Growing Prince George's Pride:
An Update From County Executive Alsobrooks
Dear Prince Georgians,
The month has just begun, and I am excited to share the latest happenings in and around your Prince George’s County Government. This past Tuesday we received our Official Transition Team Report compiled over the last three months by the transition team. I invite you to review the team’s recommendations. Please go to our transition website to view the report in its entirety. The team was divided into twelve workgroups focused on areas that included education, public safety, health and human services, economic development and youth sports.
On February 27th, the FY2020 Public Budget Hearing was held at Flowers High School. I want to thank residents for providing their compassionate testimonies that touched upon a broad range of topics for enhanced fiscal support.
March is National Women’s History Month and we are excited to host our annual Women’s History Month Luncheon. This year’s theme is “Visionary Women” in Prince George’s County. The luncheon is a signature event of the County Executive’s Office and a tradition that has been taking place for 34 years. It is our sincere hope that you will attend this event on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt, Maryland from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm.
Highlights of the event program will include award presentations for the Gladys Noon Spellman Public Service and Scholarship Awards, as well as the first Prince George’s Pride Awards. The mistress of ceremonies is Lesli Foster, Weeknight Anchor for WUSA 9. There will be many more surprises in store for this jubilant occasion. Your support and presence are greatly appreciated.
On a different note, as many of you saw in the news, a Maryland State lawmaker let fly a racial slur in January, saying that a white colleague had been campaigning in a “n----- district” here in Prince George’s County. I, along with other elected officials in Annapolis and elsewhere, expressed our shock and disgust and demanded her resignation, with good reason. But the really shocking thing may have been her initial reaction, which was not exactly contrite.
“I’m sure I have [used the slur],” Delegate Mary Ann Lisanti, a Democrat who represents a suburban district near Baltimore, told The Washington Post. “I’m sure everyone has used it. I’ve used the f-word. I used the Lord’s name in vain.”
Well, no, everyone does not use the n-word. It remains, as it has been for decades, a raw expression of bigotry and hatred. That’s why Delegate Lisanti, a two-term delegate, has been stripped of her subcommittee chairmanship and unanimously censured in the House of Delegates.
But we cannot let Delegate Lisanti’s “dinosaur views” distract us from the work we have to do in Annapolis. That same day that I spoke out about her comments, I was in Annapolis to lobby for school construction funding that our children deserve.
While we are rightfully outraged by what the Delegate said, I am also disturbed that nobody raised an eyebrow when another Washington Post article cited a recent study that showed a $23 billion education funding gap between jurisdictions made up of mostly white children and those made up of mostly minority children.
We all need to be outraged by this fact because Delegate Lisanti’s word is not going to impact the future of our children, but ensuring that we receive every dollar of education funding our children deserve will certainly make a difference. So, my question to the legislature wasn’t, “what are you going to do about Delegate Lisanti? I want to know what you are going to do to ensure that we receive the school construction funding our children deserve.”
We must promise ourselves not to get distracted, even in anger. We have every right to be outraged by her remarks, but we should be more enraged by the equity gaps that exist in our country, and not let the distractions keep us from closing those gaps.
Together, we will continue to Grow Prince George’s Pride and let our signature be our dignity, unity and progress.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Women’s History Month Luncheon Tickets on Sale
Tickets for the 34th Annual Women’s History Month Luncheon are on sale and going fast! Don’t miss out on your chance to be a part of County Executive Angela Alsobrooks’ first WHML celebration. Under this year’s theme, Visionary Women, we will present the Gladys Noon Spellman Public Service Award, the Gladys Noon Spellman Scholarship, and the first Growing Prince George’s County Pride Awards.
The Luncheon will be held on Thursday, March 21, at 11:30 AM at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt, MD. Individual tickets for the event are $50, and as in previous years, we have several sponsorship opportunities available. To find out more information, or to purchase a ticket/sponsorship, please visit our website here. You can also receive more information by calling 301-952-3828 or emailing PGCWHML@co.pg.md.us. We hope to see you there!
Calling All Business Leaders: Become a SYEP Partner Today
County residents completing SYEP applications at our event in New Carrollton.
