Delivering Results for Prince Georgians
Dear Prince Georgians:
On Wednesday, October 21, the Prince George’s County Board of Education passed the contract for the Alternative Construction Finance (ACF) plan for school construction. I want to thank Dr. Monica Goldson, the County Council, the School Board, our State delegation, and most importantly, our families and children for pushing this innovative plan forward.
We have some of the oldest school buildings in the State, and our community has waited decades for new schools. With the passage of the ACF plan for Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), we have shown that we are going to deliver on our promise to build exceptional schools and classrooms befitting of our children.
This plan will allow us to build six new schools by 2024, providing 8,000 classroom seats for students while creating an estimated 3,000 jobs in the County. I encourage you to stay updated on all of the PGCPS plans for school construction, including the ACF plan, by visiting the Blueprint for PGCPS website.
Last week, I was proud to join with State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy to announce new strangulation protocols for Prince George’s County. All forms of domestic violence are unacceptable and create a terrible risk for victims, including strangulation. Women who experience strangulation by their partners are about seven times more likely to suffer an attempted homicide.
The new protocols we have announced will provide our law enforcement officials, medical professionals, and prosecutors with additional tools to take action against domestic abusers who strangle their partners. Our new protocols standardize strangulation screening, documentation, prosecution, and treatment, streamlining the process among all parties to support victims.
I want to applaud State’s Attorney Braveboy, the Assistant State’s Attorneys, and everyone else involved in this critical effort to develop these new protocols. With this new coordinated response, and with new legislation at the State level that makes strangulation a first-degree assault, we are sending a loud and clear message that Prince George’s County will not tolerate this life-threatening form of abuse.
Finally, I am proud to announce that our Proud Priorities continue moving forward within County Government, despite the pandemic. This week, we were able to officially launch SPEED, the County’s new electronic procurement system. The platform will allow us to streamline processes to make procurement more efficient for the County Government and our business community.
When I took office, I promised to bring innovative solutions to the County Government to help streamline processes for residents and our business community. This electronic procurement system is our latest tool to support small and local businesses by making it easier to do business with the County Government, and I am proud we were able to deliver it on schedule.
As we continue confronting this pandemic, we will continue streamlining and enhancing government processes to better serve our residents and business community.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George’s County Executive
Stand Up & Deliver
 We are continuing to work hard to address food insecurity in our County, and we want to provide information on next week’s distribution locations for our Stand Up & Deliver program.
Tuesday, October 27 at 10:00 AM (Groceries)
- St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church – 7501 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville, MD
Wednesday, October 28 at 10:00 AM (Groceries)
- Metropolitan Seventh-Day Adventist Church – 6303-G Riggs Road, Hyattsville, MD
Friday, October 30 at 12:30 PM
- Mt. Ennon Baptist Church – 9832 Piscataway Road, Clinton, MD (Groceries)
- Ebenezer A.M.E. Church – 7707 Allentown Road, Fort Washington, MD (Groceries)
- Faith Temple No. 2 Free Will Baptist Church – 211 Maryland Park Drive, Capitol Heights, MD (Prepared Meals)
Sunday, November 1 at 10:00 AM (Prepared Meals)
- Community of Hope A.M.E. Church – 3737 Branch Avenue, Temple Hills, MD
Additional food distribution locations can be found on our website by clicking here. This map is updated regularly. If you are able to make a contribution to our Stand Up & Deliver program, please click here to donate.
Contact Tracing Reminder – Answer the Call
 As we move into the winter months, contact tracing will continue to be a critical tool to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community. When someone is diagnosed positive with COVID-19, our Health Department makes a phone call to that person within 24 hours. When you see MD COVID on your caller ID, please answer so our Health Department can help you with managing your condition, and with getting you resources that you need. If you don’t have caller ID, look for the phone number 240-466-4488.
Our Health Department will also ask who you might've been in contact with, so we can offer them the same resources and minimize the spread of COVID-19. They will never ask for personal information from you, like your social security number or a bank account number. For FAQs, testimonials, and more information about contact tracing, click here.
Make Your Plan to Vote Safely
 The November 3 general election is less than two weeks away. Do you have a plan to vote safe?
If you requested and have received a mail-in ballot, remember to fill it out completely, sign the oath on the return envelope, and return it to one of 42 secure ballot drop boxes located throughout the County by 8:00 PM on November 3, or via mail with a postmark on or before November 3. Click here for a list of ballot drop box locations.
