2010 US Census Committee for the People of Burma

Dear Sir/Madam/Community Leader,

You are cordially invited to the San Francisco Bay Area Burmese (Myanmar) Community meeting to discuss the forthcoming US Population Census in 2010.

Date: January 3, 2009
Time : 1 - 3 p.m.
Place: Room No. 208,
Serramonte Del Rey (”former” Jefferson High School)
699 Serramonte Blvd , Daly City

The US government conducts the Population Census every ten years (in a year ending with 0) to collect and process head count (not just of citizens, but also of residents, refugees, …) and demographics data (ethnicity, race, …) for use in national planning. The census does not collect sensitive data.

It is imperative to have an accurate count of our community’s ethnicity in the census, if government services are to be provided to our people and decision-makers (at the Federal, State, County, City, …) are to understand the community’s importance and influence.

Although there are hundreds of thousands of Burmese (Myanmar) residing in the US, an unbelievably low number (18000+) is being recognized by the US Bureau of Census. As a result, Burmese (Myanmar) could not get short term and long term benefits provided to the communities recognized by Census, State, Federal, etc. Examples of benefits include:
•Take tests for driver’s license in Burmese (Myanmar)
•Get prescriptions in Burmese (Myanmar)
•Get free translation service for patients who do not speak [fluent] English
•Get priority when applying to prestigious high schools and/or universities
•Get grants/aids for setting up “Community Center” (or similar projects)

Your suggestions on how we can promote community awareness and how to reach out to as many people from Burma (Myanmar) as possible would be the focus of the meeting.

Best regards,
Ad hoc organizing committee
San Francisco Bay Area
USA

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