Prince George's Proud:
An Update From County Executive Alsobrooks
Dear Prince Georgians:
I want to thank each of you for answering our call during the Stuff-A-Truck initiative sponsored by our Office of Community Relations. As a result of your overwhelming support and generosity, we stuffed our truck and exceeded our goal of feeding 500 families. This holiday season, we are Prince George’s Proud to provide Thanksgiving baskets to over 600 families.
In fact, we collected over 40,000 pounds of food. Families will receive a turkey and all the fixings for a hearty Thanksgiving dinner. Without a doubt, your caring and compassion is responsible for providing Thanksgiving dinner as well as an additional meal to our families in need.
As the holiday season progresses, our Proud to Give Back Campaign will continue. There is still an opportunity to donate for those who missed our Stuff-A-Truck initiative but want to support those in need. More information about donating to our Public Safety Food Basket Program is included below. My sincere hope is that will you continue to support our ongoing efforts to collect food donations throughout December and into the new year to further help our local food pantries meet their demand.
In keeping with the holiday spirit, let’s remember to keep our County pristine by picking up litter debris from decorations and hold each other accountable for properly recycling. November 15th marked America Recycles Day, a day that encourages Americans to commit to recycling and to raise awareness about the importance of recycling and buying products made from recycled materials. Several quick recycling tips from our Department of the Environment are included in this newsletter.
Finally, since its birth as an official national holiday, Thanksgiving has grown into a uniquely wonderful American tradition. On several holidays, we honor our military heroes and important figures in our nation’s history. On other holidays, we celebrate the diversity of our faiths and cultures. On Thanksgiving, we celebrate our simple blessings – family, friends, and community. On Thanksgiving, we think about those less fortunate than ourselves. On Thanksgiving, we retreat from our cell phones and other devices to sit around a table, break bread, bond with each other, and think about what we are thankful for over the past year.
I am very thankful to work with a government filled with individuals who are the most incredible public servants anywhere; some who are serving to keep us safe as we enjoy the day off with our families. I am also thankful as a Prince Georgian to live in a place that, because of its people, has and forever will be my home.
I wish everyone a wonderful, safe, and enjoyable Thanksgiving.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George's County Executive
Take the Youth Sports Survey
This year we passed a law in Annapolis to establish a Youth Sports Division within our Department of Parks & Recreation, part of our multi-phase Youth Sports Initiative. This new division will be a “one stop shop” for youth sports, in which the community will have the opportunity to view schedules, register their children, and learn about opportunities for engagement.
We want your feedback to help us develop a website that will fulfill the youth sports needs of our community. Please help us by taking a quick survey that will help our team develop content for the website. The survey can be accessed by clicking here, and is available until Friday, November 22. Thank you for working with us as we establish the Youth Sports Division within our Department of Park & Recreation!
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The 2019 Annual Red & Gold Holiday Gala
 Are you 60 years of age or older? Join the Office of the County Executive and the Department of Family Services for the holiday party of the year - the Annual Red and Gold Holiday Gala. It will be held Wednesday, December 4, 2019, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Martin’s Crosswinds.
All attendees must pre-register on Friday, November 22, 2019, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Register online or call 301-324-4420. Please note, space is extremely limited and event ticket availability is on a first come, first served basis.
For sponsorship opportunities, click here.
REMINDER: Community Conversation on Tuesday, December 17
 This is a reminder that our next Community Conversation of the fall is being held on Tuesday, December 17. Join us as the County Executive discusses the Proud Priorities and initiatives that will guide our administration over the next several years. Residents will also have an opportunity to ask questions of the County Executive and agency leadership in our County Government.
The event will be held Tuesday, December 17, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Crossland High School Auditorium (6901 Temple Hill Road, Camp Springs, MD). Doors open at 6:00 PM. While the event is free and open to the public, please RSVP to Zahra Isaacs at ZIsaacs@co.pg.md.us. If you need sign language, Spanish language, or other accommodations, please include that request in your RSVP to Zahra so those services can be arranged. We hope to see you there as we continue working together to move Prince George’s County forward!
County Executive’s Office Hosts First Annual Non-Profit Empowerment Symposium
County Executive Alsobrooks provides opening remarks at the 1st Annual Non-Profit Empowerment Symposium.
On Thursday, November 14, the Strategic Partnerships Division of the County Executive’s Office hosted the 1st Annual Non-Profit Empowerment Symposium at Bowie State University. The event was an opportunity for our non-profit community to come together for a day of engaging panel discussions, providing information and resources to build the capacity of our non-profits.
We want to thank everyone who joined us for this first-ever symposium, including all of our guest panelists who shared their knowledge and expertise with attendees. We are committed to supporting and building up our non-profit community as we continue our collaborative work to improve the quality of life for Prince Georgians.
Washington Redskins' Annual Harvest Feast Feeds More than 2,500 Prince George’s Families
County Executive Alsobrooks greets attendees waiting in line to receive free Thanksgiving meals.
