About The Census Project
The Census Project is a broad-based coalition of national, state, and local organizations that support an inclusive and accurate 2030 Census and American Community Survey (ACS) (the modern version of the census �long form�). Its member organizations, representing the private, public, non-profit, and academic sectors, rely on objective data that the Census Bureau produces to inform evidence-based investment, policy and planning decisions.
Mission
Lead the Fight for Data Quality
The Census Project encourages Congress and the Administration to fund all phases of the next decennial census and the ongoing ACS to ensure that timely, accurate, and reliable socio-economic and demographic data are collected and disseminated broadly to support informed decision-making in the public, private, non-profit, and academic sectors.
Listen to Communities
The Census Project also supports maintaining the ACS as a mandatory survey, to preserve the availability of reliable, irreplaceable data for all communities, including rural areas, neighborhoods, American Indian reservations and Alaska Native villages, and small populations groups (such as people with disabilities, veterans, and national origin subgroups). The U.S. House of Representatives has voted several times, through amendments to the Census Bureau�s annual appropriations bill, to make response to the ACS voluntary, and once to eliminate the ACS entirely. Census Project stakeholders were instrumental in convincing Congress, ultimately, to drop these ill-advised proposals. Each student has access to the best possible learning technologies, as well having guest classes from industry professionals. We believe this better prepares your child for their careers or own businesses.
Our Activities
The Census Project�s activities include letters to Congress and the Administration; congressional briefings; fact sheets; press briefings; testimony at congressional hearings; blogs and articles; and regular updates to our national network of stakeholders. We keep stakeholders, the public, and the media informed about key policy and operational developments related to the 2020 Census and ACS, including important research, testing, and development milestones.
The Census Project will continue to support public and media education campaigns that highlight the importance of investing in 2020 Census planning and operations and maintaining a robust ACS.
Census Project Co-Directors
Since January 2004, Mary Jo H. Mitchell has been the Director of Government Affairs for the Population Association of America and Association of Population Centers. In addition to representing PAA and APC, Ms. Mitchell has co-directed The Census Project since 2008. Prior to her position with PAA/APC, Ms. Mitchell worked at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for approximately 10 years, as the Legislative Officer at the National Institute on Aging and as the Special Assistant to the Director of the NIH Office of Policy of Extramural Research Administration. Ms. Mitchell held positions on Capitol Hill as a Legislative Assistant for U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro and Legislative Correspondent for former U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman. Ms. Mitchell has a Master of Public Administration from George Washington University and is a former Presidential Management Fellow. Her recent leadership positions include serving as President of the Association of Public Data Users, 2021-2022, and as the Chair of the Associates Board of Directors for the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 2011-2012. In March 2024, Mary Jo was appointed by the U.S. Census Bureau to serve on the 2030 Census Advisory Committee.
Howard is the Insights Association�s lobbyist for the marketing research and data analytics industry, focusing primarily on consumer privacy and data security, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), tort reform, and the funding and integrity of the decennial Census and the American Community Survey (ACS). He has also been co-director of the Census Project since early 2018.
Before the Insights Association, he worked in Congress as senior legislative staffer for then-Representatives Christopher Cox (CA-48) and Cliff Stearns (FL-06). He also worked more than four years with a science policy think tank, working to improve the understanding of scientific and social research and methodology among journalists and policymakers. Howard formerly served on the Board of Directors for the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics and is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Association of Government Relations Professionals. He has an MA International Relations from the University of Essex in England and a BA Political Studies from Trent University in Canada, and has obtained the Certified Association Executive (CAE), Professional Lobbying Certificate (PLC) and the Public Policy Certificate (PPC).
Howard�s father was a statistics professor and decades-long advisor to (and critic of) the Census Bureau, giving him deep Census roots.
Steve Jost is Senior Vice President, Content Strategy for Avoq, and a consultant to The Census Project. He is a former Associate Director for Communications at the Census Bureau, where he led the massive outreach and advertising efforts in support of both the 2000 and 2010 Census. Steve also previously worked on Census oversight and funding on the Hill.
The Census Project Advisory Committee
Ex-Officio Members
Mr. Vince Barabba, U.S. Census Bureau Director, 1973-76 and 1979-81
Dr. Steven Dillingham, U.S. Census Bureau Director, 2019-2021
Dr. Robert Groves, U.S. Census Bureau Director, 2009-2012
Mr. James F. Holmes, U.S. Census Bureau Director, 1998
Mr. Thomas Mesenbourg, Jr., U.S. Census Bureau Acting Director, 2012-2013
Dr. Ken Prewitt, U.S. Census Bureau Director, 1998-2001
Dr. Marty Farnsworth Riche, U.S. Census Bureau Director, 1994-1998
Mr. John Thompson, U.S. Census Bureau Director, 2013-2017
Advisory Committee Members
Meeta Anand, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Nia Duggins, National Association of REALTORS�
Paul Emrath, National Association of Home Builders
Joseph Fortson, Nielsen
Betsy Laird, International Council of Shopping Centers
Terri Ann Lowenthal, Consultant
Terry Ao Minnis, Asian Americans Advancing Justice
Joan Naymark, Minnesotans for the American Community Survey
Bill O�Hare, O�Hare Data and Demographic Services
Steve Pierson, American Statistical Association
Mark Ritacco, National Association of Counties
Arturo Vargas, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Education Fund
Help us ensure a complete and accurate count
The Census Project connects hundreds of organizations and individuals advocating for a decennial Census to count everyone where they live and the American Community Survey (ACS) to continuously understand our fast-changing neighborhoods.
Remember every dollar counts!