2020 Census Launch Event

WFISD students, Mayor Stephen Santellana, Wichita Falls City council members and Sheppard Air Force Base leadership pose for a photo at the Memorial Auditorium in Wichita Falls, Texas, Jan. 7, 2020. Back row, from left to right, Col. Russel Driggers, 80th Flying Training Wing commander, and Col. Kenyon Bell, 82nd Training Wing commander, joined with Santellana and the Wichita Falls community to kick off the 2020 Census event for the Wichita Falls count phase. The event's slogan was "everyone counts." (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Pedro Tenorio)

2020 Census Launch Event

Wichita Falls' Mayor Stephen Santellana speaks at the 2020 Census launch event at the Memorial Auditorium in Wichita Falls, Texas, Jan. 7, 2020. Santellana said the census benefits communities across the country in a variety of ways. Be it for the city, for the arts, school districts or for the military community in Wichita Falls, he said the census will benefit all if we participate and show that we are here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Pedro Tenorio)

2020 Census Launch Event

Col. Kenyon Bell, 82nd Training Wing commander, speaks at the 2020 Census launch event at the Memorial Auditorium in Wichita Falls, Texas, Jan. 7, 2020. Bell encouraged everyone in the wider military community in Wichita Falls to make sure they are counted here this year in the 2020 census. Bell said being counted here supports the agencies that support Sheppard Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Pedro Tenorio)

2020 Census Launch Event

Col. Kenyon Bell, 82nd Training Wing commander, speaks at the 2020 Census launch event at the Memorial Auditorium in Wichita Falls, Texas, Jan. 7, 2020. Bell joined Wichita Falls community leaders as they launched the Census. Community leaders included Mayor Stephen Santellana, Wichita Falls city council members, arts & culture community leaders, non-profit sector leaders and WFISD fourth grade students and more. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Pedro Tenorio)

2020 Census Launch Event

Wichita Falls' Mayor Stephen Santellana holds a proclamation at the 2020 Census launch event at the Memorial Auditorium in Wichita Falls, Texas, Jan. 7, 2020. Santellana said the census benefits communities across the country in a variety of ways. Be it for the city, for the arts, school districts or for the military community in Wichita Falls, he said the census will benefit all if we participate and show that we are here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Pedro Tenorio)

2020 Census Launch Event

Wichita Falls Mayor Stephen Santellana cuts a ribbon at the 2020 Census launch event at the Memorial Auditorium in Wichita Falls, Texas, Jan. 7, 2020. After the speeches at the event, attendees of the event counted down as Santellana and fourth grade WFISD students officially cut the 2020 census ribbon to kick-off the count phase. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Pedro Tenorio)

Wichita Falls community launches 2020 Census

Published Jan. 7, 2020
By Senior Airman Pedro Tenorio
82nd Training Wing

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --

Count your eggs, count your chickens, count your kids, count your limited edition bulbasaur shiny cards, count whatever you want, but most importantly count yourself during the 2020 census.

The 2020 Census Launch event in downtown Wichita Falls kicked off on Jan. 7, 2020, on the front steps of Memorial Auditorium. Sheppard AFB leadership joined Mayor Stephen Santellana, the Wichita Falls City Council and area community leaders.

WFISD students, Mayor Stephen Santellana, Wichita Falls City council members,and Sheppard Air Force Base leadership pose for a photo at the Memorial Auditorium in Wichita Falls, Texas, Jan. 7, 2020. Back row, from left to right,Col. Russel Driggers, 80th Flying Training Wing commander, and Col. Kenyon Bell, 82nd Training Wing commander, joined with Santellana and the Wichita Falls community to kick off the 2020 Census event for the Wichita Falls count phase. The event's slogan was "everyone counts." (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Pedro Tenorio)

Santellana said the census benefits communities across the country in a variety of ways. Be it for the city, for the arts, school districts or for the military community in Wichita Falls, he said the census will benefit all if we participate and show that we are here.

Col. Kenyon Bell, 82nd Training Wing commander, said it doesn’t matter if someone has been here for six months or 10 years, counting themselves and their families can make a difference.

Col. Kenyon Bell, 82nd Training Wing commander, speaks at the 2020 Census Launch event at the Memorial Auditorium in Wichita Falls, Texas, Jan. 7, 2020. Bell encouraged everyone in the wider military community in Wichita Falls to make sure they are counted here this year in the 2020 census. Bell said being counted here supports the agencies that support Sheppard Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Pedro Tenorio)

“Being counted here supports the agencies that support Sheppard Air Force Base,” he said. “[This includes] veteran’s services, medical and mental health care, housing, recreation. I’d like to encourage everyone in our wider military community to make sure they are counted right here this year in the 2020 census.”

Bell said active duty members, veterans, family members, civilian employees and students can all help just by being counted. It will show support and show the greater USA governments that we are here.

Community leaders from the non-profit sector and the arts & culture community also showed their support for the census by speaking at the launch event.

After the speeches, attendees of the launch event counted down as the mayor and fourth grade WFISD students officially cut the 2020 census ribbon to kick-off our count phase.

For more information about the census, go to http://www.wichitafallstx.gov/2069/2020-Census.

Happy counting!

Wichita Falls Mayor Stephen Santellana cuts a ribbon at the 2020 Census launch event at the Memorial Auditorium in Wichita Falls, Texas, Jan. 7, 2020. After the speeches at the event, attendees of the event counted down as Santellana and fourth grade WFISD students officially cut the 2020 census ribbon to kick-off the count phase. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Pedro Tenorio)