Prince George's Proud:
An Update From County Executive Alsobrooks
Dear Prince Georgians:
Throughout the summer months, I had the pleasure of seeing many of you while attending health fairs, festivals and community day picnics, as well as in the grocery store as we ran our weekend errands. I cherish these opportunities because I learn so much from our conversations and take every comment, suggestion and thumbs-up signal to heart. I strive to make you Prince George’s Proud by incorporating your input into every aspect of government service and delivery.
As we switch gears and head into fall, it is the perfect time to welcome and wish our students a successful school year. I am confident that the 2019-2020 school year will be a banner year of hard work, extracurricular activities and learning opportunities that will ensure our students are college and career ready.
I am also excited to share a fall preview of initiatives from your County Government. We are updating our technology, including the rollout of a new Certification and Compliance System (CCS) at the Office of Central Services to make doing business with the County much easier. We are also rolling out athletic and character development initiatives in partnership with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Finally, we will continue attending community events and finding innovative ways to bring your County Government directly to you.
This month, our office will officially kick off our 2020 Census efforts to ensure every Prince Georgian is “Proud to be Counted”. In October, we will host our second countywide Growing Green with Pride Day and track our second round of litter pickup efforts. In November and December, we will hold community forums to solicit your input for the 2020 legislative session in January.
This is your government and it is an honor to serve you each and every day.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George’s County Executive
Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Prince George’s County
 There is still time to register for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Prince George’s County on Saturday, September 14 at National Harbor. County Executive Alsobrooks will serve as an Honorary Co-Chair of the Walk and will lead a walk team. Prince George’s County will host the first event out of seven total for the National Capital Area Chapter, and we are looking to set a powerful example for the rest of our region.
There are an estimated 14,000 Prince Georgians living with Alzheimer’s, and it is estimated that two-thirds of those living with Alzheimer’s nationwide are women. This is personal for our community, so we are encouraging every Prince Georgian to join us on September 14. For more information about the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and to sign up to participate, visit the Walk website here.
Census Solutions Workshops
Attendees from the County’s second Census Solutions Workshop.
On Saturday, August 24, the Prince George’s County 2020 Census team hosted the second Census Solutions Workshop. These workshops provide training for County residents interested in helping with our census outreach efforts. The “Census Ambassadors” pictured above are Proud to be Counted and ready to start engaging our community.
The next Census Solutions Workshop will be held Saturday, September 21, from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM at the Aviation Museum Operations Building (1909 Corporal Frank Scott Dr, College Park, MD). We hope you will join us if you are interested in becoming a Census Ambassador. For more information about the 2020 Census and other upcoming events in our County, please visit pgcensus2020.org.
County Executive Attends Health Fairs and Back-to-School Events
 County Executive Alsobrooks attended several community health fairs and back-to-school events on Saturday, August 24. First, she stopped by Redeemers Chapel for their 3rd Annual Mega Health Fair, helping students and their families prepare for the upcoming school year with free health screenings and a back-to-school giveaway. She then joined the Kindness Corps to help them stuff backpacks with free school supplies.
Finally, she ended her day at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden’s 26th Annual Health Expo, empowering residents to take control of their health. These events showcased the importance of our community partners in providing resources for Prince Georgians, especially for education and healthcare.
County Executive’s Office Participates in Greenbelt Labor Day Parade
Team Prince George’s at the Greenbelt Labor Day Parade.
The County Executive’s Office joined with residents to form “Team Prince George’s” at the Greenbelt Labor Day Parade. Our team had several chants prepared for the parade route, including one that featured the Proud to be Counted slogan to inform residents about the 2020 Census. Thank you to all of our volunteers who walked the parade route and to the residents of Greenbelt for allowing us to join in their Labor Day festivities.
DCAO Ray Gilley Joins Fox 5 Zip Trip at National Harbor
DCAO Ray Gilley appears on a live TV segment for Fox 5’s Zip Trip at National Harbor.
Fox 5 ended their annual Zip Trip series at National Harbor on Friday, August 30. Our Office of Community Relations, Fire Department, and other County Government staff joined with residents for a fun morning with the Fox 5 team. Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Economic Development, Ray Gilley, even went on live TV to answer trivia questions about Prince George’s County.
