John Monfredo: Nine Years of Engaging Readers in Worcester
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Saturday, May 17, 2014
John Monfredo, GoLocalWorcester MINDSETTER
John and Anne-Marie Monfredo.
The ability to read well is the single best indicator of future economic success – regardless of family background and it starts by putting books into the hands of our children. For the eighth year in a row, Worcester: the City that Reads Committee directed by my wife Anne-Marie Monfredo and me, has successfully completed its “Give A Book” Drive to assist the children of Worcester.
The city that reads
Thanks to the Worcester Community… individuals, school, college groups, and the many businesses in the area we were able to have the most successful drive in our eight years of collecting books…collecting over 30,000 books. The idea of the need for of a focus on literacy in this community has caught on for many more groups and the public at large are recognizing how important reading is and how important it is to give our children the gift of reading. The awareness factor has been a major factor for so many leaders in this community have stepped up to support literacy. Look at what has happened with the mobile libraries in Worcester for they have been making their way around the city and look at the “OneCityOneLibrary” program. Now we have four additional branch libraries open at various school sites. Yes, we can say that we are really becoming…Worcester the City That Reads.”
This all volunteer organization was founded by my wife Anne-Marie and me nine years ago in an attempt to promote literacy in our community and promote the importance of being a life time reader. A true reader is developed, not born. This is the eighth year of collecting new and gently used books for children in grades pre-kindergarten to grade eight and in those years we have given out well over 200,000 books to this community.
Books will be given out to all of the children in the Worcester Public Schools from pre kindergarten to grade six and books will be given to all the children in the AVID program in grades 7-8, to Head Start, social agencies and interfaith groups holding summer reading programs, and to the cities “Wheels to Water” program.
A collective effort
The drive ended yesterday but the sorting out of the books will continue into next week. Once again we had tremendous support from our private sector… Worcester Academy, Venerini Academy, Notre Dame Academy, St. John’s High School and Holy Name all did a wonderful job. Worcester Academy led the way collecting over 2,000 books. Book drives also took place at all of our public high schools. On the college level WPI led all colleges by collecting over 2,000 books.
Various businesses that stepped up were Hanover Insurance, Bay State Bank, United People’s Bank, Commerce Bank, UNUM, UBS Financial Services, TD Bank, Wilson Language Training Center, Scholastic Books, Boy Scouts of America, Fairlawn Rehabilitation Hospital, Seven Hill’s Foundation, Congregation B’Nai Shalom, U. Mass Medical, and Harvard Pilgrim.
We had so many successful sites where the public could drop off their books. Leading the way were the YMCA, St. Vincent Hospital, Shaws, Stop and Shop, Jewish Community Center, Annie’s Book Shop, Worcester Public Library, Little Leagues in Worcester, the Senior Center, Austin Liquor, Bagel Inn in Holden, Panera’s, Leader’s Way – Kung Fu Academy and the Worcester Credit Union.
The books were stored this year at the Worcester Technical High School garage site. We have spent over 40 hours in sorting out the books to get them ready for distribution. Help was received from students at Doherty High School and Worcester Technical High School and from our friends. In the mix there were 100’s of adult books that were donated to the Friends of the Worcester Public Library and to the Worcester Adult Center. We thank Worcester Public Schools maintenance crew for picking up over 100 cartons of books at our house, other sites and delivering them to the Worcester Technical High School garage.
Tremendous generosity
The results of the generosity of many will enable us to spread the joy of reading this summer. More access to books results in more reading. We all know that students who read more read better; they also write better, spell better and have larger vocabularies. A report from the National Institute of Education concluded “…the amount of reading done out of school is consistently related to gains in reading achievement.”
The books will be distributed to the children, pre-k to grade 6, during the week of June 9th as we celebrate “Reading in our city Week,” (A proclamation will be sent by Mayor Petty to be read at the June 3rd City Council meeting.) The distribution of the books will be part of the Worcester Public Schools summer “kick-off” during Reading Week. It is our desire that the schools move the books around in September by having book swap days and to be creative in how the books will be used in the early fall.