We’ve had a record number of qualified and motivated applicants for our County’s award-winning summer jobs program this year, and applications are still being accepted until March 22nd! With such an overwhelming response from our young people, we’re asking the business community to help by investing in the Summer Youth Enrichment Program for this summer. Businesses can become a SYEP partner in two ways:
- Hire one of our SYEP applicants at your business for a 6-week, paid summer job experience.
- Sponsor one of our capstone programs. These programs provide job-readiness training and career development for many of our younger applicants. Examples of topic areas include: healthcare, clean energy/environment, IT/STEM, and culinary.
If you are a business that wants to invest in the future leaders and workforce of Prince George’s County, please reach out to Larry Hentz of Employ Prince George’s at 301-618-8400, or at BusinessServices@co.pg.md.us.
And for our young people ages 14-22, applications are still open until March 22nd. You can complete a SYEP application online by going to our website here. If you have any questions about the application, please call 301-883-6200 or email SYEP@co.pg.md.us. We look forward to welcoming everyone who will be working with us and our various employment partners this summer!
Community Partnership Grants Are Open
The County Executive's Office hosted a CPG application workshop on Wednesday, February 27, for non-profits interested in applying.
The Office of the County Executive is still accepting applications for the Community Partnership Grants (CPG) program. CPG’s fund projects for local, non-profit organizations that provide community-based program initiatives within Prince George’s County. Any organization, institution or association, incorporated as a private, non-profit organization as designated under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and providing services in Prince George’s County, is eligible to apply.
Those organizations interested in applying should visit the CPG website for guidelines and the application form. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation from our CPG application workshop held last week can also be found on the CPG website. All applications must be submitted via mail or delivered in-person, and the deadline to apply is Monday, March 18, 2019 at 5:00 PM. Questions concerning CPG applications should be directed to Ameria at the Office of Management and Budget at PGNonProfits@co.pg.md.us.
We look forward to reviewing your proposals!
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Faith Leaders 2020 Census Information Session
The Office of the County Executive is hosting an informational meeting to prepare Faith Leaders for the upcoming 2020 Census. This session will be held on Friday, March 22, at 11:00 AM at the RMS Building of Prince George’s County: 1400 McCormick Drive, Suite 308, Largo, MD. Space is limited, so please RSVP by Friday, March 15.
For questions or more information, please contact Reverend Charles McNeill, Jr. at 301-952-3042 or cwmcneill@co.pg.md.us. We look forward to seeing you there, and don’t forget to RSVP!
VIDEO: FY2020 Budget Hearing
 On Wednesday, February 27, we held our public budget hearing for the FY2020 budget. This was a rescheduled hearing from the previous week due to inclement weather, but that didn’t stop our community from coming out to make their voices heard. You can listen to the County Executive’s remarks on her vision for the FY2020 budget in the video above.
Young People Soar in the Sheriff’s Positive D.A.Y. Mentoring Program
The Office of the Sheriff’s Positive D.A.Y. (Deputies Assisting Youth) Program began in 2011 in six middle schools struggling to meet their Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) goals. Meant to be a mentoring program, the curriculum was designed to help students grow into positive, productive, confident young people with the right life skills to be successful. Now, having grown from six to sixteen schools, and with an outstanding partnership with Prince George’s County Public Schools, Sheriff High’s goal is to implement Positive D.A.Y. in all thirty-six county middle schools.
“Positive D.A.Y. is an investment in our young people,” said Sheriff High. “There’s nothing more conducive to learning and creativity in young people than when we encourage them to do and be their best.” As a former biology teacher, Sheriff High thought middle schools were the right choice for the program because students are at their most vulnerable age in their development - questioning who they are, vulnerable to peer influence, and wondering how they fit into the world.
Program topics include self-esteem, problem-solving, bullying, confidence building, and decision-making, but the program stays relevant with fresh topics such as “branding” in which cadets discuss what their personal brand will be.
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A Request from Dr. Goldson: Become An “Adopt-A-School” Partner
 Dear Prince George’s County Public Schools Community,
Today, I am addressing local business leaders at the State of the Education System luncheon hosted by the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable. During the meeting, I will update them on our progress in moving PGCPS into its next phase of excellence and discuss new opportunities for us to work together to improve our school, student and community outcomes.