The Washington Redskins hosted their 17th Annual Harvest Feast on Tuesday, November 12. This annual event is a partnership between the Washington Redskins, companies like Ryan Homes and Safeway, and our County’s Department of Social Services. Players from the Washington Redskins assisted in handing out free Thanksgiving meals to Prince George’s County families in need.
The County Executive joined all of our community partners at the Harvest Feast, greeting Prince Georgians as they were in line waiting to meet our Redskins players. We want to thank our Washington Redskins and all of our community partners who made generous donations to this program, as more than 2,500 Prince George’s County families were able to receive a free Thanksgiving meal.
County Executive Hosts Evening with Labor Event to Connect with Local Labor Leaders
County Executive Alsobrooks discusses her Proud Priorities and initiatives with local labor leaders.
The County Executive hosted an “Evening with Labor” on Wednesday, November 13. This event provided local labor union leaders with an opportunity to meet with the County Executive and discuss current issues and initiatives related to County Government. The County Executive also discussed her newly unveiled Proud Priorities and initiatives with labor leaders in attendance.
During the event, the County Executive recognized and introduced her Labor Advisory Council, a group she formed so local unions can advise her office on their issues and concerns throughout the duration of her administration. Our labor unions have done so much for our County and for workers, so we will continue to ensure they have a seat at the table in our government.
IN THE NEWS: Economic Development Corporation Receives $20,000 Grant for Small and Minority-Owned Businesses
 Small and minority-owned businesses are vital to our local economy, so we are excited that our Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has received a $20,000 grant from Wells Fargo to provide even more support to these businesses. The EDC is also launching a new initiative in the coming months that will further support minority-owned businesses. Read more about what we are doing to support our local business community by clicking here.
IN THE NEWS: Prince George’s County Police Officer Goes Above and Beyond to Assist Homeless Resident
 Prince George’s County Police Officer Keith Gooding went above and beyond to assist a homeless resident in our community. He set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for this resident, surprising him with a tent, mattress, heater, clothing and even gift cards. We are Prince George’s Proud of Officer Gooding! See the news story shown on Fox 5 by clicking here.
IN THE NEWS: Silver Diner Officially Opens at Woodmore Towne Center
 The Silver Diner at Woodmore Towne Centre officially opened for business on Monday, November 18. We are excited to have another quality restaurant with healthy options open its doors in Prince George's County. Read more about Silver Diner and its farm-to-table menu by clicking here.
VIDEO: Stuff-A-Truck 2019
 Stuff-A-Truck 2019 was a huge success. We received over 40,000 pounds of food and were able to provide Thanksgiving baskets to over 600 families. Thank you, Prince Georgians, for stepping up and showing that we are Proud to Give Back! Watch a video recap of this weeklong food drive by clicking here.
County Executive Appoints Bryan Swann to Vacant Board of Education Seat
"As a product of PGCPS, I am proud to serve the community I grew up in,” said Mr. Bryan Swann. "Our County has a rich foundation to build upon but significant work lays ahead. I look forward to working with the other board members, administration, schools, communities, and parents to advocate and champion excellence with equity for our children. I'll see you at work!”
County Executive Alsobrooks announced her nomination of Mr. Bryan M. Swann to fill the vacant seat for the Prince George’s County Board of Education, District Four. Mr. Swann was chosen from a pool of highly-qualified candidates who were interviewed after the County Executive spoke with County leadership and held an open application process for residents of Board District Four.
Mr. Swann, who has two children in the school system, currently works at the U.S. Department of Treasury as the Deputy Director of the Office of Financial Management. He brings a number of skills with him from this role, including budget forecasting, execution and reconciliation. Mr. Swann previously worked in the Obama White House, the U.S. Department of Defense, and has private sector experience, giving him an extensive policy and project management background that will assist our Board of Education in its mission to provide a great education to every student.
Mr. Swann’s educational background is also local, as he received his B.S. in Business Management and his M.B.A. from the University of Maryland, College Park. He also completed his M.P.A. at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, with a focus on Studies in Educational Policy and Digital Government. Mr. Swann is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, having received several medals for his service to our country.
Mr. Swann will be a strong advocate for students and teachers not just in Board of Education District Four, but for every school and community in our County. His background and knowledge in budget analysis and operational management will make him a strong asset to our Board, helping us navigate the challenges and opportunities we face for Prince George’s County Public Schools.
This marks the fourth appointment to the Prince George’s County Board of Education for County Executive Alsobrooks. She previously appointed Dr. Alvin Thornton to serve as Board Chair, and both Paul Monteiro and Sandra Shephard to serve as Board Members. Mr. Swann’s appointment to the vacant seat for Board of Education District Four is subject to County Council confirmation. If confirmed, Mr. Swann will serve the remainder of the term for the Board District Four seat, which runs until December 2020. The primary election for this seat, as well as several other seats, is scheduled for April 2020.
Three Appointments in County Government Leadership Confirmed by County Council
 In this year’s final County Council session, the Council confirmed three of the County Executive’s appointments to County Government leadership roles. Major F. Riddick, Jr., was confirmed to serve as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) after serving as Acting CAO since the start of the Alsobrooks Administration. CAO Riddick has served in a variety of positions previously in County Government, bringing a wealth of knowledge, experience and leadership to our team.
