“Philly Counts!” is a citywide campaign to raise awareness about the 2010 federal Census and encourage all Philadelphia residents to be counted. A network of diverse leaders representing many constituencies and neighborhoods have come together to help spread the word about why participating in the Census is so important to Philadelphia. The campaign is coordinating with the US Census Bureau Regional Office in planning, promoting, and implementing its action plan to obtain a complete and accurate count of the City of Philadelphia’s resident population.

The Philly Counts Campaign will be led by Mayor Michael A. Nutter and honorary co-chairs representing the city's elected officials and civic leadership. These co-chairs are: U.S. Representative Robert Brady, U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah, U.S. Representative Allyson Schwartz, State Senator Shirley M. Kitchen, State Representative Jewell Williams, City Council President Anna Verna, School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. Arlene Ackerman, Mayor’s Commission on Asian American Affairs Chair Dr. Nina Ahmad, Black Clergy of Philadelphia and the Vicinity President Bishop Audrey F. Bronson, Esperanza USA President & CEO Rev. Luis Cortes, Jr., Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO President Patrick Eiding, Philadelphia Housing Authority Executive Director Carl Greene, Lydia Hernandez-Velez, Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition President & CEO Sharmain Matlock-Turner, Project H.O.M.E. Executive Director Sister Mary Scullion, and Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Robert Wonderling.

The effort will be supported by volunteer-led Complete Count Committees (CCC) consisting of a network of top leaders and neighborhood stakeholders whose goal is to develop and execute census awareness and targeted outreach strategies. Members will work with local volunteer organizations to increase the Census response rate among residents through a structured neighbor-to-neighbor approach, designing and implementing targeted census awareness campaigns. At the same time, a CCC made up of municipal workers will direct city agencies’ outreach and awareness efforts across the city.

The following committees have been formed so far:, African American, African & Caribbean, Asian American, Latino, LGBT, Interfaith, Immigrant, Labor, Corporations and Philanthropy, Elected Officials, Education, Young Professionals, Neighborhood Businesses, Civic Engagement and Homeless/Public Housing. These committees, with the support of Philly Counts and City of Philadelphia staff, will develop action strategies to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of participation in the 2010 Census.