In addition, through the generosity of Steven O’Neil director of the WRTA, signs on city buses will encourage our students to read during the summer months.
What’s next?
Even though the drive is over we would be very happy to accept other book donations throughout the year for the community has many needs.
According to research:
· Children in low-income areas do not have access to books and many live too far away to visit the public library. It has been estimated that children lose between 4 to 6 months of academic growth during the summer time because they are not reading or engaging in meaningful learning activities
· Parents of children living in poverty may lack the money to buy books, may not have easy access to good children’s books, and may not themselves have been read to as children, with the results that millions of children are growing up without books.
Reading difficulty contributes to school failure, which increases the risk of absenteeism, school dropout, substance abuse – all of which perpetuate the cycles of poverty and dependency.
Now it will up to our parents to set the stage for active reading during the summer months. Parents, you are the key teachers during the summer time! You must make literacy activities part of your child’s daily summer activities. Need more books, give me a call at 508 853-3444.
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Total enrollment: 67
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 4.5%
Black: 27.3%
Hispanic: 13.6%
Two or more races: 0.0%
White: 54.5%
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Boston Green Acad. Horace Mann Charter, Boston, MA
Total enrollment: 324
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.3%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 2.8%
Black: 53.1%
Hispanic: 28.4%
Two or more races: 0.3%
White: 15.1%
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#48 Fitchburg HS
Fitchburg, MA
Total enrollment: 1,116
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 7.0%
Black: 7.3%
Hispanic: 44.8%
Two or more races: 4.1%
White: 36.6%
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#47 Global Learning
Global Learning Charter Public HS, New Bedford, MA
Total enrollment: 501
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.8%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.0%
Black: 12.6%
Hispanic: 27.9%
Two or more races: 4.2%
White: 53.5%
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#46 Lowell Middlesex
Lowell Middlesex Acad. Charter HS, Lowell, MA
Total enrollment: 99
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 11.1%
Black: 2.0%
Hispanic: 38.4%
Two or more races: 5.1%
White: 42.4%
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#45 Community Academy
Jamaica Plain, MA
Total enrollment: 67
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 0.0%
Black: 40.3%
Hispanic: 16.4%
Two or more races: 3.0%
White: 40.3%
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#44 Quincy HS
Quincy, MA
Total enrollment: 1,519
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.7%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 23.9%
Black: 9.8%
Hispanic: 7.4%
Two or more races: 1.8%
White: 56.3%
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#43 Foxborough Regional
Foxborough Reg. Charter HS, Foxborough, MA
Total enrollment: 1,265
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 10.4%
Black: 23.8%
Hispanic: 5.1%
Two or more races: 4.5%
White: 56.3%
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#42 Boston Collegiate
Boston Collegiate Charter HS, Dorchester, MA
Total enrollment: 632
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.3%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.9%
Black: 25.5%
Hispanic: 15.7%
Two or more races: 2.2%
White: 54.4%
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#41 Full Circle HS
Somerville, MA
Total enrollment: 56
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.8%
Black: 21.4%
Hispanic: 35.7%
Two or more races: 1.8%
White: 39.3%
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#40 Waltham Senior HS
Waltham, MA
Total enrollment: 1,389
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 6.4%
Black: 11.2%
Hispanic: 30.6%
Two or more races: 2.6%
White: 49.1%
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#39 Medford HS
Medford MA
Total enrollment: 1,155
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.3%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 10.0%
Black: 18.4%
Hispanic: 8.2%
Two or more races: 1.9%
White: 61.9%
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#38 Snowden International
Snowden Int'l School at Copley, Boston, MA
Total enrollment: 397
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.3%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 7.6%
Black: 38.3%
Hispanic: 41.3%
Two or more races: 3.0%
White: 9.6%
