The Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce to Host its Annual Economic Business Meeting ‘The State of the Chamber’
CHAMBER FORWARD: A 2025 Look Ahead Will Focus on Strengthening Partnerships, Driving Advocacy, and Advancing Economic Opportunities

By PRESS OFFICER
Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce

LANHAM, Md. (Jan. 13, 2025)—The Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce (PGCOC) proudly announces its Annual Economic Business Meeting, known as ‘The State of the Chamber.’ This year’s theme: “Chamber FORWARD: A 2025 Look Ahead,” will be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at the Crowne Plaza College Park (6400 Ivy Lane Greenbelt, MD 20770). This pivotal event brings together business leaders, entrepreneurs, and Chamber members committed to fostering economic development and expanding access to capital within the region. The Chamber’s strategic outlook for 2025 will focus on fostering collaboration among stakeholders to address shared challenges and opportunities. Attendees will be able to understand the strategies to advocate for community priorities and drive economic growth through partnerships.

Key topics of discussion will include:

•            Collaborative Power: Unlocking Opportunities through Strategic Alliances, Driving Economic Momentum

•            Advocating for an Expansive Ecosystem: Empowering Businesses through Policy and Community Engagement

•            Building a Resilient Future: Strategies for Advanced Economies and Sustainable Growth

“This meeting is an opportunity for our business community to come together, share insights, and forge solutions that will strengthen the economic fabric of our region,” said Alexander K. Austin, President & CEO of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce. “We are committed to creating a vibrant, inclusive environment where businesses can thrive and contribute to the prosperity of Prince George’s County.”

The event will feature corporate sponsors, business and community leaders, elected officials, and PGCOC members who will share expertise and insights to empower attendees with the tools they need to succeed. Purchase tickets to The State of the Chamber: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1119748801809?aff=oddtdtcreator

Founded in 1924, the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce is a vibrant network of businesses dedicated to driving economic growth and fostering innovation in Prince George’s County. With over 700 (+) members representing various industries, PGCOC catalyzes collaboration, advocacy, and professional development.

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Announcing the Winners for the 2024 Frederick Douglass Oratorical Contest

By PRESS OFFICER
National Park Service

WASHINGTON (Jan. 15, 2025)—The National Park Service announces winners for the 2024 Frederick Douglass Oratorical Contest. The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site hosts an annual oratorical contest for students ages 6 to 18. To participate in the contest, students must memorize a portion of one of Frederick Douglass’s famous speeches and recite it to a panel of judges. This year’s contest was held online and in person at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site between December 4 and December 7. Students from 12 states, the District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada participated in this year’s contest.

Winners are awarded plaques and additional prizes. Later this year, first place winners will be invited to perform their award-winning speeches in Washington DC at special events regarding Frederick Douglass. The contest features 4 divisions based on students age with each group having a different required recitation time.

The 2024 Winners by Division are as follows:

Elementary 1

First Place: Owen Galarza, age 6, of Garden City, NY

Second Place: Selma Jeyathurai White, age 7, of Oakland, CA

Second Place: Kai Antoine, age 8, of Laurel, MD

Third Place: Neev Kotandon, age 6, of Saratoga, CA

Elementary 2

First Place: Yael Gustafson, age 10, Oak Park, IL

Second Place: Varsh Varun, age 11, of Scottsdale, AZ

Third Place: Ishan Prasad Mohanty, age 9, of Fairfax, VA

Middle School

First Place: Fiona Fisher, age 12, of Milton, DE

Second Place:  Ayanfeoluwa Adu, age 13, of Randallstown, MD

Third Place: Saanvi Jahagirdar, age 12, Georgetown, Ontario Canada

High School

First Place: Ryan Wade Garrus II, age 16, Marriottsville, MD

The Legacy of Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass became the most important leader of the movement for African American civil rights in the 19th century. His journey from an enslaved young man to an internationally renowned activist is an inspiration for millions. He is known for his brilliant words and brave actions, and he continues to shape the ways we think about race, democracy, and the meaning of freedom. The Frederick Douglass Oratorical Contest celebrates Douglass’s activism and the many famed speeches he gave in his efforts to end slavery and promote racial equality and women’s rights. The National Park Service has held the Frederick Douglass Oratorical yearly for over 40 years. Students from around the world are encouraged to compete for prizes and honor the legacy of Frederick Douglass. Students interested in competing in the 2025 contest can find more information at www.NPS.gov/FRDO.

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for more than 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

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University of Maryland Extension Workforce Development Internship

By PRESS OFFICER
University of Maryland Extension

This Spring, the University of Maryland Extension will hire the fourth Cohort for Creating Leadership and Professional Development Through Extension Internships,’ Summer 2025.

The University of Maryland Extension received a grant on April 15, 2021. The grant was endowed by the United States Department of Agriculture and sponsored by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to create a summer internship program that will provide meaningful and technical skills to students at underserved institutions, community colleges, or non-Land Grant institutions to train a future agricultural workforce.

University of Maryland Extension (UME) created a summer internship program with seven interns annually paired with competent mentors; interns will gain hands-on experience and participate in leadership and professional development training. The project will address the eight core competencies in career readiness. Along with professional development and one-on-one pairing with a faculty mentor, interns will have networking opportunities with private industry professionals. The experience will be a ten-week program in which interns work full-time.

The objectives of the project are to 1. Provide experiential learning opportunities in Extension and agricultural research to undergraduate students, including those at community colleges and underserved institutions in Maryland, through creating a summer internship; 2. Develop internal hiring and mentorship skills in UME Faculty; 3. Increase student interns’ career-readiness and leadership skills; and 4. Increase the number of students from these institutions continuing their education and entering the agricultural workforce.

The Application for Summer Internship 2025 is open. For more information and to apply, visit https://go.umd.edu/extensioninternships

Program Contacts:

Shannon Dill, Extension Educator - AgFS

410-822-1244 | sdill@umd.edu

Andrea Franchini, Program Coordinator

301-226-7416 | andrea1@umd.edu

Ms. Shannon Dill, PI, is the Project Director and oversees the entire project. Co-PI’s include Dr. Nicole Fiorellino. The project runs from April 15, 2021, to April 14, 2026.

This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, AFRI Competitive Grant Workforce Development, project MD-UME-09312.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Esta institución ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

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