New Published Story/ Community News/ Legislation
New Published Story/ Community News/ Legislation
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Hey all, The Intersection Magazine has published some new content in the National News section. This comes from Black Iowa News, a publication that covers Black people in Iowa. You can read it here: “ENDANGERED: Racism In Maternity Care.”
Excerpt: In the sixth-whitest state, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, a Republican, and the Republican-led legislature have worked to ban abortions after six weeks, and the legislature opted not to extend Medicaid’s postpartum coverage period. It’s in this environment that Bailey is fighting to prevent Black birthing people from dying preventable deaths and sustaining childbirth complications.
Iowa’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee studies maternal deaths and develops preventative strategies. Nurse Stephanie Trusty is the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services project coordinator for the state committee. She said the 12-member committee previously met once every three years but has ramped up its meetings and will meet three times this year, in part, because of an increased number of maternal deaths.
Iowa “has such a horrible disparity for Black women,” but other groups are “going in the wrong direction,” Trusty said.
Why Did You Publish this article?
As the editor of The Intersection Magazine, I am often interested in reporting that “intersects” with our content. As you may know, I reported a story about birthing advocate, doula, and Prince George’s County resident Tamoyia Ragsdale-Hashim, CEO of Rise and Birth Postpartum organization. The experience is, in part, about her negative birthing experience, her practice, and policy that can help Black women. I thought it would be a nice addition to our reporting.
You can read that article here: One Woman's Journey To Help Women Post-Pregnancy
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It appears that the Prince George’s County Basic Income Initiative, sponsored by local activists, has been green-lit. Based upon PG Changemakers X (formerly Twitter) handle, the organization will be informing residents about the application process. As you may recall, I interviewed Janna Parker, deputy executive director of PG Changemakers, about the importance of a basic income program, and its connection to poverty in the county.
You can read the Question and Answer article here.
Community Meetings
Life After Release Free Expungement Clinic Every 1st Saturday of the month
Life After Release will hold an expungement clinic Saturday, September 2nd, 2023 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The clinic will take place at Creative Suitland located at 4719 Silver Hill Road Suitland, Maryland 20746.
The criminal records expungement clinic is a chance for members of the community to meet with an attorney to have their criminal records expunged. The goal is to have a petition for expungement drawn up after meeting with an attorney.
This event has been successful in the past, and we’re looking forward to this one. It provides the opportunity for people to walk away on the road to having certain criminal charges off their record. The only requirement is that these be Maryland residence, with the tenacity to see the process through. There might be further qualifications to have a record expunged, but that is what the attorneys are there to assist people in determining.
YOU MUST BE REGISTERED TO RECEIVE SERVICES!
If you are a member of the media and have questions about this, please contact Life After Release at 240.200.4472 or lifeafterreleasemd@gmail.com.
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Listening Sessions for the Disabilites Community
Join Us! The Prince George’s County Commission for Individuals with Disabilities wants to hear from residents
regarding the accessibility of services for persons having disabilities. To register, click here. The Listening Sessions are both in-person and virtual. In-person location: Laurel-Beltsville Senior Center, 7120 Contee Road, Laurel, MD 20707
To attend virtually, click here at the start of the event. Meeting ID: 894 2152 9005 | Passcode: 828215
2023 Listening Session Flyer II.pdf
Date: November 6, 2023
Times: 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Door time: November 6, 2023
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Safe Sanctuaries Interfaith Symposium
The Department of Family Service is hosting a Safe Sanctuaries, Interfaith Symposium at the Comfort Inn Conference Center located at 4500 Crain Highway, in Bowie, MD, on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. The purpose of the Interfaith Symposium is to share tips and resources with Clergy and Faith Leaders on how to recognize the red flags of domestic violence. Topics will include: The Faith-Based Community's Role and How to Support, Prevent and Intervene; and Faith Institutions - Safety, Security and Awareness. To register and for more information, click here.
Date: November 7, 2023
Times: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
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Redevelopment Authority November Board Meeting
Redevelopment Authority in-person Board Meeting (11/07/2023) will be taking place on the 2nd floor conference room located in building: 9200 Basil Court Largo, MD 20774. Please contact Lakeisha Smith via email @ ldsmith@co.pg.md.us for login zoom details.
Date: November 7, 2023
Times: 9:00am 11:00am
Door time: November 7, 2023
Location: Redevelopment Authority 9200 Basil Court
Suite 504 Largo, MD 20774 United States
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November 8, 2023, Board of Registration for Building Contractors Meeting
Date: November 8, 2023
Times: 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
(Register Info) November 8, 2023 Board of Registration for Building Contractors - Meeting Agenda.pdf
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District 9 Shred, Bulk Trash, Community Clean Up, and Voter Registration Day
Residents are invited to join Prince George's County Council Member Sydney Harrison, in partnership with with Clinton Baptist Church, Prince George's County Department of Environment, Prince George's County Department of Public Works and Transportation, Alpha Alpha Sigma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Priority Shred for the Council District 9 Shred, Bulk Trash, Community Clean Up, and Voter Registration Day.
DATE: Saturday, November 4, 2023
9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
LOCATION: Clinton Baptist Church
8701 Woodyard Road, Clinton, MD 20735
Legislation
Security cameras to be required at many Prince George’s Co. apartments
Excerpt: A Prince George’s County, Maryland, council vote requiring some dwelling units to install cameras in areas of the property has drawn some complaints and criticisms.
The council voted overwhelmingly to require senior living centers and apartment complexes with more than 100 units to install security cameras in parking lots and at building entrances, as well as any other common areas, including playgrounds.
