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Why are we talking about 2030 in 2026? Because the blueprint for our community’s power over the next decade is being drawn TODAY.

In this vital episode of The Garifuna Experience Podcast, hosts José Francisco Ávila (Chairman of the Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc.) and Gregoria Flores Núñez (Executive Director of Garifuna Community Services, Inc.) pull back the curtain on the multi-year battle for Garifuna visibility.

The U.S. Census is more than a population count—it is a $1.5 trillion roadmap that determines the funding for our schools, the quality of our healthcare, and the strength of our political voice. For the Garifuna people, being "invisible" in official data means being ignored in the city budget.

In this episode, we discuss:

•  The launch of the Garifuna Complete Count Committee and why grassroots organizing must start five years early.
• The Identity Gap: Analyzing why thousands of Garífunas were missed in 2020 and how we are fixing the "Hispanic vs. Race" classification hurdle.
• Legislative Advocacy: Our work with the newly established NYC Office of the Census and our support for the "New York Counts Act."
• Data as Power: How an accurate count directly translates to better resources for New York City and beyond.
• How to Join Us: Why we need you to become a "Garifuna Census Ambassador" today. (Click here to join)

“If they don't count us, they won't fund us—and if they don't fund us, they won't hear us.”

Don’t let our community be sidelined for another ten years. Tune in to learn how you can help secure our collective prosperity and progress.

Resources:

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• The Garifuna Experience in NYC | Bronx walking tour
• The Garifuna Experience in NYC 
• The Happy Land Memorial Walking Tour 
• Garifuna Heritage Walking Tour (BronxNet Video)
• The U.S. Census Bureau
• Join the Garifuna Complete Count Committee

Books by José Francisco Ávila

• Pan-Garifuna Afro-Latino Power of Pride: My Quest for Racial, Ancestral, Ethnic and Cultural Identity