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#37 Brockton HS
Brockton Champion HS, Brockton, MA
Total enrollment: 194
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.5%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.0%
Black: 41.2%
Hispanic: 19.6%
Two or more races: 2.6%
White: 35.1%
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#36 Worcester Tech. HS
Worcester, MA
Total enrollment: 1,358
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.5%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 5.8%
Black: 12.4%
Hispanic: 34.6%
Two or more races: 2.2%
White: 44.5%
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#35 Acad. of the Pac. Rim
Acad. of the Pac. Rim Charter Public HS, Hyde Park MA
Total enrollment: 498
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.4%
Black: 58.4%
Hispanic: 20.5%
Two or more races: 3.4%
White: 16.3%
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#34 Lynn Vocational
Lynn Vocational Tech. Institute, Lynn, MA
Total enrollment: 750
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.8%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 6.7%
Black: 10.7%
Hispanic: 60.0%
Two or more races: 2.9%
White: 18.9%
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#33 Boston Arts Academy
Boston, MA
Total enrollment: 445
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.4%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 3.1%
Black: 38.7%
Hispanic: 40.0%
Two or more races: 2.2%
White: 15.5%
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#32 Greater Lowell
Greater Lowell Reg. Vocational Tech., Tyngsborough, MA
Total enrollment: 2,112
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.5%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 14.8%
Black: 3.9%
Hispanic: 26.6%
Two or more races: 2.6%
White: 51.7%
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#31 Amherst Regional HS
Amherst, MA
Total enrollment: 1,004
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 10.0%
Black: 8.3%
Hispanic: 12.2%
Two or more races: 8.4%
White: 61.2%
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#30 Horace Mann
Horace Mann School for the Deaf, Allston, MA
Total enrollment: 111
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 9.0%
Black: 36.0%
Hispanic: 41.4%
Two or more races: 1.8%
White: 11.7%
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#29 Everett HS
Everett, MA
Total enrollment: 2,004
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.3%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 4.9%
Black: 23.9%
Hispanic: 32.4%
Two or more races: 1.0%
White: 37.5%
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#28 Lynn English HS
Lynn, MA
Total enrollment: 1,611
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 9.9%
Black: 10.8%
Hispanic: 53.0%
Two or more races: 2.2%
White: 24.0%
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#27 Boston Latin HS
Boston, MA
Total enrollment: 2,379
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 29.1%
Black: 9.5%
Hispanic: 10.6%
Two or more races: 3.1%
White: 47.7%
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#26 Prospect Hill
Prospect Hill Academy Charter HS, Cambridge, MA
Total enrollment: 1,148
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.3%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 6.9%
Black: 57.2%
Hispanic: 19.6%
Two or more races: 3.0%
White: 13.0%
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#25 Brookline HS
Brookline, MA
Total enrollment: 1,832
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 14.8%
Black: 7.9%
Hispanic: 10.3%
Two or more races: 7.0%
White: 60.0%
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#24 New Bedford HS
New Bedford, MA
Total enrollment: 2,436
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.8%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.7%
Black: 14.8%
Hispanic: 31.1%
Two or more races: 6.5%
White: 45.0%
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#23 Randolph HS
New Bedford, MA
Total enrollment: 746
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.5%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 17.4%
Black: 58.7%
Hispanic: 9.0%
Two or more races: 1.6%
White: 12.7%
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#22 Charlestown HS
Charlestown, MA
Total enrollment: 935
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.4%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 20.2%
Black: 41.9%
Hispanic: 30.4%
Two or more races: 0.9%
White: 6.2%
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#21 Burncoat Senior HS
Worcester, MA
Total enrollment: 996
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.4%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 5.1%
Black: 17.1%
Hispanic: 39.8%
Two or more races: 2.1%
White: 35.5%
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#20 Springfield Ren.