PGC News
(Video) ‘Greater reliability': Changes coming to Prince George's County bus system
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Parents share renewed push to keep Prince George's County elementary school open
Excerpt: BOWIE, Md. (7News) — Pointer Ridge Elementary School in Bowie, Maryland is scheduled to close in 2024, but parents say the school system’s decision may be based on an inaccurate analysis.
Now, they are pushing to keep the school open.
“We feel that the school is not taking our requests into consideration and taking it seriously,” said Darius Hyman, Pointer Ridge Elementary School PTA President.
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Attorney General, Public Defenders Announce Historic Collaboration
Excerpt: Bowie State University’s James E. Proctor Building was the site of a historic press conference on Oct 25 to announce the Maryland Equitable Justice Collaborative, the first-ever collaborative effort between the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) and the Attorney General (AG). The goal of the collaborative is to address mass incarceration in Maryland through legislative changes, resource allocation and fostering dialogue among collaborators.
“I’ve been in public service for about 25 years, 40 if you include military service. I’ve had the honor of working on some initiatives to change lives, improve lives, and even save lives. Today, this launch and announcement represents the most impactful initiative I’ve ever worked on to change the lives of Marylanders,” said Attorney General Anthony Brown (D).
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How two-dozen Prince George’s County schools drastically improved English test scores
Excerpt: As a way to boost her students’ vocabulary, LaTanya Sothern introduced a “word bank graveyard” at Excel Academy Public Charter School. It’s a figurative cemetery where basic words like “good,” “bad” and “nice” are laid to rest and replaced with multisyllabic words like “excellent,” “fabulous” and “incomparable.”
It’s one of the methods the Prince George’s County principal says contributed to her school’s huge improvement in English Language Arts achievement since the pandemic. Back in 2019, only 14% of Excel Academy’s students were proficient on the state’s English test. This spring, 45% passed the test, approaching the statewide pass rate of 47%.
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Montgomery and Prince George’s school enrollment lags pre-pandemic total
Excerpt: Maryland’s two largest school systems both have about 3 percent fewer students this fall than they did before the coronavirus pandemic, according to enrollment data made public this week.
Montgomery County Public Schools counted 160,770 students on Sept. 30. That was almost unchanged from last year’s total and about 4,500 fewer than the enrollment in fall 2019.
War
Excerpt: This October just marked the five-year anniversary of the worst antisemitic attack ever committed in the United States: the eleven worshipers at Tree of Life – Or L’Simcha in Pittsburgh, who were murdered by a gunman who espoused conspiracy theories that blamed Jews for the arrival of Central American migrants, and in so doing, dehumanized both groups. We reject antisemitism in all its forms, including when it masquerades as criticism of Zionism or Israel’s policies. We also recognize that, as journalist Peter Beinart wrote in 2019, “Anti-Zionism is not inherently antisemitic—and claiming it is uses Jewish suffering to erase Palestinian experience.”
We find this rhetorical tactic antithetical to Jewish values, which teach us to repair the world, question authority, and champion the oppressed over the oppressor.
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Excerpt: Two Israeli proposals to move Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip and into Egypt have stoked fears of a second Nakba, as the Israeli military pummels the coastal enclave with air strikes.
Since the 7 October Hamas-led attack on Israeli communities near Gaza, which killed around 1,400 people, mainly civilians, anti-Palestinian rhetoric and sentiment has been at an all-time high.
Israel has responded by waging a relentless bombing campaign on Gaza, warning everyone in the coastal enclave's north to move south towards the Egyptian border.
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Israel-Palestine war: More than 9,000 dead in Gaza as Netanyahu vows 'nothing will stop us'
Excerpt: More than 9,000 people have been killed by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip, according to the enclave's health ministry, as Israel's prime minister warned on Thursday "nothing will stop us".
Air strikes destroyed another Palestinian residential block on Thursday, this time in the crowded Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.
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House approves GOP’s $14.3 billion Israel aid package
Excerpt: House Republicans on Thursday approved a $14.3 billion aid package for Israel, setting the stage for a fierce showdown with Democrats in the Senate and White House who have savaged the GOP bill for excluding Ukraine funds and cutting IRS coffers.
The 226-196 vote fell almost entirely along party lines, with 12 Democrats joining all but two Republicans to move the bill through the lower chamber.
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A record 6.9 million people have been displaced in Congo’s growing conflict, the U.N. says
Excerpt: A record 6.9 million people have been displaced by conflict across Congo, the United Nations migration agency said, making it one of the world’s largest displacement and humanitarian crises.
The decadeslong conflict has been the primary reason for displacement, the International Organization for Migration said Monday in a report based on data from Congo’s 26 provinces.
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(photo essay) Hostages Held by Hamas: The Names of Those Abducted From Israel: * Hamas has freed at least 5 hostages*
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Amid Gaza's devastation, Israel wages another war in the West Bank
Excerpt: On 20 October, the Israeli military evicted prominent Palestinian activist, Issa Amro, from his home in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron after he hosted an Israeli activist and Australian journalist.
“They didn't like that I'm writing against the war on Gaza and doing videos [on social media] so they punished me,” Amro told The New Arab, mentioning that soldiers turned his yard into an army outpost.
Prior to the eviction, Amro said he was detained and beaten by Israeli forces for ten hours on 7 October, the day of the Hamas incursion.
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(photo essay) Israel's Dead: The Names of Those Killed in Hamas Attacks, Massacres and the Israel-Hamas War