You can also vote in person during early voting from October 26 through November 2, 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM each day, at one of 11 Early Voting Centers located throughout the County. We encourage those voting in person to do so during early voting. Avoid the lines by voting mid-day if possible, when polls are less busy, and remember to wear a face mask. There will also be 41 Vote Centers open across the County on Election Day, November 3, from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Prince Georgians will be able to vote at any of these Vote Centers in the County during early voting or on Election Day. Click here for a list of Vote Centers.
Remember, don’t wait to vote safe! If you have already voted, visit the Facebook profile frame studio and search for “I Voted PGC 2020” to use the County’s Facebook frame on your profile picture to show that you are Proud to Vote in Prince George’s County.
Nando’s Community Day
 Join Nando’s for a Community Day at their new Woodmore Towne Centre location (2700 Campus Way North, Suite 105, Lanham, MD) on Saturday, October 24 from 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM. Nando’s is celebrating the opening of its new location in Prince George’s County by giving back to our community. Proceeds from the event will benefit Children’s National Hospital and our Stand Up & Deliver program. We want to thank Nando’s for partnering with us to give back to those in need.
Prince George’s County Welcomes New Board & Commission Members
New members of the Wage Determination Board.
New members of the Solid Waste Advisory Commission and the Commission on Animal Control.
Several new Board and Commission members were officially sworn into office after being confirmed by the Prince George’s County Council. The Solid Waste Advisory Commission welcomed five new members, including Mr. Hari B. Bindal, Ms. Alexandra D. Kirk, Mr. Mouhaman S. Kola, Mr. Jonathan P. Madagu, and Ms. Nancy J. Meyer. The Commission provides community input, guidance and advice to the County Executive and County Council on matters related to solid waste within the County.
Ms. Joy R. Anderson and Ms. Tisa J.D. Clark were sworn in as members of the Wage Determination Board. This Board’s primary responsibility is to establish schedules of prevailing hourly rates for workers and apprentices employed on public works projects.
Finally, the Commission on Animal Control gained two new advocates, Ms. Connie M. Carter and Ms. Kathy V. Pacanowski. This Commission assists in recommending rules and regulations to the County Executive and Director of the Department of the Environment regarding the Animal Services Facility and its operations.
We know that all of these individuals will do an excellent job of serving our residents in their respective roles. Please join us in congratulating these Prince Georgians!
Office of Central Services Launches eProcurement
 The Office of Central Services has launched the County’s new eProcurement platform, called SPEED. This platform is a SAP Ariba product that offers online strategic sourcing and contracting capabilities to enhance and streamline the procurement process for County Government and local businesses. SPEED will improve bid competitiveness and efficiency, making it easier to do business with the County Government. Learn more and register your business on our platform here.
Economic Development Week in Prince George’s County
 County Executive Alsobrooks declared October 19-23, 2020 as Economic Development Week in Prince George’s County. Our County is the economic engine of our State, creating more jobs than any other jurisdiction in the State over the last five years. We will continue to do everything we can to grow our economy and create jobs as we recover from this pandemic.
To recognize Economic Development Week, the County Executive joined with the Economic Development Corporation and the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce to host a Business Webinar on October 24. This webinar provided COVID-19 updates for County businesses, as well as a panel discussing federal and state resources available to businesses.
In addition, the Economic Development Corporation highlighted outstanding companies in our County throughout the week. You can view all of the highlight videos on their YouTube page here.
Safely Get Rid of Unused or Unwanted Prescription Drugs Saturday, October 24
 Avoiding substance misuse and preventing overdoses is extremely important, and heeding that call right now is critical as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to present a variety of behavioral health challenges. The Health Department and its partners are proud to once again sponsor National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 24 to help minimize substance misuse and overdoses, and ultimately save lives in our communities.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is designed for individuals in the community to safely dispose of their unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from a home medicine cabinet.
This year, we will host a drive-through event from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Brentwood Volunteer Fire Department, located at 3716 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood, MD. Also new this year, the community will be able to safely dispose of all electronic smoking devices in addition to prescription drugs.
Register for STEAMFest on October 31
 Sign up for the Department of Parks and Recreation’s STEAMFest event on Saturday, October 31 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This event will provide engaging and fun programming for youth in the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. Learn more and register here.
Halloween Yard Decoration Contest
 The Department of Parks and Recreation is hosting the first annual Halloween Yard Decoration Contest! Winners in each category will receive a gift card and trophy. Winners will be determined by which photo has the most likes and shares on their Facebook page for the following categories:
- Kid-Friendly Theme
- Spooky and Scary
- Animatronics and Animation
Participation is open to all Prince George’s County residents. Entries must be submitted via Facebook no later than Thursday, October 29. Entries must be Halloween-themed, and the contest is for exterior home decorations only. Please feel free to submit your photos to “out-boo” your fellow Prince Georgians.