We are Prince George’s Proud that the final stop of Fox 5’s Zip Trip took place right here in Prince George’s County. You can view every live segment from the Zip Trip event at National Harbor here.
IN THE NEWS: Backpack Giveaway Drive-Thru
 On Wednesday, August 28, hundreds of families showed up for a backpack giveaway drive-thru hosted by PGCPS and the County Executive’s Office. By the end of the event, nearly 2,000 free backpacks had been distributed. Read a recap of the event from WTOP here.
IN THE NEWS: Office of Veterans Affairs Continues Its Momentum
 The Prince George’s County Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA), established earlier this year by County Executive Alsobrooks, continues to provide assistance to the more than 60,000 veterans that call our County home. See what the OVA has been up to over the last several months in a profile in the Prince George’s Sentinel.
VIDEO: 100 Events of Summer
 Our Office of Community Relations successfully finished their 100 Events of Summer initiative, attending 113 community events from June through August. This is just one of the ways our office is delivering on our promise to bring your County Government directly to you. Check out a video recap of this summer initiative by clicking the image above or clicking here.
County Receives $3.5 Million Grant to Combat Youth Homelessness
County officials joined with federal, state and community partners to accept the $3.5 million grant.
Prince George’s County received a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to continue efforts to combat youth homelessness in the County. The grant will support the County’s “Promise Prince George’s” initiative, assisting homeless youth ages 10-24 with three main areas of focus: housing, education and training, and system structure. Gloria Brown Burnett, Director of the Department of Social Services, and Dr. George L. Askew, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Health, Human Services and Education, accepted a check for the grant on behalf of the County.
HUD awarded $75 million total to 23 communities across the nation as part of their Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program. Over the next several months, Prince George’s County will work with its “youth action boards,” child welfare agencies and other community partners to create a comprehensive community plan to end youth homelessness. The County will also participate in a federal program evaluation that will share best practices, with the goal of serving as a leader in the nation on the work to end youth homelessness.
Census 2020 – Census Lawsuit in Prince George’s County
The Prince George’s County Government, along with the Prince George’s County Branch of the NAACP, is filing an appeal to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals due to a U.S. District Court ruling regarding the 2020 Census. The County Government believes there is a potential for an undercount for the 2020 Census because the Census Bureau is underfunded, understaffed, and has an insufficient plan. That violates Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, requiring that the Census Bureau conduct a full count of all persons living in the County.
We are filing this appeal because we want to ensure equity and that every County resident is properly counted and represented. Prince George’s County had a large undercount in 2010, and for every person that is not counted in 2020, our County will lose $18,250 per person over the next 10 years. This causes us to lose out on valuable federal funding that could go towards education, infrastructure and many other resources that benefit our residents.
The appeal is scheduled to be heard by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals on October 30, 2019. In the meantime, we will continue carrying out our countywide plan to ensure every Prince Georgian is counted to the best of our ability.
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Double Match for Maryland Market Money Program Extended Through September
 The Maryland Farmers Market Association, in partnership with the Prince George’s County Food Equity Council, is extending the double match for the Maryland Market Money Program (MMM) through the entire month of September. The double match began last month due to additional funding provided in the FY 2020 budget proposed by County Executive Alsobrooks and passed by the County Council.
MMM allows residents using federal nutrition benefits to increase their buying power at farmers markets, eliminating economic barriers to purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables. Now through September, shoppers using SNAP/EBT will get $2 in MMM for every SNAP dollar spent and get up to $20 in MMM (per customer per week). For shoppers using FMNP, they will receive $2 for every FMNP dollar spent up to double the value of the entire FMNP checkbook.
For more information about participating farmers markets or the Maryland Market Money Program, visit the Maryland Farmers Market Association website here.
Public Comment Hearing on Proposed Solar Project in Oxon Hill
The Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold a public comment hearing on a proposed solar project in Oxon Hill on Tuesday, September 10 at 7:00 PM. The hearing will be held at the Oxon Hill Volunteer Fire Department, 7600 Livingston Road, Oxon Hill, MD. If you cannot attend the hearing, written comments can still be submitted online or via mail.
