The U.S. Census is next April -- and it’s more important than ever for Michigan. For the first time, redistricting has been taken away from the politicians and given to the people.

Kurt Metzger is probably Michigan’s best-known and most experienced demographer and population expert. After working for the U.S. Census bureau for years, he ran a program at Wayne State and went on to work for United Way and then found Data Driven Detroit. Today, he still studies demographic trends and keeps an eye on the population as mayor of Pleasant Ridge.

Nancy Wang now serves as executive director of Voters Not Politicians, the grass-roots citizens’ group that last year caused a revolution that led to a major change in the way state legislative and congressional districts will be drawn after next year’s census. She is a founding member of the group and also has both engineering and law degrees from the University of Michigan, where she has taught environmental law.