels, screenings, and conferences, and publishes original reviews, interviews, and other online features to spur conversation on and action around the most important and compelling ideas of our time. All Zócalo events are presented in open, welcoming, non-partisan, and multi-ethnic spaces. Our online work strives to strike the same broad, generous and balanced tone as our live events.

Zócalo launched in 2003 in Los Angeles, the city we still call home. Since then, we have presented over 175 events featuring nearly 450 speakers. Zócalo has set up shop in two dozen Los Angeles venues, and has traveled to three other U.S. cities and two other continents.

Open to the public