Roundtable Meeting Introduces Several New County And Joint Base Andrews Leaders To Business Community, Addresses County Status Against COVID-19, Public Safety, Education

Welcome To A New Filmmaker, Farewell To PGCC’s President Dukes

By Raoul Dennis

The July 8 meeting of the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable played host to the introduction of a number of new leaders and initiatives to the county’s development and growth.

Founded by M.H. Jim Estepp who serves as president and CEO, the Roundtable is currently chaired by Geoffrey Pohanka of Pohanka Automotive Group.

M.H. Jim Estepp

Geoffrey Pohanka

Keynote speakers included County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, Prince George’s County Schools CEO Dr. Monica Goldson, Interim Police Chief Hector Velez and Filmmaker Jimmy Jenkins (Co-Director of “Basketball County: In the Water,” a documentary that aired nationally on SHOWTIME and introduced the nation to the history and culture of basketball greats from Prince George’s over the last six decades.

Each introduced new measures reflective of shifts in term, executive-level personnel or due to COVID-19.

New leadership at Andrews AFB includes Col. Tyler Schaff, new commander of the 316th Wing (formerly the 11th Wing) and Col. Steve Snelson, new commander of the 89th Airlift Wing at the base, Presidential Wing.

The commanders, who have worked together prior to their new mission in Maryland, each expressed commitment to deepening the relationship between the base and the community in the years to come.

Alsobrooks

Cardin

Brown

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Congressman Anthony Brown (D-MD, 4th District) briefly joined the meeting and shared congressional updates. Brown announced four pieces of legislation including the Heroes Act which will serve as another set of stimulus for Americans in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic (click audiobar above to hear “Rep. Brown and Sen. Cardin At Roundtable”).

Cardin addressed the current national demand for schools to fully open this fall.

“We need to know where we stand with COVID-19 before opening our schools this fall,” the senator said assertively of the growing controversy.

The county executive’s announcements regarding the Prince George’s Forward Task Force, the committee the Alsobrooks Administration formed to lead the county back from the disruptions of COVID-19, picked up from the progress the county has made since the epidemic struck in March. “We are getting expert advice in making sure that we get the best recommendations on how to move Prince George’s forward,” she said. Click audiobar below “CE Alsobrooks Discusses County Progress,” to hear Alsobrooks’ full remarks.

“We have a 65% decline in our positivity rate,” Alsobrooks said of the decline of Coronavirus in Prince George’s. “Our residents did adhere to the requirements [that we have asked of them],” she said. (Click here to see the Alsobrooks July 9 press conference, COVID 19 Update And Recovery regarding the county’s continued but cautious success with Phase 2 of the Maryland reopening plan)

With the exception of one project, all others are on pace for completion on time.

The county executive listed a few business developments that are moving forward.

*The Branch Avenue U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services Building (3,000 jobs)

*The new Regional Hospital in Largo, MD

*WAMATA Headquarters in New Carrollton

*Two new developments by The Gilbane Company

*Partnership with Amazon (Two delivery stations in Prince George’s)

The county’s chief elected official gave a nod to the Stand Up & Deliver grocery program and to the $150 million in renter’s relief aid—all in response to defeating the negative impact of COVID-19 on the county.

“We will not just defeat COVID-19, we plan to come out better on the other side than when we went in,” Alsobrooks said. “We will be better than we were.”

Schools And Safety

Prince George’s County Schools CEO Dr. Monica Goldson reported that some 60,000 laptops, 500,000 meals, Internet access and tech support were provided to families of public school students during the height of the pandemic and thanked members of the Roundtable who participated and contributed in those efforts.

Goldson provided an update regarding the developing plan for schools reopening. “We have 80 people working on a recovery plan based on where we are. We are looking at three different models for return this fall. Obviously, full return is not an option at this time,” she reported. The school system has conducted a survey of parents and staff in recent weeks questioning the reopening. See “What Will The Fall Bring For County Schools?” for full story by clicking here and listen to Dr. Goldson’s update by clicking“Dr. Monica Goldson On Schools Reopen And More” audiobar.

