Prince George's Proud:
An Update From County Executive Alsobrooks
Dear Prince Georgians:
I hope you are enjoying and taking advantage of the long days of summer. If you are in need of some suggestions for fun things to do, I encourage you to visit the County's Department of Parks and Recreation website, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC).
With cooperation and input from diverse communities throughout Prince George's County, the Department operates a comprehensive park and recreation system that offers programs and facilities designed to meet the needs and interests of patrons of all ages. A skilled and qualified workforce of community recreation specialists, park planners, naturalists, park police, support staff, and many others help the Department provide quality services to the residents of Prince George's County. The Department has a helpful video with more information here.
As you continue to enjoy the summer, please remember to be safe and prepared, especially with some of the weather conditions we have had lately. Over the past few weeks, we have had several severe storms move through the area, causing flooding and other damage across our region. I encourage you to sign up for Alert Prince George’s, our County communications system that sends alerts about severe weather and more.
On a final note, as the heat index rises, please remember to stay hydrated, apply sunscreen and exercise precaution during all physical activities, particularly when extreme heat advisories are in effect. Below you can find information on M-NCPPC “Cooling Centers” that will open when temperatures reach 90 degrees or higher in our County.
I hope you continue enjoying the summer and all the activities and programs that Prince George’s County has to offer.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George’s County Executive
Cooling Centers Open to the General Public
 As we continue into summer, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning has several cooling centers that are open to the public throughout Prince George’s County. All centers will offer a cooling area with seating any time temperatures reach 90 degrees or higher. For more information about cooling centers in the County, visit our website here.
Openings for Prince George’s County Boards & Commissions
The Office of the County Executive is seeking volunteer applicants for three County Boards and Commissions. Information about each of those opportunities is below.
Board for Registration for Building Contractors
Provides for the licensing and regulation of residential building contracts within Prince George's County. The board is authorized to administer the granting, denial, revocation and suspension of licenses, as well as to develop standards for the grating, renewal, denial, revocation or suspension of such licenses. For more information click here.
Board of Registration for Master Electricians
Receives applications and gives examinations from any persons desiring to be licensed as an electrical contractor or master electrician. Tests are offered in odd months of the year. The Board holds hearings on the denial, revocation and suspension of a license. The Electrical Board also reviews and recommends changes to legislation, policies and procedures related to existing County codes and regulations. For more information click here.
Fire Commission
The Commission reviews the financial needs and requests for public funds of each volunteer fire company. It annually formulates one capital budget, one capital improvement program, and one current expense budget for all volunteer fire companies with respect to the expenditure of public funds, and shall submit said budgets and program, together with the appropriate justification, to the County Executive in accordance with the provisions of the Charter. For more information here.
Volunteer Candidate Criteria
- Must be a Prince George’s County resident
- Must be available to attend Board meetings
If you are interested in being considered for any of these Boards or Commissions, send a cover letter and resume noting the specific board by July 23rd to: pgcboardsvacancy@co.pg.md.us.
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Summer Meals
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While school is out for the summer, meals will still be available for children in our community. Now through mid-August, youth under age 18 can receive free summer meals at select schools, apartment communities and libraries throughout the County! Visit the PGCPS website for more information and to find a location near you. |
SYEP Highlight: Clean County Cadet Program
Youth learn about environmentally-friendly practices, like recycling and composting, through an interactive game and presentation.
We are excited to have more than 300 young people working in the Clean County Cadet Program this summer, one of the job opportunities through our Summer Youth Enrichment Program. The Clean County Cadets are an important component of the County Executive’s Beautification Initiative launched in May.
Younger cadets are attending workshops and creating a campaign to encourage their peers to not litter and start recycling. Older participants are known as “Beautification Specialist Ambassadors,” and they will teach more than 1500 youth this summer about the importance of keeping our County free of litter, as well as environmentally-friendly best practices such as recycling and composting.
Be sure to say hello to any of our Clean County Cadets you may see around the County as they work hard to educate peers with our slogan: “Stop It, Don’t Drop It.”
IN THE NEWS: County Executive Alsobrooks Featured on Working Woman
 County Executive Alsobrooks was recently featured on Alison Starling’s “Working Woman” series on ABC7. In the segment, she discusses the balancing act she plays in her roles as both a mother and County Executive. Watch the entire segment online here.
IN THE NEWS: Prince George’s County Hosts Inaugural Construction Industry Day
County Executive Alsobrooks speaks to business attendees at the Construction Industry Day.
The Prince George’s County Office of Central Services hosted the first-ever Construction Industry Day on Thursday, June 27, 2019. The County highlighted $100 million in new construction opportunities that will be primarily available to county-based small and minority-owned businesses, as well as walked attendees through the procurement and certification process. See a recap of the event from the Prince George’s Sentinel here.
Higher Achievement Center Officially Opens at Greenbelt Middle School
County Executive Alsobrooks joined Higher Achievement staff, students, and public/elected officials at Greenbelt Middle School for a ribbon cutting ceremony.
On Tuesday, July 2, Prince George’s County officially welcomed the first “Achievement Center” of the Higher Achievement Program to the County. The ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Greenbelt Middle School, the site of the first program in Prince George’s County. The center will provide a six-week summer program for middle schoolers, as well as after school mentoring sessions and high school placement coaching during the school year. The Higher Achievement Program is run by a nonprofit that seeks to promote educational success for middle school students, particularly those who would be first-generation college students.
60 students at Greenbelt Middle School will take part in the program this summer and throughout the next school year. To help support the program at Greenbelt Middle, County Executive Alsobrooks announced a $50,000 grant for the center through the Community Partnership Grant Program. The students participating in the program are already enjoying their experience so far, and we look forward to hearing about their achievements throughout this next school year.
