Prince George's Suite Summer/Fall 2017

Suite Prince George’s

A New View Of Prince George’s County, Md.

Summer/Fall 2017

www.pgsuite.com

A New Day At The Mall

$4.95

Big Fall Fun Saving Women Fall Fashion

Also: MedStar’s Move, George Fraser Does It Again, FBCG’s 100th Anniversary Homecoming Reunion Cookout, New School Bus Sched App, $25,000 in Student Scholarships, Why Kevin Durant’s Future Is Bigger Than Basketball, Making The Big $29 Million Play: Liberty Sports Park, Live Poetry in Prince George’s, The 2018 Campaign Season: A Storm Of New Candidates, Profiles: Angela Alsobrooks, Mary Lehman, Phil Down and much more!

SUMMER/FALL 2017

www.pgsuite.com

PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

SUMMER/FALL 2017

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Suite Prince George’s

A Great View Of Prince George’s County, Maryland

SUMMER/FALL 2017 Raoul Dennis Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Maria Lopez-Bernstein Assoc. Publisher D. A. Phillips Assoc. Publisher

Raoul Dennis, Maria Lopez-Bernstein Advertising Frank Dexter Brown Olive Vassell Editors At Large Marc Hopkins Managing Editor Maria Lopez-Bernstein Calendar/Events Editor, Webmaster Maria Lopez-Bernstein Online Content Editor Raoul Dennis Art Director/Page Design Brian Young Design Consultant Amir Stoudamire New Media/Internships Writers D.A. Phillips, Maria Lopez-Bernstein, Tiffany Ellis Hudson, Sheyvonne Ramsey, Mirchaye Silhalu Photographers John W. Body, Jr., Raoul Dennis, Amir Stoudamire Consultants Mildred B. Dennis Ed Brown

Cover: “A New Day At The Mall Of Prince Georges” Designed By Daniel Lopez

Prince George’s Suite magazine is published six times per year by RADENN MEDIA GROUP, LLC, P.O. Box 1066, Oxon Hill, MD 20750. 240/273-3248. Subscription rates: $20/year in the United States and all its possessions. Single copies $4.95, plus $1.50 shipping and handling. Periodicals postage paid at Oxon Hill, MD 20750, and at additional mailing offices. All editorial and advertising correspondence should be addressed to RADENN MEDIA GROUP, LLC, P.O. Box 1066, Oxon Hill, MD 20750 or [e-mail: editor@pgsuite.com for Prince George’s Suite magazine]. website: www.pgsuite.com. All contents © 2017 by RADENN MEDIA GROUP, LLC. All rights reserved. ISSN No. 1941-6024. All advertising inquiries should be directed toward advertising@pgsuite.com or call 240/273-3248. Nothing in this publication can be reproduced in any manner without specific written permission of the publisher. Prince George’s Suite magazine and the RADENN MEDIA GROUP, LLC will consider but assume no responsibility for unsolicited materials; these require return postage. Postmaster: Please send address changes to Subscription Department, RADENN MEDIA GROUP, LLC, P.O. Box 1066, Oxon Hill, MD 20750. Printed in the USA

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SUMMER/FALL 2017

PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

OutlookOutlookOutlook Playing, Shopping and Leadership One thing that many can truly begin to appreciate when things are unstable and the winds of change are all around is a solid foundation of leadership.

It’s leadership that finds a center of gravity when everything is seemingly out of control. It’s that grounded foundation that comes through in the best of us that serves so many in uncertain times. We don’t always know where our best leaders will come from, but they emerge and they help turn the tide in times of crisis and challenge.

The Suite traditionally presents an introduction to new and veteran leaders from all walks of life and industry. This edition is no different.

Take a read of our spotlight on new Bowie State University President Aminta Breaux, who began her tenure to lead the historic academic institution in July. We feature County Council member Mary Lehman, whose background is in journalism but with family roots in activism. Doctors Community Hospital President Phil Down hails from Boston, but chose – against the odds – to commit his professional life to deliver better health care for county residents.

State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks’ recent announcement to run for county executive derives from her extensive, results-driven ethos to make Prince George’s a safer place to live, work and play.

And, we recognize Seat Pleasant’s own Kevin Durant. Durant is one of those special young men who gives hope to our future because he stands on the family and community lessons he learned years ago. While so many others achieve success and take selfies in front of their high-priced vehicles, KD chooses to send a different message to the kids who look up to him: come home, give back.

These individuals are extraordinary examples of great leadership – in good times and bad. We encourage you to let these pages provide a window into who PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

these people are, and how they evolved into the luminaries we have come to admire.

Our cover story is a glimpse into the extraordinary as well.

MPG – formerly the Mall at Prince George’s – has invested $30 million in upgrades and rebranding for the complex. This move represents a wonderful addition to the great economic growth happening in Hyattsville. New stores such as Flight 23, ULTA, and White Barn are already drawing celebrity attention to the mall. And existing stores such as Victoria’s Secret and Macy’s are expanding their presence with hot, new stores like PINK and Macy’s Backstage. MPG is turning the corner to be the destination shopping center of the future in the area. It will allow local consumers to enjoy high-end brands within the county. This is long overdue and we applaud MPG’s General Manager Henry Watford and Marketing Director Victoria Clark who have been longstanding vision-centered professionals and leaders in the Hyattsville community.

We will never be accused of not providing access to a little fun, too. We hope that you make the most of enjoying yourself around Prince George’s and this edition has great vistas to those spaces. Enjoy!

SUMMER/FALL 2017

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Who’s Really In The Suite?

Prince George’s Suite is a lifestyle magazine. It’s currently direct mailed to the homes and businesses of high-income residents, business and civic leaders as well as arts, culture, development and entertainment managers in and around Prince George’s County. Subscribe via e-mail: subscribe@pgsuite.com. The Suite is at select locations listed at www.pgsuite.com.

PGS Magazine readers are: Homeowners within the county (30% are also working on investment homes).

Top and middle managers of local, regional and federal offices and departments with a minimum of 10 employees in their charge.

Leaders. Nearly 75% of Prince George’s Suite’s direct mail list consists of county business, community and civic leaders. They are key voices in shaping the direction of Prince George’s County.

Reaching Beyond The County: The Suite is also now direct mailed to specific leaders in the District, Northern Virginia and Baltimore. Outside the metropolitan region, it’s shared via direct mail with specific industry leaders in travel, tourism, entertainment, relocation and development in Atlanta, GA., Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD., Philadelphia, PA., and New York, N.Y. This is done in an effort to introduce more business and travel decision makers to the living and travel opportunities in Prince George’s County.

Every Month

Suite Readers Average age: 38 Women: 52% Men: 48%

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PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

He Did It Again...Better

MedStar’s Move Up

News

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center Named in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals 2017 MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center has been recognized in the most recent Best Hospitals issue of U.S. News & World Report. “We’re so proud of our mention in the 2017 Best Hospitals Edition of U.S. News & World Report,” said MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center President Christine Wray. “We appreciate the special recognition of urology, COPD procedures, and heart failure procedures, as we have worked hard to develop these programs in Southern Maryland.”

Dr. George Fraser led the second Power Networking Conference in Prince George’s in June.

