Stevie Wonder's Son To Judge For Unity Diaspora Coalition Census Poster Competition

Washington, DC - Talented R&B/hip-hop artist/producer/singer and son of music iconStevie Wonder, Mumtaz Ekow Morris, and music video director, Dennis Mckinley, will join representatives from community based organizations as judges for the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation's Unity Diaspora Coalition (UDC) Census Poster and Social Media Competition.

The National Coalition's UDC is sponsoring the competition in cities where they have Census activities on the ground working to decrease the undercount of the Black population, says executive director and CEO Melanie L. Campbell. Participating cities are: Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Gary, IN; Houston, TX; Jackson, MS; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; New Orleans, LA; and New York, NY.

Campbell adds, "The competition provides an opportunity for parents, educators, service providers, clergy, and youth organizers to help young people understand the importance of the Census with a civic activity that is educational and fun."

Participants can use any talent to communicate the importance of the Census and encourage people to return their Census form. Poems, posters, paintings, spoken word, songs, YouTube videos, comedy skits, rap, and other artistic expression is eligible. Students and young adults have until April 16, 2010 to enter the competition and must live in one of the cities listed above.

Judges will select five local winners from each participating city including: elementary, middle school, high school, undergraduate, and young adult categories. Local winners will receive a certificate of recognition and a $25 - $100 gift card and will be entered into the UDC Census Poster and Social Media Competition. Five national winners will be selected from the local winners. National prizes include a $1,000 scholarship, $500 gift card, laptops and a Nintendo WII Sport.

"I am eager to check out the creative ideas from talented young people," said McKinley. "I hope to see some captivating viral campaigns that will motivate young people to be civically engaged and persuade their parents to return their Census form," adds the director of Travis Porter's hit single "Go Shorty Go," voted the number one song in Atlanta two weeks in a row.

"I am honored to be a part of this campaign and assist in judging the entries," cites Mumtaz, whose debut single "Do It Well," featuring Snoop Doggdrops in April. "We all need to stand up and be counted in the 2010 Census and I look forward to reviewing the entries while helping to expose new talent."

The Unity Diaspora Coalition is an initiative of The National Coalition that brings together organizations representing Caribbean, Afro Latino, African, and African American communities. In addition to urging the Black population to mail in their completed census survey to decrease the under-count of the Black population, their goal is to demonstrate unity among Blacks of the Diaspora.

Content can be uploaded to http://www.unitydiaspora.ning.com or mailed to The National Coalition UDC, 1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW 10th Floor - Suite #1000, Washington, DC 20036. Call for more information 202-659-4929.