Prince George's County

Local Businesses Receive Grants to Hire Unemployed Prince George’s Residents

William J. Ford WI Staff Writer

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported earlier this month the three Maryland counties of Calvert, Charles and Prince George’s recorded a 6.1% unemployment rate in October, the lowest figure this year.

Since the coronavirus pandemic affected the majority Black jurisdiction of Prince George’s last year, the county has lost about 30,000 jobs.

Employ Prince George’s, a quasi-government agency, seeks to help boost the job market by distributing more than $326,000 in grants for 12 entrepreneurs who will hire unemployed county residents.

The agency congratulated each business Thursday, Dec. 16 at the American Job Center at Tanger Outlets in Oxon Hill.

“Anytime you can get money you don’t have to pay back is a major plus,” said state Sen. Obie Patterson (D-District 26) of Fort Washington. “This not only helps the small businesses but

5 Charity Barrett talks about her company, Progeny Enterprises, Inc. based in Fort Washington, on receiving a grant to hire Prince George’s County residents. Barrett represented one of 12 local entrepreneurs to obtain a portion of more than $326,000 in grants from Employ Prince George’s. (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)

also helps people get back to work and pay taxes. This is on the red carpet for Christmas. It couldn’t be a better time to show our love and appreciation for these small businesses.”

The grants funneled from the state represent part of Employ Prince George’s COVID-19 rapid re-em-

Former Delegate Dereck Davis Sworn-In as Maryland Treasurer

William J. Ford WI Staff Writer

Dereck E. Davis, who spent nearly half his life representing DISTRICT24Prince George’s County as a member of the House of Delegates, will officially represent the entire state of Maryland as its new state treasurer.

House Speaker Adrienne Jones various state projects. He’s scheduled to attend his first Board of Public Works meeting Jan. 5.

Former state treasurer Nancy Kopp, who held the position for 20 years, said Davis spoke to the treasurer office staff last week and made quite an impression.

“When he left, you had a happy office of people who knew that they had a treasurer they can respect,” she said. “Dereck Davis is the right person at the right time and I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Davis comes into the position as the state remains poised to transition into new leadership in less than 14 months. Term limits will expire in January 2023 for Gov. Larry Hogan to complete his two, four-year terms.

Attorney General Brian Frosh will not seek a third term and will retire from public office after first serving in the House of Delegates in 1987.

Comptroller Peter Franchot continues to campaign in efforts to secure the Democratic nomination for governor.

ARETHAand Senate President Bill Ferguson swore in Davis during a ceremony Friday, Dec. 17 inside the House chamber in Annapolis. Davis, 54, represents not only the second African American elected to the position after Richard N. Dixon, but also the first person from Prince George’s. The county native has represented the 25th Legislative District in the 5 Former Del. Dereck Davis places his left hand on a Bible as he reads the oath to become Maryland’s 24th treasurer on Dec. 17. House Speaker Adrienne Jones (left) presided. Davis was joined by his wife, Monique (right) and their son Dereck Davis, Jr. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer) House of Delegates since 1995 – the last 18 years as chair of the influential House Economic Matters Committee during which he has overseen policies that include economic development, alcoholic beverages and labor and employment. “It is bittersweet. I am thrilled for this new opportunity. It was time for me to move on,” he said during an interview after the ceremony. “I wasn’t married when I got here. Now I’ve been married for 26 years. I didn’t have any children. Almost every good thing that’s happened to me has happened since I’ve been a member of the House of Delegates. I’m going to miss this place,” Davis said.” Davis, of Mitchellville, began work Monday, Dec. 20. Some of his duties include managing state funds and property, issuing or authorizing agents to issue payments of state funds and overseeing financial institutions that invest in the state. One of his main priorities will be to serve on the three-member Board of Public Works with the comptroller and the governor, which decides on millions of dollars in procurement and DAVIS Page 30

ployment program. As part of the application process, entrepreneurs needed to illustrate how their businesses became negatively affected since March 16, 2020.

A program summary shows a new employee must start within 30 days of the business’s grant application.

Charity Barrett, owner of Progeny Enterprises, Inc. of Fort Washington, said she closed a child-care center called Perfect Angels last year. The center reopened with about 20 children enrolled. It’s licensed to have up to 71 children, “so that gives you the idea of the hit that we took during the pandemic,” said Barrett, who became an entrepreneur at age 25 and established Progeny in 2005.

Barrett’s company will receive $37,620 to hire five employees that includes three full timers and two parttime executive assistants. She currently has seven employees and up to six independent contractors.

“We wouldn’t be able to make ends meet without getting some type of assistance,” she said of the grant. “This will be wonderful to help us . . . and to hire Prince George’s County residents. I am thankful.”

Vianca Walker, who has owned “Veez Bizzy Beez” since 1996, received $4,000 to employ a teacher’s aide to work with children ages 5 to 12 years old enrolled in the child-care center before and after care program.