In addition, Estella Alexander was confirmed as the Director of our Department of Housing and Community Development. She previously served as the Deputy Director of the agency before being appointed Acting Director by County Executive Alsobrooks in December 2018. We are excited Director Alexander will continue working on projects like expanding affordable housing for our residents.
Finally, Dr. Ernest Carter was confirmed as our County’s Health Officer, leading the Health Department. Dr. Carter’s nomination now goes to the State of Maryland for final approval, and he will continue to serve as Acting Health Officer as we await that approval. Dr. Carter previously served as Deputy Health Officer and brings over 3 decades of patient care experience to our Health Department, as well as extensive knowledge of community-based health initiatives and public health management.
We are excited to have all three of these individuals serving in their respective roles as we seek to build a more nimble and responsive County Government. We know they will continue working hard to improve the quality of life for every Prince Georgian.
County Council Confirms 13 New Commissioners in Final Sessions of 2019
 On November 12 and November 19, 2019, the Prince George’s County Council unanimously confirmed a total of 13 appointments by the County Executive to 5 separate County Commissions. We are excited that all of these individuals are lending their knowledge and expertise to our various County Commissions, assisting us in our collaborative mission to improve the quality of life for all Prince Georgians. Please join us in congratulating the following Prince Georgians:
Commission on Common Ownership Communities
Daniel Hall
Linda Hunt
Fire Commission
Robert “Bobby” Breen
Michelle A. Chandler
William H. “Buddy” King
Randy S. Kuenzli
Commission for Children, Youth and Families
Sharon Y. Christmas-DeBerry
Tiffany R. Hardy
Naomi C. Stewart
Courtney L. Wimbush
Commission for Individuals with Disabilities
Tiffany C. Harkless
Toni Paster-DuPree
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
Keith E. Bell
Denizens Brewing Unveils Special Craft Beer in Honor of Prince George’s County
County officials were introduced to the PGC Premium craft beer by one of Denizens’ owners, Julie Verratti.
Denizens Brewing recently expanded to Prince George’s County, opening a restaurant and brewery in Riverdale Park. This is the second location for Denizens and the first in Prince George’s County. County Executive Alsobrooks joined County Council colleagues and members of our State Delegation for an event at Denizens, where they were introduced to a special craft beer brewed in honor of Prince George’s County, named PGC Premium.
Denizens is the only majority woman and minority-owned brewery in the entire State of Maryland, and we are happy to host one of its two locations right here in Prince George’s County. We are thankful that owners Julie Verratti, Emily Bruno, and Jeff Ramirez chose to do business in Prince George’s and are already giving back to our community. The County Executive was Prince George’s Proud to welcome another quality business to the County, and we look forward to bringing in even more high-quality restaurants and amenities like Denizens.
Office of Veterans Affairs Is on the Move
Dr. Dula, our Veterans Affairs Officer, meets with Ms. Taylor, the President of Gold Star Wives, Inc., Capital View Chapter.
The Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA) is working daily to ensure we serve the needs of every veteran, family member and veteran-owned business. Dr. Dula, our Veterans Affairs Officer, has met with several local leaders and community organizations over the past several weeks to strengthen our partnerships and increase the resources we are able to provide to our veterans.
Over the past week, we have proudly served over 200 clients who walked in, called for service, or interacted with us in the community. In addition, the OVA has joined several efforts to host more meetings with community-based organizations.
2019 Winter Community Partners Meeting
The Fall Community Partners meeting, hosted jointly by three of our County agencies.
The Winter Community Partners meeting will be held on Thursday, December 5, 2019, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. As in the past, this meeting will be held at the Department of Public Works & Transportation's (DPW&T) Maintenance Operations Center at 8400 D'Arcy Road, Forestville, Maryland.
DPW&T is hosting the meeting, which will also include updates from the Department of the Environment (DoE) and the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE). After the presentations, agency representatives will answer questions from the audience. You do not need to submit your questions prior to the meeting.
Please let DPW&T know if you will be attending the meeting by calling 301-883-5600 no later than Friday, November 29, 2019. We look forward to seeing you there!
Department of Parks & Recreation Winter Guide Now Available Online
Did you know the Winter Guide for our Department of Parks & Recreation is now available online? It has everything you need to find classes, programs and events for you and your family throughout the winter months. Read about all the resources and activities available for our residents in this free and comprehensive guide. To access the Winter Guide online, click here.
Turkey Fryer Safety 101
 Thanksgiving is next week, and we know that many people will be enjoying turkey as part of their Thanksgiving meal. For those who will fry their turkey, our Fire/EMS Department has put together a comprehensive tip sheet to ensure there are no accidents or injuries with your turkey fryer. If you need additional information, please call 301-883-5250. We hope you have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving!
Know Before You Throw - Recycle Right
 Friday, November 15 was America Recycles Day, and our Department of the Environment (DoE) wants to be sure all our residents are ready to recycle not just for Thanksgiving, but throughout the entire year. The above graphic shows acceptable items for recycling in Prince George's County. For more information on items that can be recycled and items that should be thrown away, visit the DoE website.
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