Restoring trust, accountability and academic excellence in PGCPS is not something that our administrators, teachers, support staff or students can do alone. Community support is crucial to our success. It will require a coordinated effort to make the lasting change we want to see.
More than 90 schools do not have formal partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits or faith-based organizations. We are revamping our Adopt-A-School Program to better support every student. I am now calling on our business community to get even more involved and ensure every single school has a formal Adopt-A-School partner at the start of the 2019-20 academic year.
Partners must commit to all of the following areas: exposing students to college/career pathways through field trips, career day or mentoring sessions; providing direct financial or in-kind contributions; and participating in service activities at their adopted schools.
There is ample need across the school system. No two schools are alike. I want our students to know that as a community, we care about them.
If your business, nonprofit or faith-based organization is interested in adopting a school, please contact Partnerships Officer Barbara Holt Streeter at partnerships@pgcps.org.
Sincerely,
Dr. Monica Goldson
PGCLitterTRAK App Spring Trainings
The Prince George's County Department of Environment will be hosting a series of app training sessions for PGCLitterTRAK.
Are you participating in a spring cleanup of a stream, schoolyard, neighborhood park or walking trail? Before heading out, join us at a special learning session for PGCLitterTRAK. This easy-to-use smartphone app can be used by businesses, community groups and individual citizens to report their litter collection efforts, amount of trash collected and collection locations.
To register and receive a username and password, contact Tiaa Rutherford at litterreduction@co.pg.md.us.
Training sessions will be held March 14th, March 28th, April 11th, and April 25th.
Calling All Prince George's Contractors and Landscaping Professionals
The Prince George’s County’s Rain Check Program offers rebates to homeowners, businesses and others to install best management practices (BMPs) intended to capture stormwater runoff! Register for the FREE training here. This training is designed to provide landscape professionals with practical, hands-on information on the seven Rain Check Rebate practices and processes, including:
- Urban Tree Canopy
- Rain Barrels
- Cisterns
- Rain Gardens
- Permeable Pavement
- Pavement Removal
- Green Roofs
Are you a homeowner and looking for a professional that has already completed the training? View the most recent Contractor Training Completion List here. More information about each of these practices and how to apply for a rebate are on our website. View our Rain Check Rebate program here.
Room Ready: Several PGC Hotels Make "US News" Best of MD, Best of DC
MGM, Gaylord, The Hotel UMD, College Park Marriott, and the Westin National Harbor make list of region's best hotels.
US NEWS & WORLD REPORT, in partnership with TripAdvisor, annually ranks the best hotels in America. Several PGC props are in the fold, representing the Best of Maryland, Best of Washington DC as respective destinations. Here's how they ranked:
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Best Maryland Hotels Top 50:
#8 MGM National Harbor
#9 THE HOTEL at the University of Maryland
#11 Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
#23 The Westin Washington National Harbor
#42 College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
Best Washington DC Hotels Top 100:
#26 MGM National Harbor
#32 Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
#65 The Westin Washington National Harbor
#80 College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
Best Maryland Resorts:
#3 MGM National Harbor
#4 Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
Best Washington Resorts
#2 MGM National Harbor
#3 Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
The 2019 " Best Hotels" looked at nearly 4,000 luxury properties across the U.S. Being rated among the best in Maryland and DC respectively is a grand accomplishment. Job well done to our Prince George's County props and the staffs that make them great.
Harbor Art: NAT Creates App & Tour To Experience Its Creative Treasures
National Harbor has one of the area's most unique collections of outdoor art, and now there's an app to help you see it.
One of the DMV's most amazing collections of art isn't downtown, or in a gallery or museum. It’s along the waterfront and throughout the complex at National Harbor.
Ten plus years in the making and still growing, the collection includes works by local and nationally-known artists. From the "The Awakening", to "The Beckoning", to the recent installation of "America's Team" (honoring the five branches of our US military), the abundance of creativity is monumental.
To help visitors navigate and enjoy the many artistic installations, the NAT has launched a new "Guide by Cell" app.
The easy-to-use app provides a free guided tour that begins at the waterfront with the world-renowned sculpture, "The Awakening" by J. Seward Johnson, and guides you to each of the NAT'S amazing pieces throughout the complex.
The NAT's "Guide by Cell" app can be downloaded by texting ACNH to 56512.
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