To find out more information about the project, the hearing, or how to submit written comments, please see the PSC notice here.
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Focus on the Fundamentals: PGCPS Kicks Off New School Year with $53 Million "Blueprint" for Success
PGCPS CEO Dr. Monica Goldson meeting with students on the first day of school.
Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) welcomed students back to school this week for the 2019-20 school year with a new Chief Executive Officer and a $53 million investment in student success.
The Blueprint for PGCPS, a historic investment in teaching and learning, invests in schools to expand access to full-day prekindergarten programs, student support services and extended learning time. In addition to enhanced teacher compensation, the funding also supports special education enhancements and a new digital literacy immersion program for students who struggle with reading.
“I am excited about the possibilities this school year brings to improve our students’ experience in every classroom and every school,” said Dr. Goldson, who was appointed by Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks in June to a full term as CEO after serving a year in the interim role. “We are helping students before they walk through our schoolhouse doors by expanding social and emotional supports. The Blueprint for PGCPS is an investment in high-quality education across Prince George’s County Public Schools.”
The school system also has new social media sites to help students and families stay connected. Dr. Goldson joined Twitter over the summer (@DrMonicaCEO) and PGCPS en Español will launch this month.
For more information, please visit www.pgcps.org.
Health Department Briefs State on its Opioid-Use Prevention Programs & Successes
(From left to right) Health Department Public Health Program Chief Ron Bates, Health Department Behavioral Health Medical Director Dr. Billina Shaw, Acting Health Officer Dr. Ernest Carter, Maryland OOCC Opioid Intervention Team Coordinator Nancy McCauley Schrum, Maryland OOCC Executive Director Steve Schuh, Prince George’s County Office of Emergency Management Director Ronald Gill.
As part of its ongoing effort to combat Maryland’s opioid epidemic, the state’s Opioid Operational Command Center (OOCC) conducted a site visit and a roundtable discussion with our Health Department on August 27th. The OOCC’s new Executive Director, Steve Schuh, and his team learned more about the county’s strategies in battling opioid misuse and addiction, which continues to be a public health crisis nationwide.
Prince George’s County has one of the lowest opioid overdose rates in the state and just saw a significant drop in overdose deaths in the last year, from 218 county resident deaths in 2017 to 179 in 2018. Acting Health Officer Dr. Ernest Carter and the Health Department’s Behavioral Health Division informed OOCC about the county’s variety of opioid prevention, education and outreach programs and partnerships across government and the private sector.
“Director Schuh and [OOCC Opioid Intervention Team Coordinator] Nancy McCauley Schrum informed me they were excited about the work that is being done here in Prince George’s County,” said Dr. Carter. “I am very proud of our team and our county.”
Let's Get Our Children Healthy for School
 The Health Department released the schedules for its free back-to-school immunization clinics for the 2019-2020 school year. The clinics are open to all county residents.
The clinics will occur on the first three Saturdays in September at the Cheverly Health Center. To make an appointment, please call 301-583-3300. Walk-ins will be accepted. You must bring a copy of all your child’s immunization (shot) records. Proof of your Prince George’s County residency (e.g. a driver’s license or current bill) is also required.
Back-to-school immunization clinics will occur on the following dates from 9 AM to 3 PM at the Cheverly Health Center (3003 Hospital Drive, Cheverly, MD):
Saturday, September 7th
Saturday, September 14th
Saturday, September 21st
Prince George's County Planning Board Schedules Annual Budget Forums
Residents are invited to speak at the annual public forums.
The Prince George’s County Planning Board of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) has scheduled two public forums this fall to solicit comments on the Commission’s budget for planning, parks, and recreation in Prince George’s County for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2020.
The public forums will be held from 7-9 PM on:
- Monday, September 16, at the Department of Parks and Recreation Administration Building, Auditorium, 6600 Kenilworth Avenue, Riverdale, Maryland
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Monday, October 7, at Harmony Hall Regional Center, John Addison Concert Hall, 10701 Livingston Road, Fort Washington, Maryland
Individuals and representatives of community organizations who wish to speak at the public forums may register in advance online, or by calling 301-780-2898.