The turnout, larger than in 2016, has attracted greater national celebs. 2018 is already selling.

powernetworkingconference.com/

The Ed Awards Ed Brown Show Awards Prince George’s Suite Mag & Media It’s not enough for Ed Brown, 87, to enjoy his own success. The career journalist and longtime community activist’s cable t.v. show has earned six Bowie Community TV Awards in 15 years broadcasting from the Bowie Municipal Hall in Bowie, Md (channel 11 and 17 in Bowie and CTV’s channel 42). This year he decided to bring a few others into the sunlight with him by recognizing nearly 12 people and companies across the region whose work and impact has been beneficial to the county. Prince George’s Suite Magazine & Media received an outstanding achievement award from the show. Thanks, Ed. How Suite it is.

Write On, Read Strong

Is The Bus Coming Yet? PGCPS’ New App Will Give Up-To-Date Info on School Bus Routes And More The Prince George’s County Public School System has a new app for parents this fall aimed at helping them to be in synch with bus routes, schedules, homework and even school lunch balances.

“This school year, if you want to know when the bus will arrive, there’s an app for that,” says Dr. Kevin M. Maxwell, CEO of Prince George’s County Public Schools.

Download Bb District by Blackboard mobile app at the Apple store or the Google Play store through the family portal account. Parents should then select their child’s school and choose a notification method.

A family portal account can be obtained at tinyurl.com/familyportalregistration. Parents should contact the school for further information or questions.

PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

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Summer Poetry Sessions Expand To Fall The “Voices & Rhythms At Sweetgrass” hosted

by Sistah Joy, an esteemed poet laureate of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Fort Washington, Md., served as a community celebration of the Festival Of Literary Arts (FOLA), highlighting the intersection of authors, poets, screenwriters and visual artists with sessions that ran every first Thursday of each month from May through August. The monthly program will be extended through the autumn months at Sweetgrass Restaurant in Clinton, Md. For more, go to “Write On, Read Strong” www.pgsuite.com/ trends/2017/8/10/write-on-read-strong 7.

Table Of Summer/Fall 2017 A Great View Of Prince George’s County, Md.

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5 Outlook 7 News: MedStar’s Move, George Fraser Does It Again, The Ed Awards 10 Stuff: Black, Beautiful Like Me; New Faces at PGS 11 Stuff: BSU’s New President, Students Awarded $25,000 in Scholarships 13 Stuff: Sexual Enhancements, IOGP Grand Prix, Biking for a Cause, Electric Moves 16 First Baptist Church of Glenarden’s 100 Anniversary Homecoming Reunion Cookout 40 Opinion: Why Kevin Durant’s Future Is More Than Basketball and ¡Bailamos! for

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Hispanic Heritage Month

41 Uppercuts’ Lifestyle Fall Fashion Preview

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PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

ntents Profiles & Features

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14 Making the Big $29 Million Play: Liberty Sports Park 15 Primary Methods of Survival: Domestic Violence

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17 2018 Campaign Season: A Storm of New Candidates 18 A Path Well Written: Council Member Mary Lehman 20 Phil Down’s Healthy Attitude

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26 Angela From Clinton: Angela Alsobrooks

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32 Cover Story: MPG’s $30 Million Makeover

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PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE PHOTO: MICHAEL G. STEWART

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Black, Beautiful Like Me PGAAMCC to Host Inaugural Black Arts Festival The Prince George’s African American Museum and Cultural Center in North Brentwood, Md. will host the first annual Black Arts & Cultural Festival in the county on October 7 from 12pm-8pm. The “Rated PG: Black Arts Festival” celebrates Black women and women-identifying artists throughout the Diaspora; beauty standards, identity, multi-generational traditions, sisterhood, and break barriers. It will feature live performances, a film screening, panel discussions, food, and an artist market. Two art exhibits, “This Hair Deserves a March” and “Like Blood from a Stone” will be on display at PGAAMCC through January 31, 2018.

Stuff

Back To School: Booking on Cash You’re not alone in back to school spending. This year, according to Deloitte’s 2017 Back-to-School Survey, 29 million parents and guardians will spend some $27 billion in prep to send kids back to the classroom. That’s a lot of new gear and slide rulers.

And although more people are buying online, brick and mortar locations still outpace web sales when it comes to back to school shopping.

Then & Wow

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Stuff The Bus

New Team Player

Back To School: Wait, Hasn’t Summer Just Begun?

August 2017 is beaches, video games, camp, sleeping late and grilling. So why is back to school a topic of conversation when Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) opened its doors for business on September 6? The answer is simple. The buzz of education and preparation never stop.

There are students who are spending their summer in summer school; the Teacher Recruitment Fair searches for new teachers to join the academic roster; PGCPS hosts a Bus Driver Fair for those interested in applying for driver positions and there are the Stuff-A-Bus events whose goal is to send 10,000 PGCPS students back to school with a backpack filled with supplies for the start of the school year. And always in the background is the improvement and repair of county schools.

Before long, the yellow buses will appear, and young voices will break the early morning silence. “Welcome Back.”

Cheryl Wood Partners with Prince George’s Suite Media “I’m excited about everything Prince George’s Suite is doing in the community and for the community,” Wood said. “I’m a huge community advocate, that’s one reason I’m excited to be a team member.” Cheryl Wood, a Prince George’s-based motivational speaker and life coach, joined Prince George’s Suite Magazine as a brand ambassador to help further her message for women’s empowerment.

The announcement was made at a June reception hosted by the lifestyle media company at Wegmans of Woodmore Town Center. It was part of a new site launch and evolution in the growth of the 12 year old magazine. The Suite’s founder, editor and publisher Raoul Dennis unveiled the magazine’s new image-driven website that sports a fresher, cleaner look. See “Come Together Right Now, Over We” (www.pgsuite. com/trends/2017/7/7/come-together-right-nowover-we).

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PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

Congratulations, Madam President Dr. Aminta Breaux Takes the Helm At Bowie State University Dr. Aminta Breaux, the new president at Bowie State University who began July 1, may be spending her first weeks here learning about the school and the new state she will be living in but she is very clear on the direction she wants to lead the university toward.

“I’ve built my career around ensuring that students have what they need to succeed and making sure that those coming behind me have the kinds of opportunities I was afforded,” Breaux says. “I am looking forward to racing toward the bright

future that lies ahead for this great institution.”

Dr. Breaux has served as vice president for advancement at Millersville University since 2014. Under her leadership, the university’s endowment has grown from approximately $30 million to $40 million. From 20082014, Dr. Breaux served as Millersville’s vice president for student affairs. Her many accomplishments included providing leadership for a $150 million residence hall replacement project and for the $35 million redesign of the Student Union. Prior to joining Millersville, Dr. Breaux was dean of students at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia from 2000 to 2008.

Students Awarded $25,000 In Scholarships Empowering Future Leaders Scholarship Breakfast On June 21, Prince George’s County Drug Policy Coalition (PGCDPC), Inc. awarded 30 scholarships totaling $25,000 to students who resided in Maryland’s District 8 community. The event was the Empowering Future Leaders Scholarship Breakfast held at the Harborside Hotel in Oxon Hill. High school seniors from Oxon Hill, Bishop McNamara, Crossland, Chesapeake Math & IT Public Charter, and Friendly High School were among the recipients.

Distinguished guests included Councilman Obie Patterson, President of PGCDPC Dr. Valencia Campbell, Radio One Personalities Russ Parr and Donnie Simpson, Delegate Tony Knotts, and MD State Senator C. Anthony Muse. The program was led by Mistress of Ceremony Ebony McMorris, National News Correspondent for Reach Media, Radio One and the Keynote speaker for the event was Howard University President Wayne Frederick.