The Prince George’s County Police Department, now led by Acting Police Chief Hector Velez is managing a decrease in the recent spike in crime as the department undergoes a transitory phase.

Acting Chief of Police Hector Velez PHOTO: RAOUL DENNIS // PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE & MEDIA

“I thank County Executive Angela Alsobrooks for giving me the opportunity and trusting me to lead the men and women of the Prince George’s County Police Department during these difficult times,” Velez began. “I’m very optimistic,” he said of the rounds that he has been making to various stations in the department.

“We do a good job of collecting crime data. What I would like to see is for us to begin collecting data within the department as well,” Velez explained.

The acting chief reported that the police reform panel established by the Alsobrooks Administration is creating better avenues for the department. “We are excited about that because it gives us an opportunity to see things from a different perspective. It only makes us better,” he said crediting Public Safety Chief Mark Magaw for the phrasing.

Prince George’s Community College President Dr. Charlene Dukes

Roundtable leaders recognized outgoing Prince George‘s County President Dr. Charlene Dukes. Orlando Odicio, graduating Class of 2020, presented an award to the nationally recognized educator on behalf of the Roundtable’s Appreciation Ceremony.

“Ever since the pandemic started, Dr. Dukes hosted daily announcements for the students and faculty to inform them of every step the college was taking to ensure our safety and the successful completion of the school semester,” Odicio said as he presented the award. “I would like to thank you Dr. Dukes on behalf of the Class of 2020 for making us feel that we belong to a family rather than just an educational institution. Personally, I would like you to know that you have inspired me to not only make a living but to also make a difference.”

Dr. Dukes thanked Estepp, the board and Odicio.

“It has been an emotional time for me,” she began before specifically thanking Congressman Brown for leading in the effort to bring Dukes to Prince George’s from Pittsburgh years ago. Dukes’ own humble beginnings as a youth with eight siblings connect her with the thousands of students she aided in gaining an education during her watch. “I feel as though I embody the lives of the 40,000 students we serve today. I hope I have given half as much to Prince George’s County as Prince George’s County has given to me.”

Showtime In Prince George’s

Filmmaker Jimmy Jenkins discussed his interest in creating a film documentary that did more than merely remind the world how much the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area contributed to the growth and success of basketball. He wanted to create a film that would also introduce the world to Prince George’s County, Maryland.

“It wasn’t up to me,” Jenkins said of the shortened length of the film “Basketball County: In The Water” that rose to become one of the summer’s highest rated sports documentaries on the cable network. “I wanted to tell a much larger story with regard to Prince George’s County when we started. There was a much wider cast net. But as we got to SHOWTIME we had to confine it to a certain amount of time. We had to take a lot out which really hurt my heart.”

The young director said he wanted to weave in more of the county history and culture but that the network wanted to keep the focus closer to sports.

“Prince George’s County is much bigger than basketball but it’s a little tough when you have [a] 27 year old director coming in to work on a SHOWTIME project: [they] don’t listen to a lot of the things you say. But I learned and it was the first time for me on this platform.”

The son of renowned Pastor John Jenkins, who leads the largest church in Maryland, First Baptist Church of Glenarden, has his eyes – and lens – set for higher goals.

“There are a plethora of stories about Prince George’s that need to be told,” Jenkins said. “I think it’s one of the most unique counties in the nation. I’ve been through nearly all 50 states and I haven’t found anything like Prince George’s yet.”

Jenkins seeks to work with different groups in the county to develop future projects that will tell the county story. He’s not new to this. Jenkins’ film Sinners Wanted (click here to learn more about one of his first successful films which, gaining 2.7 million viewers, also centered on the Washington, D.C. metro area).

He also plans to work with the Prince George’s County Public Schools to make filmmaking education more available to future generations of filmmakers.