Prince George’s County Department of Social Services Recognized by Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation for LGBTQ Inclusion Efforts
The Prince George’s County Department of Social Services (PGCDSS) is proud to announce that it has been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation in its All Children - All Families 2019 Report Celebrating Everyday Change-Makers for the department’s work to enhance efforts to achieve safety, permanency and well-being for LGBTQ youth and families. The 2019 All Children - All Families report highlighted the work of PGCDSS and other child welfare agencies across the country to improve the services provided to the LGBTQ community, including children in foster care and prospective foster and adoptive parents. Nakiya Lynch, a PGCDSS foster care youth, is featured as part of the All Children – All Families video documentary.
PGCDSS’ AFFIRM program is one of only a few child welfare programs in the country dedicated solely to supporting LGBTQ youth and their families. Its implementation is part of the LGBTQ2S Quality Improvement Center, a groundbreaking national effort to build new evidence-based strategies for improving services for LGBTQ youth and families. AFFIRM works with young people in the foster care system whose families have trouble accepting their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, or who experience bullying in school or other forms of abuse. The program gives youth coping skills and teaches parents and caregivers how to validate and support their children’s LGBTQ identities and experience.
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Personnel Board Confirmed by the County Council
Four of the five Personnel Board Members after being sworn into office.
The County Executive’s nominees to the Prince George’s County Personnel Board were unanimously confirmed by the County Council in an 11-0 vote on Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Delores Stuckey was reappointed to the Board and will serve as Chair. The four newly appointed Board Members include: Yvonne Hefley, Darlene Neal, Gwendolyn Townsend, and Ike Udejiofor.
This Board is tasked with the interpretation and adjudication of personnel law, county regulations and administrative policies for the County government. The five-member Board also hears appeals from County employees. Each of these Board Members is fully committed to ensuring our County government operates in a fair and efficient manner.
Cable Television Commission Confirmed by the County Council
Members of the Cable Television Commission after being sworn into office.
The Prince George’s County Council confirmed County Executive Angela Alsobrooks’ nominees for the Cable Television Commission on July 9th by a 9-0 vote. The newest Commissioners are: Kathleen Driver, Cherie Gibson, Cynthia Miller, Thelma Newsome-Somers and Festus Udejiofor. Cherie Gibson will serve as Chair of the Commission.
The mission of the five-member Commission is to advocate for and protect the public interest in the regulation and the development of the cable communications systems. Each of the individuals confirmed by the Council is dedicated to carrying out this mission on behalf of the residents of Prince George’s County.
County Recognizes Apprenticeship Program’s Inaugural Class
The first graduating class of the Project HIRE Program.
On Tuesday, June 25th, The Department of Family Services, Aging and Disabilities Services Division, held a special program for the first graduating class of the Project HIRE program. Project HIRE is an apprenticeship program that provides individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities, between the ages of 18 and 25, with a paid job training experience with a county government agency. Participants are placed with a job coach, within a host agency, for one year. During this time, Apprentices have an opportunity to enhance their current skills, learn new skills, and gain on the job work experience.
While at the ceremony, each graduating Apprentice received certificates of completion and gave a PowerPoint presentation on their host agency. Check out these testimonials on the Project HIRE experience from both Job Coaches and the Apprentices! For more information about Project HIRE, click here or call 301-265-8450.
Human Relations Commission Hosts LGBTQ Equality Panel
HRC Executive Director Renée Battle-Brooks (left) with the United in Equality panelists.
On Monday, July 8th, the Prince George’s County Human Relations Commission (HRC) hosted a community discussion called “United in Equality.” This well-attended event gave County residents an opportunity to share issues of concern to the LGBTQ community, with a particular emphasis on the struggles, challenges, and triumphs of transgender individuals in Prince George’s County. Future community conversations on these issues will be held by the HRC in the coming months.
The HRC is the County’s civil and human rights education and enforcement agency. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, please call our office at 301-883-6170 for more information. If you would like to be kept informed of future events, please email HRCStaff@co.pg.md.us and ask to be added to our event email list.
Homeowners Listening Session
 The Office of Community Relations, in partnership with the Commission on Common Ownership Communities, will host a Homeowners Listening Session on Saturday, July 20, 2019, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Oxon Hill Library. Residents and potential residents of Prince George’s County are invited to attend the session to find out more information about common ownership communities and have a conversation about current events and issues within those communities. Attendees are encouraged to email dabooz@co.pg.md.us no later than July 12, 2019, to register.
Community Celebration & Potluck in Fairmount Heights
 The Prince George’s County Human Relations Commission and the Town of Fairmount Heights invite you to a Community Celebration on Friday, July 12th, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the parking lot of the Fairmount Heights Library. Fairmount Heights is rich in history and diversity, and this event provides an opportunity for all interested individuals to gather and get to know a little bit about each other and Fairmount Heights.
The celebration will include food, music, cultural sharing, and more. All are welcome and encouraged to bring a dish to share. Thank you to the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System for their support of this event. Please call the Town Clerk of Fairmount Heights with any questions at 301-925-8585.
Prince Georges County Office of Veterans Affairs Launches “Operation Outreach” to Touch More and Do More for Our Veterans
The Office of Veterans Affairs is on a mission to raise awareness of Prince George's County government agencies, businesses, organizations, and nonprofits offering services to women and men veterans.
“Our mission is education, advocacy, and assistance for all veterans,” said Dr. James Dula, Veterans Affairs Officer.
Serving the largest number of veterans in Maryland, the Veterans Affairs Office connects with healthcare providers, social service organizations, landlords, and others to ensure veterans are aware of local, state and federal assistance programs.
Throughout the month of July, “Operation Outreach” will highlight topics concerning Women Veterans and their families. For additional information call our office Monday – Friday at 301-952-3904. VA Benefit assistance is also available upon request.
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