Student Art Contest Aims to Increase Awareness of Census Among Immigrants
September 26, 2020 - San Antonio
Everyone counts. A young artist is ready to show her work at the 2020 Census Art Show at Ali Baba International Food Market on Saturday. Photo: Facebook.
By Jade Esteban Estrada - Arts Writer, San Antonio Sentinel
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- On Saturday, a 2020 census art contest comprised of student entries will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Ali Baba International Food Market on Wurzbach Road
- The art show aims to raise census awareness among immigrants from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia
Today, Culturingua Partners, Northside Independent School District, and the City of San Antonio will team up to present a 2020 census art contest in an effort to increase awareness of the census before the looming Sept. 30 deadline. The show will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, September 26, 2020 at Ali Baba International Food Market located at 9307 Wurzbach Road.
Although this kid-friendly event welcomes all residents, its focus is to raise census awareness among immigrants from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia, many of whom reside within District 8's Medical Center, and whose children attend Northside ISD schools.
At the art show, attendees will be encouraged to complete their census form and Federal Census Bureau staff members will be available to assist with questions. Additionally, those who complete the form will be eligible to receive a gift card to a local store, according to a City press release.
The art submissions will be judged by a panel of leaders in education, art, government, and business. The scheduled guests of honor include Teri Yasger, supervisor of visual art in Northside ISD’s Fine Arts Department, Tino Gallegos, immigration liaison for the City of San Antonio, contemporary artist Andy Benavides, and Turajii Shakoor-Gey, owner of The Sunnah the Better Islamic Gift Shop.
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In case you missed it, there is another event taking place this weekend with a focus on the upcoming census deadline. Christian comedian Marcus D. Wiley will headline the Be Counted and Be Heard Comedy Show, an event that aims to encourage African Americans to respond to the census. Show time is 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 27 in the #3 parking lot of the AT&T Center.
Both events are free, family friendly, and open to the public.
Jade Esteban Estrada is an arts writer at the San Antonio Sentinel, where he covers art and theatre. He can be reached at jade@sasentinel.com.