Written comments will also be accepted until close of business on Monday, October 21, 2019. Comments may be addressed to: Elizabeth M. Hewlett, Chairman, Prince George’s County Planning Board, 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772. Comments may also be faxed to Chairman Hewlett at 301-952-5074 or transmitted via email to PublicAffairs@ppd.mncppc.org.
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission encourages the participation of persons with disabilities in all its programs and services. For special assistance (i.e., large print materials, assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) call the Public Affairs Office at 301-952-4584.
The Prince George’s County Planning Department Hosts Historic Property Grant Workshops
The Prince George’s County Planning Department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) will host workshops on the Historic Property Grant Program. The County Historic Property Grant Program is designed to preserve, protect and enhance historic properties, encourage others to preserve, protect and enhance historic properties and to promote interest in and the study of historic properties. Grants will be awarded for the rehabilitation, restoration, preservation, or acquisition of historic property. The grant program is administered by the Prince George's County Planning Department of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
The Planning Department has already hosted two workshops. The third workshop will occur Saturday, September 14, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the College Park Aviation Museum (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, College Park, MD). M-NCPPC Historic Preservation Section staff will guide workshop attendees through the application process and instructions for the Historic Property Grant Program, explain the requirements for the preservation easement, and give examples of successful projects.
All workshops are free and open to the public. Reservations are required. To register, please call 301-952-3680 or email HistoricPreservation@ppd.mncppc.org.
For information about the Historic Property Grant Program, visit our website.
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The Department of Parks & Recreation 2019 Fall Guide is Here
 Looking for ways to fill your fall calendar? Check out the Department of Parks and Recreation’s 2019 Fall Guide. It contains articles on exciting new recreation opportunities, lists of classes available in the coming months, an event calendar, historic sites, performances, nature center activities, and more! Four issues each year are mailed to current PARKS DIRECT account holders and are available at all Park and Recreation facilities and Prince George's County Memorial Libraries. To access the guide online, visit our website.
Annual Senior Fitness Day & Picnic
 Join us at the Senior Fitness Day and Picnic at Watkins Regional Park on Friday, September 13, 2019, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. At this annual event hosted by the Department of Family Services, older adults take part in fitness-focused activities, line dancing, interactive bingo and carnival style concessions. Seniors also enjoy a free, heart-healthy, picnic style lunch and have the opportunity to visit exhibitors’ booths. The event is free and open to Prince George’s County residents 60 years of age and older. Participants must register in advance. Click here for online registration.
2019 Family Caregivers Conference
 Are you caring for an aging parent, relative or friend? The Prince George’s County Department of Family Services, Aging Services Division, is sponsoring a free Family Caregivers Conference, titled Empowering Caregivers to Care for Others, on Wednesday, September 25, 2019. The purpose of the conference is to provide information, support, and resources for families who face the challenge of caring for an older adult or individual diagnosed with dementia.
The conference will provide caregivers with an opportunity to increase their knowledge of services and programs available to caregivers, learn strategies to reduce caregiver stress and develop a network of resources and support. Participants must pre-register, beginning September 4, 2019, by calling 301-265-8658 or registering online. Valid identification is required on the day of the event.
Important Reminders from the Office of Veterans Affairs
Any veteran who has attended military basic training or officer’s military training realizes the importance of marching in formation. The order to “Fall In” is a command for numerous personnel to come together in a unified way in order to march forward with purpose and structure.
The Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA) has created "Operation Forward March", dedicated to combining several programs under one umbrella: the Veterans-2-Veterans Assistance Initiative, Women Veterans Initiative, Surviving Spouse Initiative, Welcome Home Community Familiarization Initiative, and our VA Claims Assistance Initiative.
The Operation Forward March programs are designed to assist veterans seeking help from the OVA office located in the County Administration Building in Upper Marlboro. To ensure each veteran receives assistance according to their needs, the office also works jointly with nonprofits, the interfaith community, businesses and community-based military organizations.
“Operation Forward March includes areas of interests affecting our veterans and their families along with our commitment to serve according to their individual needs,” said Dr. James Dula, Veterans Affairs Officer for Prince George's County.
Anyone with a desire to join with the OVA in one or more of the five programs can volunteer by calling 301-952-3904 or 301-780-8260.
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