Watts Village Theater Company’s (WVTC’s) “US Census: It’s In Our Hands” works to encourage participation in the 2010 Census by explaining the purpose and uses of Census data as well as dispelling common misconceptions that often exist in disenfranchised communities about Census activities.

In keeping with their mission to bring issue-driven, thought provoking theater to Watts and the South Los Angeles area, Watts Village Theater Company (WVTC) will perform a short play written by Damion Teeko Parran and directed by WVTC Artistic Director Guillermo Avilés-Rodríguez that encourages residents of underserved communities to participate in the 2010 U.S. Census. The project is part of a season that is dedicated to site-specific or found space performance, and will be presented at the Watts Farmers Market in Ted Watkins Park.

Historically, communities such as Watts have been difficult for the Census to reach, as many people harbor feelings of mistrust toward census takers that come door-to-door to collect information. This is especially common in areas with large immigrant populations, where undocumented immigrants avoid the Census, thereby resulting in an inaccurate count of the population demographic and an inaccurate allocation of funds to an already underserved community. In an effort to combat this issue, the Census Bureau has partnered with organizations such as WVTC to raise awareness and spread accurate information about the Census.

“We are proud to serve our community with this entertaining, relevant and educational piece of theater, and remain committed to continuously producing cutting-edge, timely work by artists of color that speaks to our community,” said WVTC Artistic Director Guillermo Avilés-Rodríguez. “Partnerships with entities such as the Census Bureau are proof that what WVTC is working to change lives, and we’re committed to continuing on that track.”

WVTC is a multicultural urban theater company that seeks to inspire positive social change through innovative theatrical work. They infuse their culturally diverse community with tolerance for differences and create an appreciation for all cultures through the development and production of provocative work such as It’s In Our Hands. The company’s primary goal is to enrich the community of Watts and South Los Angeles with original, eclectic and socially relevant theatrical work.