Happy Spring!  It's the season to enjoy the cherry blossoms, flowers blooming, birds singing, warm sunshine, more daylight and time to enjoy the outdoors. 

Since our February 27, 2019 Town Hall, I have been appointed on the Conference and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors for 2019 with Council Member At Large Mel Franklin.  I was also appointed as a Board Member for the Economic Development Corporation and the Mental Health Advisory Board for 2019.

I launched the #DrivingItHome initiative on February 15, 2019 with this video: https://youtu.be/26G2YqoYsZA to stress the need for changing our driving culture. Seeing and hearing of multiple accidents and the losses of life that driving choices cause us, I felt compelled to lead an awareness campaign. I realize it is not the roads that cause accidents, it is the drivers. Hearing and seeing so many accidents, this led me to take a stand and introduce #DrivingItHome to raise awareness about the need for a driving culture change.

On March 22, 2019, the official launch of #DrivingItHome began at two District 8 high schools; Friendly High School with 860 students, followed by presenting to 300 seniors at Oxon Hill High School. Prince Georges Fire/EMS Chief Benjamin Barksdale partnered with me, sharing the realism of the first responders’ experiences. I decided to start by addressing our high school students. As new drivers, it's important that they learn habits that assure safe and responsible drivers, passengers and roads.

On March 23-24, we introduced #DrivingItHome by visiting churches, community events and went to the airwaves with an interview on 4 Sisters Network. The weekend launch reached an estimated 10,000 people. 

The initiative has taken wings and has been very well received.  Four days after #DrivingItHome launched, five of Duval High School students were in a car accident with another vehicle. None of them were wearing seat belts. We are grateful that there were no fatalities, however there were injuries. Seat belts make a difference! I was invited by Principal Smith to come and present #DrivingItHome to the Duval High School students. The last two District 8 high schools, Crossland and Potomac, were presented #DrivingItHome by me, PGFD Fire/EMS Chief Barksdale and PGPD Major Nicke Smith. In two weeks after the launch, our outreach campaign connected with approximately 2,500 youth.

Great things happening in D-8! Oxon Hill High School hosted it's 1st Robotics Competition Challenge, "Destination Deep Space".  It was fascinating to watch the best and brightest high school students from D-8 and other parts of Maryland, DC and Virginia prepare for the team competitions.  The creativity, innovation and anticipation was seen and felt as I walked through the school. These five young people had built this car and graced it with a #DrivingItHome bumper sticker. Oxon Hill High School is hoping to make this an annual event!

#TeensTalkBack - I spoke and attended this wonderful event hosted by Jack and Jill, Inc. National Harbor Chapter and Prince George's County Family Justice Center on February 23rd.  #TeensTalkBack was an event for teens and parents to have candid conversations on love, relationships and teen dating violence. I was very impressed by the number and balance of the male and female attendees. Open communication, listening and understanding is key for parents and teens! This event provided excellent exercises for this, hopefully ongoing dialogues continue at home. 

What a great morning I had with D-8 constituents at the South County Round Table Coffee Club and District 4 (Oxon Hill) and District 7 (Fort Washington) Police Departments.  I love the opportunity to meet my constituents, share my ideas and hear what they would like to have in D-8.. 

Black History Month - I was honored to be the Keynote Speaker for the 10th Anniversary of President Barack Obama Inauguration hosted by The Charter Committee to Celebrate President Barack Obama. There was a Community Resource Fair, presentations by our high school students oratorical contest winners and a "Love-in-a-Box donation drive to benefit those in need.

The Department of Environment and I visited homes on March 18 that were being impacted by flooding and sinkhole issues in Temple Hills, Oxon Hills, Forest Heights and Fort Washington. 

I attended and presented at the DPIE Community Partners'  Meeting.  It is a meeting where residents come together  from all Districts to receive information from the different departments and to share issues that have become challenging in their communities.  Through the Transforming Communities sessions I am hosting, I want to build on our relationships so that you and I can become partners in making our communities vibrant and healthy!