Springfield Renaissance School, Springfield, MA
Total enrollment: 705
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.4%
Black: 25.5%
Hispanic: 42.6%
Two or more races: 6.1%
White: 24.3%
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#19 Sabis International
Sabis Int'l Charter School, Springfield, MA
Total enrollment: 1,574
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 2.8%
Black: 30.1%
Hispanic: 33.2%
Two or more races: 5.2%
White: 28.2%
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#18 Quincy Upper HS
Boston, MA
Total enrollment: 487
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 53.2%
Black: 20.7%
Hispanic: 16.8%
Two or more races: 2.3%
White: 7.0%
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#17 Springfield Central HS
Springfield, MA
Total enrollment: 2,086
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 6.6%
Black: 24.1%
Hispanic: 49.8%
Two or more races: 3.7%
White: 15.7%
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#16 Mystic Valley
Mystic Valley Reg. Charter HS, Malden, MA
Total enrollment: 1,499
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 16.0%
Black: 16.6%
Hispanic: 6.2%
Two or more races: 3.9%
White: 57.2%
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#15 Univ. Park Campus
University Park Campus HS, Worcester, MA
Total enrollment: 230
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 23.9%
Black: 7.4%
Hispanic: 49.3%
Two or more races: 2.2%
White: 18.3%
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#14 Doherty Mem. HS
Worcester, MA
Total enrollment: 1,337
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.6%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 9.3%
Black: 14.1%
Hispanic: 30.3%
Two or more races: 2.2%
White: 43.4%
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#13 North HS
Worcester, MA
Total enrollment: 1,295
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.2%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 8.3%
Black: 19.2%
Hispanic: 46.4%
Two or more races: 1.7%
White: 24.2%
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#12 Lowell HS
Lowell, MA
Total enrollment: 3,054
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 32.5%
Black: 9.7%
Hispanic: 24.1%
Two or more races: 1.1%
White: 32.4%
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#11 Whaling City Alt.
Whaling City Alternative HS, New Bedford, MA
Total enrollment: 99
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 2.0%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.0%
Black: 20.2%
Hispanic: 37.4%
Two or more races: 8.1%
White: 31.4%
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#10 Somerville HS
Somerville, MA
Total enrollment: 1,265
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.2%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 11.6%
Black: 15.3%
Hispanic: 39.8%
Two or more races: 0.9%
White: 32.3%
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#9 Pioneer Charter
Pioneer Charter School of Science, Everett, MA
Total enrollment: 359
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 2.5%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 8.7%
Black: 37.0%
Hispanic: 17.8%
Two or more races: 0.6%
White: 33.4%
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#8 Lynn Classical HS
Lynn, MA
Total enrollment: 1,498
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 11.8%
Black: 14.3%
Hispanic: 45.6%
Two or more races: 2.7%
White: 25.4%
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#7 Cambridge Rindge
Cambridge Rindge and Latin, Cambridge, MA
Total enrollment: 1,741
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.6%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 11.8%
Black: 33.2%
Hispanic: 14.0%
Two or more races: 3.0%
White: 37.5%
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#6 Fecteau-Leary
Fecteau-Leary Junior/Senior HS, Lynn, MA
Total enrollment: 157
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.6%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 8.3%
Black: 19.7%
Hispanic: 43.3%
Two or more races: 3.8%
White: 24.2%
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#5 O'Bryant HS
Roxbury, MA
Total enrollment: 1,353
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.1%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 21.3%
Black: 37.2%
Hispanic: 28.6%
Two or more races: 1.6%
White: 11.1%
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#4 Excel HS
South Boston, MA
Total enrollment: 550
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.5%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 22.5%
Black: 38.4%
Hispanic: 23.3%
Two or more races: 1.6%
White: 13.6%
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#3 South HS
Worcester, MA
Total enrollment: 1,264
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.6%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 14.9%
Black: 19.6%
Hispanic: 39.2%
Two or more races: 1.7%
White: 24.1%
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#2 Boston Latin Acad.
Dorchester, MA
Total enrollment: 1,689
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.7%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 21.6%
Black: 27.1%
Hispanic: 20.7%
Two or more races: 1.8%
White: 28.2%
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#1 Malden HS
Malden, MA
Total enrollment: 1,835
Percentage of total enrollment
Amer Indian/Alaskan: 0.7%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 24.9%
Black: 22.6%
Hispanic: 19.9%
Two or more races: 3.7%
White: 28.3%
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