Prince George's Proud:
An Update From County Executive Alsobrooks
Dear Prince Georgians:
Thanks to our vaccination and masking efforts, COVID-19 has slowed in our community. However, we continue to see community transmission of this virus. As we all know, the best way to avoid health complications from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. The more of us that receive the vaccine, the harder it is for COVID-19 to spread in our community. To date our residents have received over 1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine! I want to take a moment to thank the hundreds of thousands of residents who have stepped up and made the decision to get vaccinated, protecting yourselves and your fellow Prince Georgians.
Many of you have heard that the federal government is close to approving vaccines for young children. We are waiting for federal guidance on vaccinations for children ages 5 to 11 years old, and when they are approved to receive the vaccine, we will be ready to provide these children with protection against COVID-19. With more residents getting the vaccine and our case numbers slowly declining, all of our numbers are trending in the right direction. However, we need to drive our COVID-19 infections down further and prepare for another potential surge of the virus this winter.
That’s why yesterday, I announced that we have expanded the current indoor mask mandate to include children ages 2 to 5 years old. Effective immediately, all residents and visitors over the age of 2 are required to wear masks in all indoor public venues and businesses in Prince George’s County. We understand requiring children ages 2 to 5 to wear a mask for extended periods of time may be difficult. In these circumstances, wearing a mask can be prioritized for times where social distancing of six feet or more is difficult.
County Government COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
We have recently been asking County employees to submit information about their vaccination status as we work to finalize our employee vaccination policy. While that process is still ongoing, preliminary data shows that at least 64% of County employees are vaccinated. We are using this data to look at various methods to ensure the safety of our employees and residents, to include periodic testing and incentives for vaccinated employees.
Many of our employees interact with the general public on a daily basis, and we must do all that we can to ensure safe and orderly operation of County agencies and those we serve. One agency that has started testing on a weekly basis, for all employees who aren’t vaccinated, is the County’s Department of Corrections. This is due to the nature of the facility with congregate living. More information will be provided to County employees once vaccination policies have been finalized.
American Rescue Plan Funds
To further aid in our recovery from COVID-19, I am proud to share that under the American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law by President Biden, our County will receive a substantial allocation of grant funding in the amount of $176.6 million. Our County will use these funds to continue to keep our residents healthy as we work to move forward with a more secure financial future.
In addition to these allocations, we are using federal funds to aid our economic recovery from COVID-19 while providing support to residents. This includes funds for affordable housing, a single-family rehab grant program, and infrastructure to address residential flooding. We have also allocated funding to our upcoming behavioral health facility, as well as efforts to further address food insecurity.
Overall, we’ve allocated these funds in a way that puts our County on the best possible footing. These funds will go a long way in securing the financial future of our County, allowing us to make progress for our residents with new programs and initiatives.
Emergency Rental Assistance Program
The U.S. Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) awarded Prince George’s County $84 million to assist residents. So far, we have assisted 4,134 households with $30.8 million in both rental and utility assistance, and our County Government continues to lead the state in distributing these emergency rental assistance funds. We recently implemented additional guidelines released by the U.S. Treasury, aimed at getting assistance to families more quickly.
To ensure we are reaching everyone possible, our Office of Community Relations and Department of Housing and Community Development have collaborated on a comprehensive outreach program across the County. We recently launched a rental assistance hotline where residents can get information about the program, find out their application status if they have already applied, or schedule an appointment with a staff member if they need assistance with completing an application. This hotline is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and can be reached by calling 301-883-6504 and pressing 9.
In addition, we are hosting a number of rental assistance community fairs, where residents can attend to get more information or to receive assistance with completing and submitting an application. Our next in-person community fair is this Saturday, October 9, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Langley Park Community Center. If you have questions about rental assistance or need help with applying, please stop by. We are committed to ensuring every resident who needs this assistance has access to it and can submit an application. To learn more about emergency rental assistance, visit hcd.mypgc.us and click “Emergency Rental Assistance Program.”
Lastly, I want to thank the residents of Prince George’s County for working together during what has been a challenging time. Amid challenges and uncertainty, Prince Georgians have always been able to count on one another. We are well on our way to beating COVID-19, and I thank all of you for your hard work.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George’s County Executive
COVID-19 Vaccine: Third Dose vs. Booster Shot
 It is important to know the difference between a third dose and a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. Check out the graphic above from the County Health Department to learn more. Residents can find out more about eligibility for a third dose or booster shot, as well as find the nearest COVID-19 vaccine clinic, at mypgc.us/COVIDVaccine.