Since 2012, PGCDPC has awarded more than $100,000 to students to aid in obtaining a higher education while leading a drug-free life. “We are proud to recognize students who have excelled academically and who understand the importance of serving their community…” said Dr. Valencia Campbell, Coalition President.

PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

Stuff

Then & Wow

Homeownership is important.

We’re here to help first-time homebuyers navigate the mortgage process and make buying a home affordable, even if you have: • Little money for a downpayment • Little or “less-than-perfect” credit history • A recent job change To get started, call 1-888-253-0993 or visit mtb.com/mortgage.

Equal Housing Lender. This is not a commitment to make a mortgage loan. Certain restrictions apply. Subject to credit and property approval. ©2017 M&T Bank. Member FDIC. NMLS# 381076 Prince George’s SuiteSUMMER/FALL (MD & DC): 4.778” x 4.875” 2017- 5/2017

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FALL/WINTER 2016-2017

More Fizzle Than Sizzle?

Performance Enhancements – Know Before You Go As the search for eternal youth and longevity continue, so does the search for performance enhancement for close encounters of the sexual kind. Many drugs have been released on the market that seem to have given the male libido a shot in the… arm. Such drugs as Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, Extenze and Vigrx Plus seem to have helped couples enjoy intimate times together more often. Before heading off to the pharmacy however to grab an over the counter aide, always check them out. There are some enhancement drugs that don’t quite hit the spot. Before you purchase; know the ingredients, any side effects and what the reviews say. For example, in a comparison by Consumer Health Digest of enhancement drugs, Nytroxin and Progene had the lowest score. The ingredients may be similar in some cases but it is always best to check things out first.

Biking for a Cause

Bowie State University’s Third Annual Bike Tour In support of student scholarships and other charities, Bowie State University is having its third annual BSU Bike Tour, September 9. Choose from four fun and challenging rides through beautiful Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties in Maryland. New for 2017 is the 100-mile course. A celebratory post-ride meal is available in Bowie State University’s Student Center for all registrants. You must register by September 8. www.bikereg.com/bsu

A Sweet Deal

Hyattsville-Based Bakery Partners with Walmart on Sweet Potato Cake Known for its legendary taste, the Hyattsville-based company, DC Sweet Potato Cake, partnered with Wal-Mart in a sweet deal to sell their rich and moist sweet potato cake in 250 stores, with plans for further growth. Owner April Richardson turned around the failing Delectable Bakery in under one year by attracting national clients and attention, selling the cake at establishments such as Wegmans and Starbucks. For more on this partnership and bakery, go to www.pgsuite.com.

PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

Feel the Need for Speed

Grand Prix of Power Boat Racing Comes to DMV for First Time For the first time, the IOGP Grand Prix of America is coming to the DC metro area, specifically to National Harbor. This is power boat racing at its fastest and finest. Enjoy three days of fun in the sun excitement with power boat racing, boat show and music fest. September 1-3.

Run for the Color Dream Tour

The ‘Happiest 5K On The Planet’ at National Harbor, September 17 Known as the ‘happiest 5K on the planet’, The Color Run is a unique paint race that celebrates healthiness, happiness and individuality. Ever so colorful, runners run through fun foamy colorful clouds and are squirted with colorful paints. At the finish line, they look like a kaleidoscope of colorful joy and get to relax to musical entertainment. Now the largest running series in the world, The Color Run has been experienced by more than 6 million runners worldwide in over 35 countries. National Harbor will host The Color Run on September 17. Register at www.thecolorrun.com/locations/washington/

Stuff

Then & Wow

Electric Moves

Volvo’s #1 at Going Green with All Their Autos Volvo has announced that it will only sell hybrid and electric vehicles (EV) beginning in 2019, becoming the first automaker to turn away from gasoline-fueled cars. While this signals a shift in the auto industry as a whole toward more fuel-efficient cars that can help reduce drivers’ carbon footprints and fuel costs, don’t say goodbye to the internal combustion engine just yet. For one thing, there’s a massive petroleum-based refueling infrastructure – and we like it that way; we expect a gas station around every corner giving us a quick fuel-up. Electric charging stations are few and far between and charging an EV using a regular power outlet can take several hours. Plus, most EVs still can’t make it as far on a charge as gasoline-fueled cars can on a tank of gas. But change is coming. As technology and batteries improve, every carmaker will be offering their version of a hybrid car and/ or EV. The dream of greening the auto industry is being realized and Volvo is leading the way.

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PHOTO: BIGSTOCK

Making The Big Play

Liberty Sports Park Is A Big Deal For County Future

Eleven years ago, then councilman Doug Peters thought it would be a good idea to squirrel away a few dollars for a sports park. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

It was.

This month’s groundbreaking of what will become nearly 12 fields at Liberty Park is expected to yield nearly $29 million in annual revenue, provide some 300500 jobs and $1.5 million annually in tax revenue. It will include 330,000 tourists per year, over 20 tournaments annually.

And, once the Michael Companies got involved with South Lake, a compelling retail component is value added within walking distance of the park.

It’s scheduled to open in or soon after 2020.

“It was just going to be a regular park,” Peters says. “But after we did a study, 14.

Sen. Doug Peters Introduces Liberty Sports Park

the numbers just jumped off the page.

We realized that we could actually make money on the weekends and that would fund the kids during the week. So the public schools and Park and Planning could use [the park] Monday through Thursday. It will be the first of its kind.

It will open up for tournaments and make money and reinvest to give to kids who are going through tough times. They may need new cleats, they may need new lacrosse gear, new football shoulder pads SUMMER/FALL 2017

but we will recycle the money.”

The project is part of the Washington Redskins’ Charitable Foundation. The groundbreaking took place at Calvert Brewing Company in Upper Marlboro among some 150 county VIPs, business leaders, and elected officials led by County Executive Rushern Baker and including County Councilmember Todd Turner and Prince George’s County Public Schools Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kevin M. Maxwell.

Tom Graham, who is on the board at the Green Branch Foundation but who is best known as a former executive at PEPCO, is also a former professional athlete (soccer). He took interest in seeing the opportunity to develop something very special for the area’s developing talent.

“This provides quality facilities for our young athletes but we want to stress academics,” Graham says. “You can be as good as you want but that doesn’t mean you will get to college. You have to have the right combo of academics and athletics. We want to provide that environment, put in front of you positive role models so you will be able to excel. I always viewed soccer as a way to fund my education because there was no guarantee to a pro career. I did get there but even with that, you have four or five years and then what do you do with the rest of your life?

So education continues to be the foundation and we want to be a part of both.”

Maxwell likes the idea of wedding academics with athleticism and looks forward to the additional space the project will create for all school outdoor programs.

“Anybody who is knowledgeable about high schools knows that we have more teams than we have field space: Trying to schedule places for soccer, lacrosse, football, marching bands, cheerleaders and more stretches us pretty thin and creates a real difficulty. Having additional opportunities here will be great,” Maxwell says.

“This is a unique partnership between the county, the state, Redskins Foundation and private development that will pay for itself in the long run,” Turner says. “Teams and others will come to Prince George’s County to use this world class facility.”

PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

Primary

Survival Methods Of

By Lauren Poteat

According to the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention, over 1.3 million women will become victims of domestic abuse, with the ages of 20-24 accounting for the highest group at risk as stated by the Department of Justice.

And those stats are close to home. According to State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks, a disproportionPHOTO: BIGSTOCK ate number of Maryland’s domestic violence cases are occurring in Prince George’s.

