The Hispanic culture in Dodge City fosters a fear of the forthcoming census count and a desire to remain invisible, said Jessica Salas, a graduate of the public high school and community college in Dodge City.
“We just got used to being invisible whether we’re legal or not,” she said. “If we’re not being counted, it’s like we don’t exist.”
Deeply held reservations present a challenge to community leaders who are determined to become more culturally competent in the pursuit of a complete census count. Some members of difficult-to-reach demographics, when informed of the benefits of unlocking federal resources, have committed themselves to the same goal.
(Read more: Dodge City Daily Globe)