The first national and state-level population counts used for reapportionment were released in late April but a trove of data gems will be uncovered for months to come and every phase of 2020 Census data release will paint an increasingly detailed portrait of our nation.

To help the public navigate this wealth of information from the decennial census and other surveys, the Census Bureau’s Community Partnership and Engagement Program has been hosting virtual webinars: the 2021 Data Summit Series.

Designed for the novice data user, the Data Summits Series presents a high-level overview of several data products and demonstrates how they can be used.

By September 30, demographic statistics will be unveiled. They will give us a profile of the U.S. population by race and ethnicity, voting age, housing occupancy status and group quarters down to the block level.

The data will be used by states to redraw or redistrict their legislative boundaries but will also provide communities the demographic tools and insight they need to meet the needs of their populations.

Are you looking to start or expand a business and want to know where the customers you need live? Are you a nonprofit writing a grant that needs data on the clients you serve? Are you a charity targeting services to areas most in need?

Putting the Data to Use

Designed for the novice data user, the Data Summits Series presents a high-level overview of several data products and demonstrates how they can be used.

You can learn how to access this information and more from your own computer.

To date, more than 5,000 people have attended data summits. The Census Bureau organized the series to target a variety of audiences, including:

Philanthropic and nonprofit.
Small business retailers.
American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
Rural communities.
Asian, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Island populations.
LGBTQ.
Migrant farm workers.
Education.

At the Statistics in Schools data summit, for example, attendees learned how to access a variety of classroom teaching activities for all ages that incorporate census data.

Partners who attended the data summit for nonprofit organizations learned that the Census Bureau’s online tools and staff resources can help them strengthen grant applications and how data can improve services and engagement for their local areas.

The list of webinars and registration is available on the 2021 Data Summit Series page. The summits are free and run through August. In addition, Census Bureau partners can contact Data Dissemination Specialists for help organizing summits for specific audiences and go to Census Academy for more guidance.

Donald Bendz is the assistant regional census manager for the Community Partnership and Engagement Program in the Los Angeles region.