In an attempt to draw attention to and highlight intimate partner abuse alongside the importance of strong family bonds, TV One, an American television network, held a special red carpet showing on Aug. 14 at Newton White Mansion in Upper Marlboro, Maryland of “When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story.” “[When Love Kills] is actually based on a true story,” Tia Smith, senior director of TV One original programming said. “I think this is an important story because so many women suffer silently from domestic abuse which often times stem from other issues at home. This is such a strong story and one that needed to be told.”

The film includes cast-mates Niatia “Lil Mama” Kirkland who plays Falicia Blakely; Tami Roman (from Basketball Wives) who plays Falicia’s mother; and Lance Gross who plays Dino, the abusive boyfriend.

“I allowed myself to feel Blakely’s reasoning for her actions in order to bring the character to life,” Kirkland “Lil Mama” said. “Instead of judging her, I immersed myself fully in the way she was feeling. Everyone has been stupid for someone at one point or another and it was important to show that.”

PHOTO: PEGGY MORRIS

Events That Speak To This National Epidemic

Momentum: Moving into the Millennium Elevating The Male Perspective On Domestic Violence Sept. 30, 2017, College Park Marriott and Conference Ctr., Hyattsville MD Guest Speaker, U.S. Congressman Anthony G. Brown

PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

Family Crisis Center Presents Unmasking The Silence: A Night Of Honor And Hope October 25, 2017 Newton White Mansion, Mitchellville, MD. For more information visit http://www.fccpg.org/ SUMMER/FALL 2017

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A Nod To The Past And A Look To The Future First Baptist Church of Glenarden Celebrates 100 Years at Homecoming Reunion CookOut

From its modest beginnings 100 years ago in a small home where a few residents gathered to read text from a meager Bible to the 160 acre plot of land today, the First Baptist Church of Glenarden celebrated its history and centennial Aug. 12, welcoming members and residents to a free homecoming. For more photos, www. flickr.com/photos/princegeorgessuite/albums. Select flickr.com/photos/princegeorgessuite/albums FBCG CookOut Today, FBCG encompasses two massive worship centers, radio and video stations, over 10 separate ministry divisions, and thousands of worshipers. Former President George W. Bush II attended a service at FBCG in 2003 commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s federal holiday; and in 2014, former Prince George’s County Executive Wayne K. Curry’s funeral was held there.

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PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

2018 Campaign Rain: A Storm of Candidates

Are there more people getting into politics...or is it just them...?

Stuff

Then & Wow

When it rains, it pours and it’s raining political hopefuls.

Could it be that there is a surge in interest in political office?

The 2018 campaign field is already busting at the seams with new faces---and a few who are returning to the political scene. Anthony Muse, Angela Alsobrooks, Calvin Hawkins, Tim Adams, Belinda Queen, Monique Anderson-Walker, Carlton Carter, Joseph Spears, Michael Lyles and Jason Fowler are among a few of the dozens of candidates entering various races across the county. These early announcements include familiar names, too: Andrea Harrison, Tom Dernoga and Tony Knotts are all in races. And then there are those who haven’t registered yet. It’s going to be interesting.

PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

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PHOTO: COURTESY THE OFFICE OF MARY LEHMAN

Work It: Prince George’s County Councilmember Mary Lehman (D- Dist. 1) holds a different kind of court with her constituents.

A Path Well Written

Mary Lehman Has Made A Legacy in Lawmaking

By Hamil R. Harris

Prince George’s County Council member Mary Lehman (D-Dist. 1) doesn’t apologize for engaging in political fights.

During County Council meetings regarding proposed changes in the county’s zoning map, Lehman had a flurry of questions and whether it is calling a member of Congress for a constituent, challenging County Executive Rushern Baker or finding a veterinarian for a constituent’s sick pet, Lehman has worked for the last eight years to be a lawmaker of the people.

“I don’t leave any stone unturned. It’s the journalist in me,” said Lehman, who after working as a journalist on Capitol Hill and serving as a staffer for other lawmakers was elected to the county council in 2010 to serve the residents of District 1.

After two terms in office, the Laurel resident is still as clear and forceful in her work regarding the issues but term limits are pressing Lehman’s remaining time in office.

She has pushed legislation to preserve the environment, improve public health and promote quality of life issues. Lehman has also been passionate about holding the county government accountable to tax payers. The lawmaker has accomplished a lot in addition to being a wife and raising a family of four.

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Lehman says she’s especially proud of the work that she’s done with regard to “fracking,” the process of drilling into the earth with high pressure water to allow release gas to produce energy. She said her council legislation “laid the ground work on the state bill.”

Also, her work with volunteer firefighters resonates deeply.

“One of my biggest achievements was getting pensions for voluntary firefighters. Even though it’s not a lot per month, it’s still the recognition.”

She says she isn’t done yet. When it comes to constituent services Lehman said she plans to fight to her last day in office. But before that time comes, the veteran leader has another challenge.

“I will be introducing a bill either this fall or in early 2018 to create a public financing system that promotes small dollar campaign contributions and greatly increases citizen participation in council elections,” Lehman said. “Public financing of elections encourages grassroots candidates and strengthens public trust and confidence in county government. I’m optimistic about the odds of passing this legislation!”

Apples rarely fall far from the tree. Born in Cheverly, Md., Lehman says her mother groomed her for politics from the start. “She was an activist. I just believe that as an elected official

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PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

PHOTO: COURTESY THE OFFICE OF MARY LEHMAN

Listening is the first step: Lehman began her career as a journalist and continued as parent and elected official but in all three areas she has dedicated herself to listening and leading.

we are here to help people solve their problems.” The English Literature major attended the University of Maryland College Park where she earned her BA in the field and a BS in Journalism.

Prior to joining the council, she served as the educational liaison to former Prince George’s County Council member Thomas E. Dernoga (2003-2007) and as a legislative aide to Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (2007-10).

Not unlike her mother, Lehman has done her share of community work. She served on the Board of Directors for the West Laurel Civic Association. She is co-founder of Citizens for an Elected School Board. And she has served in many groups such as the Laurel Rotary Club and the Laurel Historical Society (president, 1992-94).

In 2015, Lehman was named Local Elected Official of the Year by the Maryland Food Access and Nutrition Network, 2015. She is also a member of the Resurrection Catholic Church.

Lehman is raising a family of four children: a 13 year old girl, twin boys who are 17 and a 19 year old. She says she left journalism after a decade covering Congress because she wanted to be home with her family.

“After being home for five years, I said ‘I have to get out of the house,’” she recalls.

Lehman’s husband, a civil engineer, encouraged her to get involved in the community.

It was during this time she ran into then council member Dernoga who needed help on school issues.

During this period Lehman said she was encouraged to run for office by her mentor Maryland State Delegate Jocelyn Pena PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

Melnyk (D-Dist. 21).

The work over the years has been varied: not just a matter of debating new law. One of Lehman’s favorite activities is visiting with senior citizens at the Laurel/Beltsville Senior Citizens Center.

“They all have interesting life stories and a higher confidence and faith in government,” Lehman explains regarding the residents there. “They are demanding but that’s a good thing. They hold government (officials) accountable and expect programs that enhance our lives.”

In terms of service, she says that the work often goes beyond her district. The senior council member recently got a call from someone with a sick pet.

“I have someone who has a sick dog that may have been stung by a bee,” Lehman said in during the interview with The Suite while working the phones. “I have been calling around for a vet and I have a friend in Montgomery County who is going to help. It’s satisfying.”