Stand Up & Deliver
 We are continuing to work hard to address food insecurity in our County, and we want to provide information on upcoming distribution locations for our Stand Up & Deliver program.
Friday, October 8 at 12:30 PM (Groceries)
- Victory Grace Center at Port Towns Elementary School – 4351 58th Place, Bladensburg, MD 20710
Saturday, October 9 at 9:00 AM (Groceries)
- First Baptist Church of Highland Park – 6801 Sheriff Road, Landover, MD 20785
Saturday, October 9 at 10:00 AM (Groceries)
- Ebenezer Church of God – 7550 Buchanan Street, Landover Hills, MD 20784
- Kingdom Fellowship at High Point High School – 3601 Powder Mill Road, Beltsville, MD 20705
- Love A.M.E. Church at Capitol Heights Elementary School – 601 Suffolk Avenue, Capitol Heights, MD 20783
Tuesday, October 12 at 10:00 AM (Groceries)
- Glassmanor Elementary School – 1011 Marcy Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD 20745
- Ridgecrest Elementary School – 6120 Riggs Road, Chillum, MD 20783
Thursday, October 14 at 10:00 AM (Groceries)
- Templeton Elementary School – 6001 Carters Lane, Riverdale, MD 20737
Friday, October 15 at 12:30 PM (Groceries)
- Faith Temple No. 2 Free Will Baptist Church – 211 Maryland Park Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20747
Saturday, October 16 at 10:00 AM (Groceries)
- New Home Baptist Church – 8320 Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785
- United Baptist Church – 7701 Riverdale Road, New Carrollton, MD 20784
Sunday, October 17 at 10:00 AM (Groceries)
- Community of Hope AME Church – 3701 Branch Avenue, Temple Hills, MD 20747
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.
Hometown Hero Riverkeeper and CEO of the Patuxent River
 Hometown Hero Fred Tutman found his passion. As a Riverkeeper, he uses enforcement, advocacy, education, and restoration to improve Prince George's County. Learn how you can be a Hometown Hero too by visiting the Patuxent Riverkeeper or Prince George’s County’s Part of It, Proud of It beautification campaign.
PGCLitterTRAK Learning Session
 Before heading out on your next community cleanup, join the Department of the Environment at a learning session for the PGCLitterTRAK app on Tuesday, October 19 at 6:00 PM! This easy-to-use smartphone app can be used by businesses, community groups, and individual citizens to report their litter collection efforts, the amount of trash collected, and collection locations. Information submitted through PGCLitterTRAK, including bags of litter removed, items collected, and litter pick-up locations, will assist the Department of the Environment in meeting their trash reduction rate of 170,628 pounds per year within the Anacostia River Watershed. Register for the training here. For more information, including how to sign up for app access, visit the PGCLitterTRAK website here.
County News For You
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
 October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and across the country, advocates, elected officials, public safety officials, faith-based leaders, providers, concerned citizens and others participate in events or activities that raise awareness about domestic violence. According to the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have experienced domestic violence. Additionally, in 2020, 56 Marylanders lost their lives to domestic violence, including 12 Prince Georgians.
The Department of Family Services, Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Division will host a virtual Mother-Daughter Domestic Violence Awareness Event on Sunday, October 17 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, titled “Girls Talk: Love United – A Queen’s Worth.” This virtual event will encourage dialogue between mothers and daughters surrounding healthy relationships and self-love. All parents, grandparents, mentors, and other influential adult figures are invited to attend with their teen. The event is free, but space is limited and registration is required to receive details for drive-thru supply and resource pick-up, as well as the virtual platform information. To register, click here. For more information, email Natasha Hutton from the Department of Family Services, Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Division at NAHutton@co.pg.md.us.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This annual campaign is a national effort to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. It serves as an opportunity to educate others about the importance of early detection and to show our support in the fight to find a cure.
For more information about breast cancer prevention, education, and research, visit the County Health Department’s website here.
Redevelopment Authority Welcomes New
Board Members
Ms. Alicia Cotton Doney and Ms. Michelle L. Rice were recently sworn in as the newest members of the Redevelopment Authority Board. Ms. Doney brings 30 years of experience in commercial real estate working on Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Federal Housing Administration financing opportunities. Her professional associations include the African American Real Estate Professionals (AAREP), Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND), Women in Housing and Finance, and she is the co-President of Real Estate Network Empowering Women (RENEW). Ms. Michelle L. Rice serves as President of TV One and CLEO TV and has a deep understanding of development and human capital. She is actively involved on boards of various industries, as well as local civic, community and charitable organizations. We are Prince George’s Proud to welcome Ms. Doney and Ms. Rice to the Redevelopment Authority Board.