Updates from the Library System
 The Prince George's County Memorial Library System has added walk-up curbside service at the Baden Branch Library (Wednesday and Thursday 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Friday 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM). Mobile printing is available at select locations and the first 10 black and white pages are free.
In addition, celebrate Halloween from the comfort of home with a number of events from the Library:
Finally, President Obama’s inaugural poet Richard Blanco will discuss his recent collection of poems, “How to Love a Country,” on Sunday, November 1 at 8:00 PM.
Join a Discussion with Award-winning Author Kendra Allen
 Kendra Allen will join the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System and the Human Relations Commission in conversation about her award-winning collection of essays, When You Learn The Alphabet, at 7:00 PM on November 5. Set a watch reminder and join the engaging discussion here as Allen reflects on her writing and the social issues it addresses, such as colorism, feminism, war-induced PTSD, homophobia, and marriage.
The Elephant We Don’t See Diversity Dialogue
 The Elephant We Don’t See Diversity Dialogue series continues as Michelle Hamiel from the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System and Kyla Hanington from the Human Relations Commission discuss Beverly Tatum’s Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? on Tuesday, October 27 at 7:00 PM. Join the conversation on YouTube or on Facebook.
Human Trafficking Task Force Hosts Virtual Outreach Event for Hispanic Community
The Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force’s (PGCHTTF) Public Outreach and Training Committee, through the Human Relations Commission (HRC), organized a virtual outreach event targeting the County’s Hispanic community on October 15, 2020. Task Force partners Jasmine Morales from Fair Girls and Jatnna Gomez from the University of Maryland’s SAFE Center identified the legal elements used by law enforcement to identify incidents of sex and labor trafficking, described different types of traffickers, provided helpful scenarios to assist participants in identifying human trafficking activity, and provided local human trafficking resources.
Participants also received valuable information from two Prince George’s County Police Department detectives, who described the actions being taken by law enforcement to disrupt trafficking activities and rescue victims of human trafficking within our County. The HRC’s Language Access Program Director, Henry Jimenez, was able to provide an overview of the rights of victims of human trafficking to receive necessary assistance from County agencies in their native language. Participants also heard from the Department of Social Services’ Child Protective Services Trainer, Felipe Urquilla, who described the services they provide and the connection to effective human trafficking identification.
If you would like more information or to schedule a training, please reach out to us at hrcstaff@co.pg.md.us.
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Prince George’s Native Quinn Cook Wins NBA Championship
 We want to congratulate our hometown hero, Los Angeles Laker Quinn Cook, on his NBA championship win! Quinn continues to make us Prince George’s Proud, always seeking to uplift our County’s youth and answering the call to help Prince Georgians in need. He and his mother, Janet Cook, have supported so many of our community efforts, including hosting summer programs for our young people, donating to our efforts to address food insecurity during this pandemic, and serving as ambassadors for the 2020 Census.
IN THE NEWS: Tamara Jade of Bowie Stuns All 4 Judges on “The Voice”
 On Monday, October 19, Tamara Jade of Bowie appeared on “The Voice.” Her vocals and amazing performance stunned all four judges, leading to a four-chair turn. We want to congratulate Tamara on her performance, who definitely made us Prince George’s Proud! Learn more about Tamara and watch her performance here.
IN THE NEWS: Prince George’s County Launches New Marketing Campaign
 Experience Prince George’s continues to work hard to grow our local economy and tourism industry, which will be critical in helping us recover from this pandemic. Their “Social Distance Here” campaign is helping us safely promote Prince George’s County, showcasing some of the many reasons why we are the Crown Jewel of Maryland. Learn more about their work here.
IN THE NEWS: Prince George’s County to Build Six New Schools Through ACF Plan
 The County will build six new schools by 2024 with the passage of the Alternative Construction Finance plan for PGCPS. The new schools include Walker Mill Middle School, Drew-Freeman Middle School, Kenmoor Middle School, Hyattsville Middle School, Adelphi Middle School, and a new southern area K-8 school. Learn more about the plan here.
IN THE NEWS: Prince George’s County Develops New Strangulation Protocols
 Prince George’s County announced new strangulation protocols that will make it easier for prosecutors and other partners to support victims of this life-threatening form of abuse. We are sending a loud and clear message that any form of domestic violence in our County will not be tolerated. Learn more here.
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