“We will contact a member of Congress for a constituent,” Lehman said. “We are going to help people because they need answers, we never leave people hanging.”

The councilmember says she isn’t interested in running for a seat in the House of Delegates in Annapolis. She’s joined Leadership Washington and on Fridays she travels to Washington, D.C. where she and other leaders engage in various activities to chart their futures.

“I really hope to make some good connections because I want to continue to do something in public service.”

Stay tuned…

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PHOTO: PEGGY MORRIS PHOTOGRAPHY

Phil Down’s

Healthy Attitude

Phil Down Made A Decision 32 Years Ago That Has Led to Saving Lives Ever Since

Boston’s Best: President and Chief Executive Officer of newly rebranded Doctors Community Hospital System Phil Down.

than that today. What began as a doctors-run hospital in 1975 is today a sprawling health care system that managed $250 million in system revenue in fiscal year 2017. During its 42-year history, it He was told that it would be a career mistake to take has grown to include nearly a dozen satellite locations throughout up leadership of a hospital at a tough location like Prince George’s Prince George’s County and in Anne Arundel. In fiscal year 2016, County. And he could see for himself the hospital had 57,439 emergency room that the hospital itself was in need of visits, 9,725 total admissions and 35,617 care, too. It was 1986 and it would surgical services procedures. DCH probe an uphill climb with a boulder vides leading edge 3D mammography strapped to his back. and surgical robotic system. The hospital What’s more, he hailed from Boston. has earned national recognition for its For his part, there were no emotional first-class health care and innovative inities nor skin in the game. tiatives (see “Winning Care,” page 21). In But Phil Down, just a few years the recent 2017-2018 U.S. News & World out of the U.S. Army Medical Corps, Report rankings, Doctors Community made up his mind because he saw a Hospital was recognized as a high-perfuture valued at 10 times the reality of PHOTO: PEGGY MORRIS PHOTOGRAPHY forming hospital for heart failure. This DCH’s COO Paul Grenaldo and President Phil Down the present. is just one of the hospital’s many quality “I saw the opportunity here,” Down says of his vision in seeing achievements. http://www.dchweb.org/about-us/awards-andhow things could be as opposed to the way they were. Sitting achievements. comfortably on his office couch and never missing a beat in his The hospital center’s leadership factors into the future of the firm, cool demeanor, he speaks as if he could reach out and touch county and its growing population. While many eyes are focused on the coming regional medical center, DCH anchors its future in the vision for DCH before it happened. “I saw an institution.”

Doctors Community Hospital may have started as a small continuing to provide quality patient-centered care at an affordcommunity hospital managed by local doctors, but it is far more able rate to preempt an exodus of current and future patients

By Raoul Dennis // Photography By Peggy Morris

20.

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PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

who leave Prince George’s under the perception that it’s better elsewhere. DCH now includes accessible health care with offices conveniently available in Bowie, Camp Springs, Crofton, District Heights, Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Lanham, Largo, Laurel, Riverdale and Temple Hills (See Page 23). As a result, this fall, Doctors Community Hospital will become The Doctors Community Hospital System. It will manage patient care through a network of medical sites in addition to virtual consultations to lessen the need for office visits. This will create the opportunity to focus on prevention. The Wellness on Wheels effort provides another layer of mobility to DCH. And DCH recently launched a fundraising effort for a new behavioral health center, an arena of mental health care that will grow in demand in future years.

“Being a low cost, quality health care provider is paramount to our future,” says DCH Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Paul R. Grenaldo. He’s fired up about the initiatives and the valuable niche that DCH fills. “I’m proud of our expanding campus. I’m proud of the medical care and I would compare that to Chevy Chase or anywhere in the nation. These [locations] are our commitment to providing quality health care in Lanham and throughout the county.” In addition, Grenaldo states their “expansion efforts will result in upwards of dozens of new hires. Our contribution is to improve overall health status because we are bringing care out to the communities where people live.”

Fighting for A Chance to Help Heal Phil Down’s Boston accent can scarcely be noticed partly because he’s not a talker. He’s a doer.

So, in 1986 when DCH (then Doctors Hospital) was purchased

by AMI Healthcare, a leading, privately held for-profit American

PHOTO: COURTESY DCH

Celebrating 40 Years: Down and FOX’s Tony Perkins.

hospital management corporation, Down, who was working at Howard County Hospital, took a look at Doctors. “I saw the problems,” he says. “It was run down, poor equipment, poorly managed. But I saw an opportunity. I believed that I could make an impact.”

He recognized the risk. “It was recommended that I not take the job,” he explains. But he took it anyway and when he started in 1986, he found that things were even worse than he imagined.

Now, it was his problem to solve.

Although AMI Healthcare supported Down’s vision, he needed additional capital to reposition the hospital. He also had to quell internal issues of distrust and poor relations with the Maryland based staff. He found the funding and focused his energies on easing the tensions, building staff, talent and equipment.

“I saw the need. That was clear. The area was underserved,”

Winning Care Strengths At Doctors Community Hospital •

Recognized in U.S. News & World Report’s 2017-2018 rankings as a high performing hospital for heart failure

•

Earned a four-year primary stroke center designation from the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS)

•

Provides advanced technology including 3-D mammography and surgical robotic system

•

Provides accessible health care with offices conveniently available in Bowie, Camp Springs, Crofton, District Heights, Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Lanham, Largo, Laurel, Riverdale and Temple Hills

•

Partners with La Clinica del Pueblo and Catholic Charities to provide preventative healthcare services to underserved residents

•

Launching a cutting-edge green energy initiative, which will include a cogeneration power plant that generates electricity and usable heat from a single energy source

•

Earned gold-level recognition in Healthiest Maryland Businesses’ Wellness at Work Award

PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

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21.

PHOTO: CAROL DAY

A Healthy Partnership: Renaming the new surgical wing in honor of Albert Turner of Carrollton Enterprises. Turner, a developer, is also former mayor of New Carrollton.

Down says. “After the second year on the job, people began to see the improvements we were making. By then AMI wanted out of Maryland. They offered me other positions in other states but I declined. I felt that the future of DCH should be as a not-forprofit county-based hospital.”

Down took another bold step in 1990. With no assets to speak of, the young hospital president approached AMI to take over DCH. Perhaps because the corporate giant had other plans, it was easier to unload the burden on a scrapper who wouldn’t let go of his vision. Or maybe they simply believed if anyone could make it work, it was Down. AMI agreed to fund him.

Healthy Road Phil Down plainly says working uphill isn’t new to him. He comes from a middle income family and raised in Lynn, MA, led by his parents George and Beatrice Down. From Lynn English High School, he and his younger brother got through college through the tireless efforts of his parents who worked nights and weekends.

“She worked very hard for us. Lots of sacrifices,” he says recalling that his mother worked numerous shifts as a nurse. Down’s father worked with an insurance company. His parents met during World War II when his mother, a nurse, took care of the rehabilitation needs of the young Marine paratrooper who was severely injured in Iwo Jima.

With so much invested in him by the family, Down still admits that he struggled the first year. It was when he stepped onto cam22.

pus in military college that things turned around. “I needed the structure and the discipline,” he says. He graduated from Norwich University in 1970 with honors.

It may have been his mother’s work in nursing that drew Down into health care but the interest was there from the start. “I wanted to make a commitment in health care,” he explains. “I like the business side of it -- even with all the challenges. I especially appreciate and value doctors and nurses and all they do.”