Board of License Commissioner Sworn In
Mr. Dennis C. Smith has been sworn in as a Commissioner on the Board of License Commissioners. Mr. Smith, a resident of Lanham, has a track record of growing the capacity of small, local, and minority business enterprises. He has experience in local, state, and federal government and previously served as the Mayor of the City of Glenarden from 2013 to 2017. We are Prince George’s Proud to welcome Mr. Smith to the Board of License Commissioners.
Esperanza: A Virtual Panel Discussion
 The Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force is hosting a bilingual (Spanish and English) virtual panel discussion targeting the Latinx community in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month on October 14, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. The national theme for this year is “Esperanza” which means hope, and the event will be centered around transmitting hope by highlighting labor rights within our community. The panelists will answer questions and provide resources regarding organizations and their respective responses to labor rights issues, to include labor trafficking.
The Prince George’s County Human Trafficking Task Force welcomes professionals in the human trafficking field, community organizations, community members, and anyone that is interested in learning more about this important topic to join this discussion! To join, visit zoom.us and enter the Meeting ID: 847 8645 5749 and the passcode: 101421.
Native American Day Waste Schedule
 County Government offices, except for public safety agencies, will be closed on Monday, October 11, in observance of the Native American Day holiday. Regular organics collection (includes food scraps and yard trim) will occur on Monday, October 11. In addition, all regular curbside trash and recycling collection remain on schedule the week of October 11. For more information, visit environment.mypgc.us.
Trash and Recycling Collection Service Changes for Some South County Residents
 Effective the week of September 27, some residents receiving County-contracted trash and recycling collection services in South County received a NEW collection service date. Residents affected by this change should have received a letter in the mail detailing the change in their collection day. If you DID NOT receive a letter, your scheduled trash collection day has not changed. Residents are reminded to place their collection carts curbside by 6:00 AM on collection day. For more information on the new collection changes and to see if your collection service date will change, visit bit.ly/haulerchangepgc.
Save the Date: Re-Entry Resource Fair
 The Prince George’s County Bridge Center at Adam’s House will host a one-stop resource fair on Wednesday, October 13 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM to provide an opportunity for individuals, especially returning citizens, veterans, and transitional-aged youth, to be made aware of and connected to service providers in the community.
The goal of the Bridge Center at Adam’s House is to provide a central and accessible location for Prince George’s County residents to receive an array of integrated services that support and promote a positive and productive life in our communities.
The Bridge Center at Adam’s House offers the following services:
- Anger Management
- Food Assistance
- Job Search & Job Training
- Military Service Benefits
- GED Preparation
- Behavioral Health Counseling
- Free HIV Tests (No Blood/Needles Required)
- and more
For more information about the Bridge Center at Adam’s House, visit their website here.
Prince George’s County Planning Board Schedules Annual Budget Forums
The Prince George’s County Planning Board of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) will hold its last FY23 Budget Forum on Tuesday, October 19 at 7:00 PM. The Forum is being held 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, 2022. Public participation is encouraged either through a phone bridge or by using GoTo Meeting (online video meeting software).
The forums can be viewed live through the Planning Board’s streaming service. A video recording will be available for viewing after the hearing. Individuals or representatives of community organizations who wish to speak at this year’s Budget Forum must register online here, by noon, the Monday before the forum. To register to testify, select a meeting date, complete the form in its entirety, and submit. Following the registration submission, an email will be sent with the GoTo Meeting information by 3:00 PM the Monday before the forum, including the phone number and a web address to connect to the meeting.
To submit documentation as a part of the forum, email information to PublicAffairs@ppd.mncppc.org. Written comments will also be accepted until close of business Tuesday, November 2. 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.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
 The Department of Family Services, Aging and Disabilities Services Division is raising awareness about National Disabilities Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) during the month of October. The purpose of National Disability Employment Awareness Month is to educate the public about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. This years’ National Disability Employment Awareness Month theme, “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion,” reflects the importance of ensuring people with disabilities have full access to employment and community involvement during the nation’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
To celebrate, the Department will be engaging in a variety of activities throughout the month to educate employers in the County on disability employment issues and its commitment to an inclusive work culture, including a virtual hiring event from October 18 to October 22. Through this event, Prince George’s County employers will have an opportunity to share their application processes, available positions and their hiring procedures through a virtual platform with pre-registered persons of differing disabilities. Employers and employees in all industries can learn more about how to participate in National Disability Employment Awareness Month and ways they can promote its messages during October and throughout the year by clicking here.
