40 Leading Moments In Prince George’s County

Compiled By The Prince George’s Suite Editorial Board

The following list of events and moments is in no particular order or arrangement but they are a number of the most profound times of the year. We don’t suggest that these are all of the defining events, people and moments in the year but they reflect the spirit and direction of all those that may not be mentioned. To that end, it has been an amazing year of progress and accomplishment, of firsts and traditions, of simple neighborly unity and monumental developments.

1. The Government Shut Down challenged residents of the Washington, DC region significantly. County leaders and the new Alsobrooks Administration stood in unity and brought solutions. http://www.pgsuite.com/notes/2019/1/11/weve-got-your-back

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2. The Government Shut Down and Small Business http://www.pgsuite.com/business/2019/1/22/the-shutdown-and-small-business

3. Responding to the Government Shut Down Crisis: Coming Together http://www.pgsuite.com/trends/2019/1/8/coming-together and An Army Of Compassion http://www.pgsuite.com/trends/2019/1/22/an-army-of-compassion

4. A new emphasis on youth employment that gives rise to a new model: Increased funding to $7 million for SYEP. http://www.pgsuite.com/trends/2019/6/19/the-boys-and-girls-of-summer

5. The implications of becoming Maryland Speaker of the House would have had considerable long term possibilities for Prince George’s. Prince George’s Delegate Dereck Davis: “Why I Stood Down” http://www.pgsuite.com/notes/2019/7/15/davis-why-i-stood-down

6. Focus on fatalities: Making roads safer with #DrivingItHome (see “Changing Lanes”) http://www.pgsuite.com/trends/2019/4/9/changing-lanes and Vison Zero (see “Saving Lives”) http://www.pgsuite.com/notes/2019/7/25/saving-lives

7. Amazon Says: No Deal. The global corporation backed out on building a fulfillment center in the Westphalia Towne Center development. County Executive Angela Alsobrooks responded. http://www.pgsuite.com/notes/2019/8/23/no-deal

8. Jobs // Prince George’s leading the state in job growth. The county continues to lead the State of Maryland in job growth for the last five years, adding 21,236 jobs in that period.

9. Budget // Passed $4.2 billion FY2020 budget that included key investments in priority areas: education, public safety and modernizing government. http://www.pgsuite.com/notes/2019/3/18/capital-plans

10. Education // A Win For the County: Prince George’s County Secures $1.5 Billion During Maryland General Assembly Prince George’s County Secures $1.5 Billion During Maryland General Assembly

11. Health // Expanding Hope: $34 Million Expansion Of Emergency Room Facilities At MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center http://www.pgsuite.com/notes/2019/9/17/expanding-hope

12. Word Up: Prince George’s Opens Office of Poet Laureate and Names Its First Poet Laureate: Sistah Joy http://www.pgsuite.com/culture-arts/2018/9/28/word-up

13. Film // “Dr. C” documentary on the making of Southern Maryland Hospital earns several regional awards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XbA62VFWuE

14. Veterans // Help and Support for Those Who Have Served and Protected: County Starts New Veterans Affairs Office http://www.pgsuite.com/trends/2019/5/9/to-those-who-serve-and-protect?rq=Dula

15. Education // Goldson Takes The Reins: Dr. Monica Goldson Becomes First Woman From Prince George’s County To Lead School System http://www.pgsuite.com/people/2018/9/16/an-educated-best?rq=Monica%20Goldson

16. Leading The County’s Bravest: Fire Chief Tiffany Green became the first woman to head the Prince George’s County Fire Department when she was named chief of the department of first responders.

17. Politics // The Question of Our Times. State leaders wrestle with the issue of impeachment and how it would impact voters – and democracy. House Majority Leader, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer and Maryland State Senator Ben L. Cardin http://www.pgsuite.com/trends/2019/10/21/the-question-of-our-times and https://youtu.be/xDtC4yXOaHw

18. Politics: Maryland Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller stepped down but not before cementing a legacy. https://youtu.be/nFPiCOGJ8Mc

19. 9/11 A Generation Ago. The Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable and the Fraternal Order of Police teamed to offer a special commemoration. http://www.pgsuite.com/notes/2019/9/16/that-kind-of-heroism

20. Roll On, Roll Free But Remember: A New Tradition in Support of Vets Starts in Prince George’s http://www.pgsuite.com/partiessocial/2019/4/8/roll-free-roll-on-but-remember?rq=Fire%20Department

21. Groundbreaking // Bowie State University’s New Living Learning Center http://www.pgsuite.com/business/2019/10/16/big-business-at-bowie-state-university

22. Groundbreaking // Bishop McNamara High School’s New La Reine Science & Innovation Center http://www.pgsuite.com/notes/2019/12/13/an-educational-game-changer

23. Now Playing: Prince George’s Community College’s new Center for Performing Arts Opens

24. Ten Years And Flowing: Lake Arbor Jazz Festival Reaches Legacy Setting Anniversary http://www.pgsuite.com/culture-arts/2019/6/10/smooth-jazz-ten-years-and-flowing

25. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s 60th anniversary celebrated with the Prince George’s Philharmonic Classical Goddard at The Clarice http://www.pgsuite.com/culture-arts/2019/5/13/goddard-at-the-clarice-1 and Heavenly Holst http://www.pgsuite.com/culture-arts/2019/5/19/heavenly-holst

26. Power Source: for 25 Years, The Training Source has helped thousands of Prince Georgians get back into the workforce. http://www.pgsuite.com/partiessocial/2018/11/9/power-source . In addition to the organization’s 25th anniversary in 2019, Training Source Founder and President Kim Rhim also recognized with the 2019 Non-Profit Leader of the Year award by The Greater Washington Community Foundation. http://www.pgsuite.com/notes/2019/10/28/excellence-awarded?rq=Kim%20Rhim

27. Arts // Gateway Arts District Open Studio Tour. In May, the Gateway Arts District hosted its 15th Annual Open Studio Tour (OST). Over 250 artists from over 100 studios opened their studio doors so that guests could admire their art and learn more about the process that goes into creating sensational work. Hundreds of guests took part in the self-guided tour that spanned the City of Mount Rainier, Town of Brentwood, Town of North Brentwood, and City of Hyattsville. http://www.pgsuite.com/culture-arts/2019/5/14/walking-along-an-arts-world

28. Business // Family Driven: County-based Pohanka Automotive Reaches 100 Year mark http://www.pgsuite.com/people/2019/12/22/not-just-sales-but-service-to-the-community

29. Savor The Experience: County’s First Food Hall Opens http://www.pgsuite.com/trends/2019/10/27/savor-the-tastes-savor-the-experience

30. High Praise: County Gospel Choir Reaches Finals Level At Xfinity 1 Voice Regional Gospel Showcase http://www.pgsuite.com/notes/2019/9/30/high-praise

31. Bowie State University Bulldogs Football Team Win CIAA Championship For Second Consecutive Year http://www.pgsuite.com/notes/2019/11/18/the-second-time-around

32. The Stand To End Domestic Violence Prince George’s County Council $500,000 in 2020 county budget to support domestic violence programs. http://www.pgsuite.com/trends/2019/8/21/a-500000-blow-to-domestic-violence

33. A National Model: A Masters In Marijuana: The University Of Maryland School Of Pharmacy launched a new Master of Science (MS) in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to support patients and the medical cannabis industry, add to existing research in the field, and develop well-informed medical cannabis policy. http://www.pgsuite.com/trends/2019/6/28/a-masters-degree-in-marijuana

34. Abolitionists To Stand In Maryland State House: Frederick Douglass and Harriett Tubman http://www.pgsuite.com/culture-arts/2019/2/3/abolitionists-to-stand-in-maryland-state-house (*Although this is not a Prince George’s County occurrence, the editors determined that the historic value of the announcement merited mention)

35. Prince George’s County Government: Better, stronger, more efficient. County government becomes more capable in performance and service. Regional and national agencies have begun to recognize it. Here’s an example. http://www.pgsuite.com/notes/2019/7/18/what-happens-in-vegas-comes-home-to-prince-georges?rq=Las%20Vegas

36. High School Champions // The Pumas varsity football team at Wise High School won the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) 4A State Championship Dec. 6.

37. Back To Life, Back to Reality: Returning citizens get an opportunity to clear records where possible thanks to cooperative efforts between First Baptist Church of Glenarden and dozens of others in social, political, business and health communities http://www.pgsuite.com/trends/2019/7/28/reset

38. First Baptist Church of Glenarden continued to give back to the community through numerous efforts including a car giveaway to worthy families. From the moment First Baptist Church of Glenarden Pastor John K. Jenkins and Sterling Motorcars Community C.A.R.E. Brand Manager Felix Bighem announced that April Lanier and her family should accompany them outside to see her new car, Lanier began crying with joy. http://www.pgsuite.com/notes/2019/4/26/faith-driven

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39. Driven To Help Neighbors: “We need the community again to come forward and replenish [our food warehouse],” said County Executive Angela Alsobrooks as she placed canned goods and other foods in boxes to the county-wide food drive that launched Nov. 4. The county depleted its food supplies during the government shut down in January. “It was so heartbreaking for us to watch lines of people who came out because they needed this food,” she says. “So we want to be able to replenish it. Our warehouse is completely empty.” http://www.pgsuite.com/notes/2019/11/3/ce-takes-the-wheel

40. Mobile Meals Coming To Downtown Prince George’s: County Council Approves Food Truck Hub For Bustling Areas “The presence of food trucks downtown will encourage residents, visitors, and employees to stay in the downtown area to get food, and hopefully take the time to shop and patronize some of the other wonderful small businesses that Upper Marlboro has to offer,” said Mayor Wanda Leonard. http://www.pgsuite.com/notes/2019/10/16/mobile-meals-coming-to-downtown-prince-georges