“During this pandemic, this is the most I’ve ever seen the county helping out businesses,” she said. “This is a big deal.”

Employ Prince George’s continues to host in-person and virtual jobs, career-readiness and veteran’s workshops and other activities.

The agency, through its Transportation and Logistics Consortium program (TALC), will partner with the county executive’s office for returning citizens and young adults 18 to 24 to package and deliver food throughout the county Dec. 28.

Each person participating will be paid and receive training on learning how to drive trucks, operate forklifts and other equipment.

Walter Simmons, president and CEO of Employ Prince George’s, said the agency will manage a mobile job center traveling throughout the county starting next year.

“You might see us at somebody’s cookout. If we see a group of people, we’re going to pull up. Just want to make sure everyone has a job,” he said. “That mobile job center is going to be a game changer.” WI @jabariwill

Endorsements Roll Out in Governor's Race, But No Front Runner Emerges

William J. Ford WI Staff Writer

One distinct feature Maryland Democrats in the state’s crowded gubernatorial race continue to highlight: who’s supporting their candidacy with the primary election six months away.

Last week, author and former nonprofit CEO Wes Moore emphasized endorsements from former Gov. Parris Glendening, state Sen. Delores Kelley of Baltimore County and Baltimore City Council member Robert Stokes Sr.

On the same day, Dec. 15, former U.S. Education Secretary John King, Jr. announced endorsements from two aldermen with the Annapolis city council and former Del. Alice Cain from that city.

Two days prior, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) said in a video the best choice to lead Maryland will be Tom Perez, the former chair of the Democratic National Committee.

“I saw how he stood up for voting rights and vigorously enforced our civil rights law while at the [U.S] Department of Justice,” Pelosi said in a video Dec. 13. “We need a partner in Maryland, a state that I care very much about, who will work to deliver for working families . . . I believe that partner is Tom Perez.”

Todd Eberly, political science professor at St. Mary’s College in St. Mary’s, Maryland, said he wasn’t surprised by Pelosi’s support for Perez because of his work in the national Democratic Party.

With the General Assembly’s special session ending two weeks ago and health officials continuing to battle the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it been difficult for one candidate to break away from the pack.

“I think more than anything it’s probably a reflection . . . you have

strong candidates that for the most part have the finances they need to stay in the race,” Eberly said. Although Baltimore City entrepreneur Mike Rosenbaum planned to fund most of his campaign, he bowed out of the Democratic race last month and decreased the list of candidates to eight. On Thursday, Dec. 17, Jerome Segal brought the total back up to nine with his announcement to seek the Democratic nomination for governor. Segal, 78, founded the Bread and Roses Party more than two years ago to establish socialist and progressive policies in Maryland. On Thursday, the party officially disbanded. A few policy proposals from the former philosophy professor and author include incorporating a fourday work week, eliminating taxes for the bottom third of households and increasing gas taxes to pay for free or MOORE Page 20

A Message from Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce

The Real Meaning of the Holidays

Colorful lights abound in neighborhoods; Holiday movies make us smile; and reconnecting with family members is special. This is certainly a special time of year! These last, two years have been the most challenging we have experienced. COVID and its iterations have caused a roller-coaster ride of uncertainty where at times there is light at the end of the tunnel and now, we are experiencing yet another surge. However, our resiliency prevails, and, in this time, we must collectively join hands and see ourselves as part of a health community.

Instead of gifts and luxurious foods, what we really need is community. Right now, an acrimonious debate, in this time of COVID, divides us on how every individual and community can reach optimum health. Resistance abounds on the simple request to wear masks and opposition prevails on whether to schedule booster vaccine shots.

Assigned are dubious ideological fragmentation that block ideas and reason. You are either conservative or liberal, part of the left or right and somehow whichever side you are either a patriot or renegade. Borrowing from Peter Block, the author of “Community: The Structure of Belonging,” the gift we can give is to weave a sense of belonging through creating a social fabric. The social fabric connects what we have in common and what connects us in building an inclusive society. Our work, clubs, and family structures are lasting democratic learning environs that provide safe places for social exploration and dialogue. As we dialogue, we build social muscle that helps us to construct community. Building this does not eliminate discourse or even intense argument, but through discourse collaboration can emerge.

This season, speak to someone with different ideas and different perspectives. Avoid prosecuting or judging ideas, listen for common engagement. Of course, there are fringe ideas that are incongruent with community – some those include racism, sexism, orientation judgement and classism. Getting back to our community health, can we come together as a community and commit to embracing strategies that cease the spread of this dreaded virus? This Holiday lets become a community of health.

David C. Harrington President & CEO

Not a member? Please visit our website, www.pgcoc.org to get started! Membership is good for a full calendar year, so it’s always a good time to join*

5 Former Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening (left) endorses Democrat and Maryland gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore during a press conference Dec. 15 at Lawyer’s Mall in Annapolis. (William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)