Community Engagement - Issue #12

Maps and Places

A screenshot of Indigenous land in what would later become Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia. Photo from https://native-land.ca/

As the Native American Heritage Month closes, it is good to acknowledge that maps tell us stories. Here is what indigenous land may have looked like before indigenous people were removed and carved up for profit. As we have discovered last week, maps are political.

As Indigenous people continued to be remembered through the lens of struggle, it is equally important to acknowledge the ways in which indigenous people in Maryland and beyond continue to find ways to thrive on their lands.

• Read Debra Utacia Krol's article: "Beyond November, Indigenous Communities Honor Culture And Heritage Year-Round."

• "Native Americans Come Together To Protect Their Families During The Pandemic."

• "The Ways Afro-Indigenous People Are Asked To Navigate Their Communities."

Local Politics & Engagement

The School Board Education Task Force has scheduled to virtually meet again on Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m.

County Executive Angela Alsobrooks @CEXAlsobrooks

The Prince George’s County School Board Transformation Task Force will host its next meeting on Wednesday, December 1 at 6:30 PM. Please tune in for an important discussion on the duties, responsibilities, and powers of the Board of Education. https://t.co/GqT6QLzq3G

The task force met in November for their first meeting. You view the first meeting here.

Climate Action

On Nov. 1, Prince George's County's Department of Environment issued a press release saying that they had assembled a climate change action plan (link: t.ly/i6El). Members of the environmental department are asking for community input. Prince George's County residents have three ways to offer input.

• Survey (link: t.ly/yozZ)

• Residents can email comments here: climateaction@co.pg.md.us

• Residents can mail-in responses to this (address): Prince George’s County Department of the Environment Climate Action Plan - ATTN: Mary Abe1801 McCormick Drive, Suite 500 Largo, MD 2077

Local Elections - Political Candidates

The Metropolitan Labor Council AFL-CIO is hosting a forum to discuss "to educate candidates on political and legislative issues the labor movement seeks to address in the coming year and beyond." To attend the meeting, email  dstephen@dclabor.org to receive online registration information. 

Metro Washington Labor Council AFL-CIO @DCLabor

Prince George’s County 2022 Candidates Labor Forum this Wednesday https://t.co/NgfnKIZjsY

Covid 19 Tele-Town Hall Meeting

The Prince George's County Health Department is hosting a meeting on Covid-19, vaccinations, and other topics around the pandemic on Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. Health officials will be taking questions about the vaccine for 5 to 11-year-olds. Participants must fill out this form and then "you will receive two calls: one confirming the time of the call AND a call from us inviting you to join the tele-town hall live on Tuesday, December 7th at 6:00 pm," according to the registration form.

County Executive Angela Alsobrooks @CEXAlsobrooks

To register, or submit questions/concerns, visit: https://t.co/XCfG0Vedah

Again along the lines of Covid-19, the county is hosting vaccinations for children. See Tweet below for information.

County Executive Angela Alsobrooks @CEXAlsobrooks

ICYMI: We are hosting another Kids Vaccination Clinic this Saturday, December 4 from 9 AM to 4 PM at the Sports & Learning Center. There will be games, prizes, music, and more! First and second doses will be available, as well as booster shots for adults. #ProudtoBeProtected https://t.co/1qXx7vk1b8

PGCCouncilMedia @PGCCouncilMedia

CM Dannielle Glaros, D3, in partnership w/ Sowing Empowerment and Economic Development (SEED) presents – Grab & Go Senior Meal Distribution, Mon., Dec. 13th – 1-2:30 p.m., at United Baptist Church, 7701 Riverdale Rd., New Carrollton. See attached flyer for registration details… https://t.co/mmq4hrDbiy

In The News

Photo by Mr Cup / Fabien Barral on Unsplash

Recently, Prince George’s County Council voted to establish a map that redrew the neighborhood boundaries. These new boundaries negatively impact future candidates’ chances for running for council seats. In early September, Bradley Heard, citizen activist and attorney, along with DW wrote about t

Prince George’s County has seen a dramatic rise in the homicide rate in 2021, with more than 100 killings reported so far this year.

The Prince George’s County Council voted unanimously Monday to extend its current COVID-19 restrictions, including the county’s indoor mask mandate, until early 2022.

As grocery stores and restaurants shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of food-insecure Marylanders nearly doubled to more than one million. And the Maryland Food Bank increased its food distribution by 88%, according to a report from the Maryland Food System Resiliency Council which tracked changes from 16 months before the pandemic began, in …

Langley Park is home to thousands of low-income immigrants, some of whom say the rezoning plan could push them out.

Maryland's lawmakers currently earn a yearly salary of $50,330 — but that figure could be increasing soon as the General Assembly Compensation Commission considers whether to raise pay for state legislators over the next four years. That commission, which convenes every four years to decide on lawmakers’ compensation, kicked off its work with an informational …

Progressive Maryland and Maryland Working Families have issued a second round of endorsements in state and local races for the 2022 Democratic primaries. Last week, the groups endorsed attorney Robbie Leonard, who is challenging four-term Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott D. Shellenberger (D) in the June primary. The groups said they plan to continue issuing …

Prince George’s County, Maryland, says the new Right of First Refusal Preservation Fund will help with the availability of affordable housing.