The Alhambra Source 2020 Census Storytelling Contest, co-sponsored by the Alhambra Unified School District, was created to educate local students on the importance of this year’s count and give them the tools to spark census engagement in their own network. In highlighting the stories of our eight Census Ambassadors, students are given an opportunity to illustrate their unique point of view on a foundational part of community funding.

This week’s story is by Ivory Razo, a third-grade student at St. Thomas More Catholic School. Ivory is the 3rd Place winner in the 3rd-5th Grade Category.

We will be publishing one of the winning entries every Thursday for the next seven weeks.

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These Questions Are Important To Me

By Ivory Razo

I wish the 2020 census would ask how many kids have disabilities. Communities and schools should receive more money to help kids that need extra help. The money could help them with day care or after school care. The money could make more after school programs for them so they can make new friends since it can be hard for them sometimes. The programs can also help teach them things like how to bake a cake with their parents, how to swim, and how to draw. The money could also make their classroom better. Kids with wheelchairs could have ramps made for them. Kids who know sign language can teach it to other kids and make new friends. The money can also be used to teach the regular kids that kids with disabilities are just a little different, but they are still kids too. The regular kids can learn more to understand their friends with disabilities. The community can also use money for kids with disabilities by building better parks so they can have fun too. They could make special kinds of swings and make the walkway on the jungle gym wider. They could even have headphones nearby to help block out the loud noises from the park because they can be a little scary.

I would also ask how much money each house makes. I would ask this so we can see what communities have less money. If we knew what communities have less money then we can try helping them. We could try helping them with their businesses & parks. The businesses wouldn’t have to go out of business. The parks could be cleaned up and have new playgrounds and equipment. Money can also help them get them more food & clothes. It is a little sad that not everyone has enough food.

Another question I also wish I could ask is how much the communities recycle. I’d ask this question because I want to help the planet stay healthy. Recycling helps the planet have less trash. I want to also ask them how communities keep their air quality healthy & keep the earth clean from air pollution. Maybe some people take the bus instead of a car or they ride their bikes to work. Having less air pollution helps people breathe better and protects people with asthma.