U.S. Census Bureau Works to Break Down Barriers, Reach All Communities

By Jacqueline Sit, NEWS 9 

OKLAHOMA CITY -- About 85 percent of the positions in Oklahoma for the U.S. Census Bureau have been filled, but there are a few more positions officials said they are having a tough time filling.

The Census Bureau said it is looking for candidates who can help break down possible language and cultural barriers in the Asian community.

Find out more information on jobs still available with the U.S. Census Bureau.

The local census office set up shop at the Vietnamese Lunar New Year event in an effort to promote what the census is about and make sure everyone participates. The results from the census next month will determine what will happen for the community in the next decade.

Tinny Chang, who is a leader in the Asian community, said the census is very important for the Asian community.

"So that we will have funding. That is very important for us. So don't complain about, well how come all the other groups have funding and we don't, because we have to step up. Let them to count us so that they know what we need," said Chang, who is with the Chinese Cultural Foundation.

But some community leaders said it's not that easy.

"The Asian people, you know, they're afraid. I think they have problem in the past," said Spring Nguyen, Asia Society of Oklahoma president.

Experts said people who have come from distressed countries with communist governments simply don't like giving out their information. That fact coupled with a language barrier complicates the process, but community leaders said that's where education comes in.

"Some of us, we thought that this is our personal information, but just to let them know that, no, it's confidential. Nothing will be exposed to anybody else," Chang said.

For those facing a language barrier, they'll have to turn to the younger generation to help with the census in an Asian American community that continues to grow.

"This year, I think everybody understands that their own kid will educate them, like grandma and great grandparents. You have to do this thing," Nguyen said.

The Census Bureau is looking for candidates who are fluent in other languages and can act as a translator in the Asian community. There are several spots left for both part time and full time positions. The positions pay $14.25 an hour.