To the only president and chief executive officer DCH has had, Down’s leadership skills includes building and nurturing positive relationships with his team. “I have a strong relationship with physicians in the community. It is born out of a tremendous respect of not only their knowledge, but also their commitment to patients. I view physicians as customers who I treat with openness, honesty and respect. Throughout the years, I have developed relationships with more than 100 physicians with whom I socialize, know their families and proudly consider amongst my closest friends.”

Getting into Higher Gear As changes in the health care industry began to demand diverse approaches to survival and growth for community based hospitals, Down shifted and upgraded his gaze toward decentralization.

“We share the same vision for our hospital and community,” says Grenaldo about his working relationship with Down. He says they complement each other in completing the vision for the hospital. “I saw the opportunity when I came here,” he says. “We

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PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

Thirteen Sites Of Health Service

Doctors Community Hospital Satellite Locations Practice

Focus

Date/Year Acquired

Breast Health

Breast Surgery & Health

January 2016

Surgical Services

Vascular Health and Surgery

January 2016

Laurel Office

Primary Care & Endocrinology

January 2016

Landover Hills Office

Primary Care

March 2016 (merged with DCP Riverdale)

Greenbelt Office

Endocrinology

March 2016

Bowie Office

Primary Care

July 2016

District Heights Office

Primary Care

October 2016

Riverdale Office

Primary Care & Digestive Disease

October 2016

Lanham Office

Endocrinology

November 2016

Orthopedic Services

Orthopedic

March 2017 (Camp Springs, MD location)

Surgical Services

Thoracic Health/ Thoracic Surgery

April 2017

Crofton Offices

Primary Care & Family Medicine

Digestive Disease Care

Gastroenterology

May 2017 August 2017 GRAPHIC: RADENN MEDIA GROUP MEDIA SERVICES

needed to find ways to initiate and sustain new ideas.”

Both men have aggressive, lead from-the-front style. Down’s vision and direction are supported by Grenaldo’s inside push on the details. “I believe in asking the right questions before you start,” Grenaldo says. “Before we initiated our robotic surgery program, we first discussed the initiative with our surgeons. Today, we have nine surgeons performing minimally invasive procedures using our robotics system.”

About six years ago, the hospital leadership began enacting a plan to grow DCH’s presence and influence in the region.

Grenaldo says that there had always been an understanding that DCH needed to expand and to become more accessible. But the blueprint toward how to do it and enacting it didn’t begin until 2011. “We knew there is a need to have a comprehensive network of care, and we are now well on our way. Our team is providing better care, better services and better prevention.”

Boston Strong “This isn’t just an entrance,” said Down at the naming of the new surgical wing of Doctors Community Hospital in June.

“This is a new structure with five new operating rooms. We could not have done this without you.”

Down and the hospital honored Albert Turner by naming the PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

surgical wing of the hospital in his honor. Turner, of Carrollton Enterprises, has been supporting the hospital for over ten years.

Turner is also the former mayor of New Carrollton and has always applauded DCH’s care of his friends and family members.

“Albert Turner has been an inspiration to me. He is a successful business man and hands-on executive who has made a major impact on the development of the community. Also, he truly cares about people. Albert, by nature, is an extremely philanthropic individual,” Down says.

It’s not unusual for the two men to walk closely and deliberately at occasions like this. Each in his respective role has maintained a decades-long commitment to Prince George’s with relatively little recognition. But they both seem very comfortable making important waves without the big splash.

That’s Down’s posture throughout the interview with The Suite when asked why he chose to anchor his career to the county when he could have gone elsewhere.

“This is where the care is needed,” he says. “I believed that then and I know that we’ve made a difference now. And we will continue to make a difference. We are not just a building on a hill. We are a network of care integrated into the communities we serve.

We look at the breadth of Prince George’s as our service area.”

SUMMER/FALL 2017

23.

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Global Insights: Local Bowie State Students Study in China Largest Group of BSU Students Study Abroad

Bowie State students at Heilongjiang University

W

hile many colleges and universities offer

spend my life knowing just one place, Maryland. I just decided

students the chance to study abroad to earn

that I not only wanted to push myself in terms of studying

credit toward their degree, few minorities take

outside the country, but in anything in life.”

advantage of those programs.

Since fall 2015, Bowie State University has provided local students with an opportunity of a lifetime: studying for a semester at a Chinese university on full scholarships, provided through a partnership with the Chinese government. So far, dozens of students have participated in the program.

CONNECTING PASSION TO CAREER GOALS One important goal of the HBCU-China Network is to promote increased economic development in the United States and China. Studies show that some companies miss international business opportunities because their staff lack experience working or studying abroad.

This spring, Bowie State sent its largest group of 15 students to study at Heilongjiang University, which has a large population of international students. The China Scholars, who range from freshmen to seniors, are taking courses related to their majors, along with a language class in Mandarin Chinese.

One of the founding members of the China-HBCU Network, Bowie State continues to provide students with a variety of options to explore their interests and prepare for their future.

Freshman Christopher Chaplin became a China Scholar to challenge himself as he pursues a degree in business

Margo Desil, a senior psychology major, knows well that she needs to be culturally competent to succeed as a clinical psychologist. Studying in China is a unique experience for her to engage with people from all over the globe.

“It’s going to give me a bigger view of the world, interacting with different people,” she said. “I’ll be able to understand more about where they are coming from and their culture.”

When students study or travel abroad, they broaden their perspectives and expand what’s possible for their future.

administration. “I decided at a young age that I did not want to PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

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PHOTO: RAOUL DENNIS/RADENN MEDIA GROUP

A Proud Moment: Angela Alsobrooks shares a few words with her dad, James, on the way to the podium to announce her candidacy for Prince George’s County Executive in 2018.

Angela From Clinton

Angela Alsobrooks’ Grandmother Always Said: ‘If You Don’t Like Something, Do Something About It. Or Be Quiet.’ Angela Has Never Been Quiet.

By Hamil Harris

It must have been a cold and fearful night for the

along the side of the road in the hours after Angela Alsobrooks’ grandfather was shot and killed.

“Maebell James, a woman who 60 years ago was forced to flee South Carolina after the local sheriff killed my great-grandfather J.C. James, and threatened to kill the rest of my family,” Alsobrooks often recounts.

She says the sheriff’s office made it simple: “leave now or the whole family dies.”

It’s not clear what the altercation was all about. But it was 1956 and in South Carolina if you were told by the police to move on, as an African American family, you moved on.

So the road may have been cold but it fostered a new era for the family. One that led to Prince George’s County. Two generations later, Alsobrooks is a symbol of African American success and an officer of the court.

A Prince George’s courtroom was packed with lawmakers and judges in January 2011 as Angela D. Alsobrooks became the first woman elected to serve as the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney. family

26.

It was at that hour that this lifelong daughter of the county, a woman whose first step into politics as class treasurer at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School was able to bring the tragic events of her grandfather’s murder into focus. Alsobrooks was educated at Duke University and the University of Maryland Law School, went back to Seneca, South Carolina where her family laid roots generations ago.

Many powerful men and women paved the way for the now 46-year-old prosecutor who was flanked by her daughter, Alexandra (now age 12). They include former prosecutor and Judge Alex Williams, former County Executive Wayne Curry and respected judges Donna Hill Staton and William Quarles.

