Compact Nation Podcast: Does this Census Spark Joy?

About the Episode

We’re back with season 4 of #CompactNationPod! Catch up with what’s going on with the Compact. Later in the episode, we focus on Census 2020 as we talk to Susan Brower, the Minnesota State Demographer (don’t worry–you’ll find out what that means!). Learn more about the importance of the census for ensuring good government and good public policy locally and nationally. Plus, learn how campuses can help to ensure a complete count both on their campus and across the country more broadly. We close the episode with a new segment as the hosts discuss what’s currently sparking joy in their lives.

Show notes

• MN Census Resources
  https://mncampuscompact.org/what-we-do/initiatives/2020-census-resources/
• Census 2020 Knowledge Hub
  https://compact.org/census-2020/
• Response Outreach Area Mapper (ROAM)
  https://www.census.gov/roam
• Complete Count Committee Map
  https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-complete-count-committees.html
• Happiness Lab Podcast
  https://www.happinesslab.fm/

Guests

Susan Brower is the Minnesota State Demographer and directs the MN State Demographic Center. Susan became the State Demographer in February 2012. In that capacity, she travels the state talking with Minnesotans about the new social and economic realities that are brought about by recent demographic shifts. Susan’s work applies an understanding of demographic trends to changes in a range of areas including the state’s economy and workforce, education, health, immigration and rural population changes.

Susan joined the State Demographic Center after working as a researcher on the Minnesota Compass project at Wilder Research in St. Paul. Prior to that, she worked at the Population Studies Center at the University of Michigan. Susan earned her Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Michigan, specializing in demography and family sociology. She also holds a master’s degree in public policy from Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.