Creating Resilient Communities:
A Webinar Series
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The Office of Homeland Security/Office of Emergency Management is pleased to present “Creating Resilient Communities: A Webinar Series!” This webinar series will provide residents with information and resources on how best to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disasters within their homes and community. Each webinar is free and open to the entire community.
The next webinar is on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 7:00 PM and will provide residents with the tools and resources needed to recover from any emergency. For more information and to register to attend, visit oem.mypgc.us/CRC.
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DPIE Provides Information to Help Community Leaders and Neighbors Discuss Property Maintenance Requirements
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Are you a homeowners’ association officer interested in offering information about frequent code violations to your members? Are you a resident who wants to help your neighbors figure out which home-improvement projects require permits? Are you an apartment building owner who is concerned that a resident may be putting himself at risk by operating a café out of his unit?
The Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement (DPIE) has information that can assist with these issues. DPIE publishes a number of printable one-pagers with helpful resources that can be shared with members of your community. Visit the DPIE website here to access these documents in both English and Spanish. As the Department works to reduce litter and be more responsible stewards of the environment, DPIE reminds residents to share these resources generously, but print sparingly.
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Protect Yourself and Your Family Against the Flu
 As flu season begins, the County Health Department encourages residents to get their flu shots to protect themselves and their communities. The flu vaccine is now available at most health care providers, retail pharmacies, and urgent care facilities.
Residents can also get flu shots for free and without an appointment at the Health Department’s four community clinics this fall. Injectable flu vaccines will be available to anyone 6 months and older. People younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or a legal guardian. Visit the Health Department website here for more information.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
 The Office of Information Technology’s (OIT) Cybersecurity Office (CSO) kicked off Cybersecurity Awareness Month on Monday, October 4. President Biden designated October as a time for the public and private sectors to work together to continue raising awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and equip the public with the resources they need to be safer and more secure online. Throughout October, the CSO will share tips as well as links to resources to educate you on how you can be more secure at home and in the workplace. Prince George’s County agencies will participate in a phishing challenge to determine who gets bragging rights for being the most vigilant. OIT’s Director, Wanda Gibson, will announce the winning agency at the end of each week. Our ultimate goal for this month is to encourage people to take ownership of their individual cybersecurity and take actionable steps to stay safe online.
This month will be focused on ensuring that we all practice good “cyber hygiene,” utilizing easy and common-sense steps to protect yourself online. We urge everyone to implement these four easy things you can do on your devices:
- Implement multi-factor authentication on your accounts and make it 99% less likely you’ll get hacked.
- Update your software. In fact, turn on automatic updates.
- Think before you click. Over 90% of successful cyberattacks start with a phishing email.
- Use strong passwords, and ideally a password manager to generate and store unique passwords.
The overarching theme of Cybersecurity Awareness Month is “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart,” and the CSO will focus their efforts on the following specific themes throughout the month:
- Week of October 4 (Week 1): Fight the Phish!
- Week of October 11 (Week 2): Don’t be social!
- Week of October 18 (Week 3): Be CyberAware!
- Week of October 25 (Week 4): Secure your password!
2021 Summer Passport Experience Wrap-up
 This summer, the County Executive’s Office launched the Alsobrooks Summer Passport Experience, a new program designed to give our young people even more opportunities to learn, grow and have fun. We want to thank all our Passport Partners who helped ensure over 1,200 participants had an amazing summer experience. We are already looking forward to the 2022 Summer Passport Experience! Check out our recap video of the 2021 program here.
PGCMLS’ Nicholas Brown Wins Library Journal’s 2021 Marketer of the Year Award
 Nicholas Brown of our Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) was recently awarded the Library Journal’s 2021 Marketer of the Year Award! The award recognizes the importance of innovative approaches to marketing of library services, the role of marketing in building library engagement, and the value of quality marketing collateral to help build a vibrant sense of the library and define its relevance in the community. Nicholas serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Communication and Outreach with PGCMLS. We are Prince George’s Proud of Nicholas and the entire PGCMLS team for the many ways they continue to serve Prince Georgians. Check out the article featuring Nicholas and the award here.
Prince George’s County Welcomes
Good Food Markets
Photo courtesy of Anthony Tilghman, Washington Informer
The Addison Plaza Shopping Center in Seat Pleasant recently welcomed Good Food Markets, bringing fresh produce to a food desert. The grocer offers fresh produce to local residents, as well as access to a small café that will host activities and events to promote healthy lifestyles. Check out this article featuring the opening of Good Food Markets.
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