But at that hour, Alsobrooks reached back in time, going beyond her parents, James and Patricia Alsobrooks, to her great grandfather J.C. James, who was killed by an Oconee County Deputy Sheriff on the side of the road in 1956. It was an important part of her story.

“There was never justice for J. C. James or my family but I stand here today prepared to take the oath of office,” Alsobrooks said that day.

Today, the state’s attorney leads a staff of 90 attorneys and

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Alsobrooks Awarded

• Angela Alsobrooks was named one of the Top 100 Maryland Women by the Daily Record (2014).

• The Virginia Mahoney Memorial Award from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention (2014).

• The Gertrude Rush Award from the National Bar Association (2014).

• The Community of Hope Award from Community of Hope AME Church (2013).

• The Leadership in Law Award from the Maryland Daily Record.

• Citizen of the Year by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in 2012.

• The Voice of Courage Award in 2012 by The YMCA of Greater Washington for her work in reducing childhood sexual abuse.

First Steps

Alsobrooks’ office is neat, simple and hardly used. This is because most of her time is spent between staff meetings, community events and raising her daughter as a single mother. Sitting behind the desk is a physically fit woman dressed in a sharp brown suit complemented with an open collar shirt that has become her trademark.

She has prepped for this moment most of her life. James Alsobrooks, Angela’s father, talked about his daughter’s early inclinations toward law enforcement when, at five, she called a shoplifter to his attention as they were shopping at the old Hechinger’s Mall. “She was meant for law enforcement,” he says with a grin.” And her teachers have routinely noted Alsobrooks’ dogged determination once she focused in on a goal.

It paid off. Before becoming a prosecutor, the young attorney worked for two highly respected law firms: DLA Piper (a global law firm) and Decaro, Doran, Siciliano, Gallagher & DeBlasis, LLP. She also clerked for judges Donna Staton and William Quarles. Quarles went from the Circuit Court of Maryland to the United States District Court.

Early in her career, the young professional served as an education liaison for the county and executive director of the Prince George’s County Revenue Authority.

These experiences afforded Alsobrooks a stout education not just the process and form of the judicial system but an inside understanding of the institutions. Between the clerk’s positions, PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

education posts and the law firms, she acquired an understanding of the system from the low level grind to the bird’s eye view of the problems and the process.

In 2010, after more than a decade of being an assistant prosecutor, the citizens of Prince George’s County elected Angela Alsobrooks by a 2-to-1 margin to state’s attorney.

“I take my position very seriously as I continue to fight every day for the issues that are important for the residents of Prince George’s County,” said Alsobrooks in a statement on a website sponsored by the Friends of Angela Alsobrooks.

That focus and grit isn’t a surprise to her family. “Work hard I told her,” James said as he watched his daughter through the screen door on the day she announced her candidacy for County Executive.

“I said give 100%, do your best and keep your word and that’s enough. Don’t worry about doing 110% --- that’s wasted energy.

You give 100% and the rest will take care of itself.”

So when former D.C. Councilmember and head of the Washington Metro Transit Authority made negative comments about the Prince George’s, Alsobrooks fought back.

“Jack Evans’ comments about Prince George’s County were unprofessional and cheap. Similar to the District, we have had our share of challenges, but his careless characterization of the nearly one million people who comprise Prince George’s County and are our neighbors, family, colleagues and friends were wrong and unbecoming of a public official.”

Alsobrooks also has a keen sense of the county’s political heritage and credits Curry, the former county executive, as a major influence on her leadership style.

On the day of his passing she said in an interview, “I couldn’t have imagined a better mentor. For a man who didn’t even know me, poured into my career. It was not that he talked to me, he showed by example.”

In terms of criminal justice reform and parole, Alsobrooks recently wrote on Facebook, “While everyone is listening to the words on Jay-Z’s new album, we should also pay attention to his message on bail reform; he is right on.”

In a recent Time article Jay-Z said, “Millions of people are separated from their families for months at a time — not because they are convicted of committing a crime, but because they are accused of committing a crime.”

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27.

PHOTO: RAOUL DENNIS/RADENN MEDIA GROUP

110 administrative staff members from her corner office on the third floor of the county courthouse in Upper Marlboro. Since taking office she has increased the number of lawyers to handle (in nearby Baltimore, there are double the number of attorneys to handle the same number of cases). But many are focused now on her next steps. For over a year, county insiders buzzed about Alsobrooks’ likely run for the seat of county executive. Her bid for the office has its winning points: the county is on a positive trajectory, violent crime is down and the state’s attorney can make the case that she had a lot to do with that. And she stands to be the first woman to the office at a time when many might consider it politically refreshing. There are caution signs, too. Challenges within the county school system and a simmering class divide are on the list. But Alsobrooks’ story places her nicely to the moment.

Well recognized: Alsobrooks has developed a winnning track record on the job and with community groups and institutions over recent years.

PHOTO: RAOUL DENNIS/RADENN MEDIA GROUP

Family: James Alsobrooks (Father); Patricia Alsobrooks (Mother); Alexandra Alsobrooks (Daughter); Angela Alsobrooks; Kimberly Seymour (Sister)

While Alsobrooks has called for reform, she has been a tough prosecutor.

In June, Sonya Spoon was sentenced to 45 years in prison for suffocating her two young children by taping plastic bags over their heads.

While Spoon wiped away tears and told Judge Lawrence V. Hill that “I apologize to both my children Kayla and Ayden for taking their lives,” Alsobrooks didn’t embrace this mother’s remorse.

“She’s not a victim,” Alsobrooks told reporters following the verdict. “These children are victims. Now, could things have been done better? We sure wish they had so that these two kids could be alive.”

During Alsobrooks’ tenure there has been a 17 percent increase in the homicide conviction rate, a 7 percent increase in the sex crimes conviction rate, and a big emphasis on creating programs focused on domestic violence prevention.

This daughter of Prince George’s says that her parents instilled in her the core values of faith, hard work, commitment and courage. She attended Shadyside Elementary in Suitland and Overlook Elementary School in Hillcrest Heights.

Alsobrooks’ Facebook timeline reveals that she needs tennis shoes because she barnstorms daily across the county from senior citizen events to elementary school award ceremonies. he has an array of Chuck Taylor All Stars to match the color palette of her wardrobe. The single mom can also be found hanging out with her daughter at the UniverSoul Circus, a Fantasia concert or Hampton Jazz Festival. “I love to cook,” said Alsobrooks during an interview where she boasted what she prepared for a big Easter 28.

dinner with all the trimmings. She also talked about decorating during the holidays and dancing to Motown classics with her daughter.

As the empowered court officer moved from her desk it was revealed that she had replaced hard work shoes for sneakers.

“My daughter has a track meet and I am trying to get over to Riverdale Baptist,” said Alsobrooks who despite being pressed for time never looked at her watch during an interview with Prince George’s Suite.

Alsobrooks served as the county’s first full-time Assistant State’s Attorney where she carved her own path prosecuting perpetrators of domestic violence.

Home And Faith

Alsobrooks lives in Upper Marlboro, and is a member of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden. She’s also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and she was part of the annual Delta fashion show at Martins Crosswinds this year. She was joined by her mother, who she calls “her everything.”

A woman of faith, Alsobrooks balances religion with criminal justice. Pastor Keith Battle of Zion Church hosted her in the pulpit to talk about domestic violence prevention. Her bottom line is “We need to do everything we can to protect our babies.”

Her attitude about her job is in line with the family values and work ethic passed on to her. Alsobrooks will be the first to say that her work isn’t about a daily grind of handling files and cases.

“These are people’s lives.”

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PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

To

Your

Health

The Best In Prince George’s

Fall 2017 PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

marketing@pgsuite.com SUMMER/FALL 2017

29.

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31.

Upgrade

MPG’s $30 Million Renovation Is Opening New Sho Photography By Bill Hart, Carol Day and Raoul Dennis The Mall at Prince Georges (MPG),

a long-time destination point for retail in the county, is getting more than a facelift, it’s nearly getting re-made.

Based in Hyattsville, the sprawling shopping complex is in the midst of a $30 million renovation that kicked off in February.

New stores will soon compliment old favorites just ahead of the 2017 holidays. They include: Bath and Body Works, White Barn Candle, Footaction Flight 23, the shoe retailer DTLR, and Old Navy. Also on tap are: Victoria’s Secret/Pink, and the Mezeh Mediterranean Grill.

In the coming days, a Macy’s spinoff dubbed Macy’s Backstage will also join the new mix of retail offerings. Macy’s Backstage is 32.

a discounter designed to compete with the likes of T.J Maxx and Marshalls. According to the Washington Business Journal, the latest edition of Macy’s Backstage will mark the third Backstage store in the region following locations at Dulles Town Center and Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg.

The plan is happening in two phases. Shoppers have been witnessing the first which will be completed in November. Phase one breaks the Mall into sections – placing stores in other areas of the mall. The second phase will be completed in Spring 2018 with newer stores that will include DSW and ULTA. “It’s like we have been discovered,” says MPG’s General Manager Henry L. Watford. Watford has been at the Hyattsville shopping

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PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

ops And Aiding In Hyattsville’s Economic Growth center since 1990. He has nurtured and maintained a loyalty to the community surrounding MPG in every way – from managing security to neighborhood improvement. “We knew that this community deserved great retail and destination level experiences. It’s happening now.”

Watford has watched residential and commercial growth in the area over the past five years. Victoria Clark, MPG’s marketing director, has also been at MPG for nearly a decade and a long term contributor to the community surrounding the mall.

“We will continue offering arts and culture programs like Arts on a Roll, and maintaining educational partnerships with Prince George’s County Public Schools and the University of Maryland PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

that the community has come to expect,” Clark says of shopping events. “But now people will enjoy so much more of the best brands right here at MPG. Not only can our valued customers take advantage of our rewards program, PREIT Perks, but they’ll no longer have to travel outside of the county to access what they are looking for.”

Beyond new retail offerings, the mall will undergo an aesthetic upgrade that includes updated exterior facades and entrances.

When the total renovation is complete in 2018, the mall’s managers say 73% of space that isn’t occupied by anchor tenants will boast new storefronts and dining options.

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Macy’s Backstage - August 2017 34.

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Bath & Body Works/White Barn - Opened August 4

H&M - Opened December 2016 PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

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Victoria’s Secret/PINK - Coming October 2017 DTLR - Coming October 2017 Mezeh - Coming November 2017

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ULTA Beauty - Coming April 2018

Kids Foot Locker/Fly Zone - September 2016 PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

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Flight 23/Nike Kicks Lounge - Opened July 2017

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Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW) - April 2018

Old Navy - Opened August 2017 PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

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Opinion: The Last Word

Basketball is the Least Hallmark of Kevin Durant’s Greatness At a time when the one-percent,

the richest among us, are focused on acquiring more wealth, Durant is intentionally sharing his in ways that have the best impact on people’s lives.

And that’s something we can all celebrate.

The parade held in Seat Pleasant in Durant’s honor August 17 was not just because of his achievements on the court. According to leaders of the event, it was just as much about what the Prince Georgian represents to young people and the future as it does his round ball skills.

Durant is part of a generation of Americans that is facing an unusual set of circumstances. For the first time in the nation’s history, the generation coming into leadership is inheriting less stability from the generation before it rather than more.

Young adults coming into their own will have to answer the issues confronting them and, in many ways, repair damaged social, economic and political structures left to them.

And he is facing it well and with the kinds of actions that encourage and support those around him.

Long before Kevin Durant captured a once-elusive NBA Championship, his hoop-cred was already impressive. Along with eight All-Star Game appearances,

he’s a four-time scoring champion, was named MVP in 2014, and won two Olympic gold medals.

But as his career pushes forward, bas-

he started the Build It and They Will Ball project, in which basketball courts have been created or renovated domestically and abroad to give young people the opportunity to improve their lives through sports.

So far, courts have been erected in Berlin, New Delhi, India, Oklahoma City, Seattle, and of course, Seat Pleasant.

None of this is possible without Durant’s early childhood anchoring in family, hard work, focus, sacrifice and discipline. The unwavering strength of his mother, Wanda, is critiPHOTO: PEGGY MORRIS PHOTOGRAPHY cal to nurturing and protecting the potential in young Kevin. ketball may be a minor player in Durant’s Those values and efforts are more than stature. It’s very likely that his Kevin the core of a good family, they are the Durant Charity Foundation will out shine fabric of a successful, civil society. the small forward’s on-court performance.

In 2013, Durant gave $150,000 to Today, Durant, and many like him, three community organizations in the epitomizes the dream that King espoused, county: the Seat Pleasant Activity Center, the Community Kinship Coalition, and the manhood that Malcolm X talked the Maryland Jaguars Youth Organiza- about and the hope for change that tion. Durant initially started the founda- Obama challenged us to hold onto. It’s no wonder Seat Pleasant honors its favorite tion to help at-risk youth.

And his largesse isn’t confined to Seat son with a “Kevin Durant Day Parade Pleasant, Durant’s hometown. In 2015, and Festival.”

¡Bailamos! We Dance!

Hispanic Heritage Month – Celebrating Latin Dance

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If you can’t make it out to the annual Hispanic Festival in September, don’t sweat it.

The celebración continues with “¡Azúcar al rojo! A Celebration of Latin Dance” on October 14, 8pm-11pm. A mesmerizing music and dance extravaganza featuring professional dancers from Mexico, Bolivia, and throughout the Latin American world with swirling skirts, tapping boots, and pulsating beats will transform the Publick Playhouse stage in Cheverly, Md. into a festival.

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Fashion

Upper Cuts Lifestyle Fall Fashion Preview

Photograher: AJ Glover Designer: Malcolm Staples of Malcolm’s Custom Made To Fit PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

Curator: Rhett Butler SUMMER/FALL 2017 Timepieces: Benson Watch

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...Only One Thing Missing.... $20/year

4 editions

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Rated As One Of The Top Ten Lobbying Firms In Maryland

–Maryland Ethics Commission

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14408 Old Mill Rd # 201 Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 Phone: (301) 952-8885

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Upper Marlboro

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www.gsproctor.com PRINCE GEORGE’S SUITE MAGAZINE

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The exceptional breast care you want.

Close to where you live.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer among women.

But thanks to advances in treatment, millions of breast cancer survivors are able to lead active and fulfilling lives.

MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center offers high quality, comprehensive breast care. Our multidisciplinary approach to treatment includes a breast surgeon, nurse practitioner, nurse navigator, social worker, breast radiologist, and genetic counseling.

For more information about the MedStar Breast Health Program at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center or to schedule an appointment, please visit MedStarSouthernMaryland.org/BreastCancer or call 855-546-2086.

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Katerina Tsiapali, MD, FACS Breast Surgeon Director, MedStar Breast Health Program at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center

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