Marietta Historic Site & Museum’s Community Day
FREE, Saturday, September 26, 2026, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

By STACEY HAWKINS
Marietta Historic Site & Museum

FREE event for all ages! Join us Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a day with friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate our community! Celebrate America 250 at Marietta Historic Site & Museum. Enjoy Free Ice Cream available to everyone while supplies last. Browse the local Farmers Market, explore music, family crafts, nature center critters, listen to poetry, and see Native American and local archaeological finds.

Join a lively discussion on “The Declaration of Independence & What It Means Today” with Artura Jackson, Assistant Director for the Division of African American History of Historic Alexandria.

Visit our Public Affairs booth and see our Community Portrait Gallery with photos from last year’s Community Day. Family and friends can visit the Sankofa Mobile Museum with interactive digital ways to “do” history!

Enjoy family crafts with the colorful Arts on a Roll Van. Families can try out a set of African drums and musical instruments. Learn how to dye scarves.

House tours will be at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m., and the Law Office and Tack House will be open all day. Guests can have some friendly competition playing cornhole and horseshoes, as well as historical games and crafts to make and take home. We hope to see you here!

The L.H. Farmers Market is on site from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. for those who wish to come early and visit the market, as well as a mocktail vendor and a pound cake vendor.

For more information, please call 301-464-5291 or email mariettahouse@pgparks.com. Marietta Historic Site & Museum is located at 5626 Bell Station Road, Glenn Dale, MD, and is a property of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

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Growing Stronger Communities Through Play
Playtime Project Opens Community Hub in Beltway Plaza Mall

By TALIA CURHAN
Playtime Project

GREENBELT, Md. (Sept. 21, 2026)—In response to the growing need for accessible, high-quality support for families experiencing housing insecurity in Prince George’s County, Playtime Project has opened a new program hub that expands consistent access to critical services for children and their caregivers. A nonprofit serving Washington, DC, and Prince George’s County, Playtime Project builds resilience through the power of play for children experiencing housing insecurity. The organization already serves every emergency shelter in Prince George’s County, and its new “Playtime at the Plaza” creates a permanent home for year-round programs that strengthen children’s resilience, support families, and help more households achieve lasting housing stability.

“Families from our Maryland shelter partners often felt a sense of isolation once moving to more permanent housing,” said Jamila Larson, Founder and Executive Director of Playtime Project. “As grateful as they were to be housed, they were moving into empty apartments without the services and community they had in the shelter. When children asked to Uber back to the shelter so they could come to Playtime programs, we knew we had to bring Playtime to them. Families shouldn’t have to be homeless to find the services they need—Playtime is here to become part of their village, ensuring they have access to consistent support along their journey to stability.”

Many families from Prince George’s County shelters move into Franklin Park Apartments, one of the largest affordable housing communities in the country. “Playtime at the Plaza” is located down the street from the apartment complex, allowing families to easily access free play programing, family support, and community resources, while providing a space to meet other families and rebuild their village.

Over the next year, Playtime expects to double our footprint in Prince George’s County. By providing a safe, inclusive, and enriching space for children and families at The Plaza, Playtime is now better able to serve the diverse needs and populations in Greenbelt West, such as families experiencing housing insecurity, immigrant families, families living with low incomes, and families of children with physical and developmental disabilities.

On September 16, Playtime welcomed over 80 community members, partner organizations, politicians, supporters, and families to cut the ribbon and officially open Playtime at the Plaza. Speakers included:

• Katie Waldo, Chair of the Playtime Project Board

• Jamila Larson, Founder and Executive Director of Playtime Project

• Charles Bolden, former NASA Administrator and astronaut, and long-time friend of Playtime Project

• Ms. Coats, a current Playtime parent

• Kevin, a current Playtime participant

• Emmett Jordan, Mayor of Greenbelt

• Tim Adams, Prince George’s County Councilmember for District 4, representing Greenbelt

• Ashanti Martinez, State Delegate & Majority Whip representing Greenbelt

“Children are our sacred duty to care for and protect, and governments should support programs like Playtime.”—Charles Bolden, former NASA Administrator and astronaut

“Playtime at the Plaza is such a great example of what can happen when the business community, the city, and nonprofits all work together.”—Emmett Jordan, Mayor of Greenbelt.

The Plaza “provides families with a welcoming community-centered environment where children can engage in meaningful play while parents and caregivers connect with vital resources and support.”—Tim Adams, Prince George’s County Councilmember for District 4, representing Greenbelt.

Playtime Project builds resilience in children experiencing housing insecurity through the power of play. The organization provides transformative play programs at shelters, schools, and community spaces in DC and Prince George’s County, and offers family stability services to help end the cycle of chronic family homelessness. For more information, visit www.playtimeproject.org

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Christalis Invites Community to 2026 Superhero 5K & Pop-Up Market

By PRESS OFFICER

Christalis Inc.

Takoma Park, Md. (Sept. 11, 2026)—Christalis will host its annual Superhero 5K Run/Walk and Pop-Up Market on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at Washington Adventist University. Proceeds from the family-friendly event will support Christalis programs serving vulnerable children in Uganda and the DMV area.

Participants are encouraged to dress as their favorite superhero—or come as themselves, because they are heroes to the children Christalis serves. The event will feature a 5K run/walk along the Sligo Creek Trail, a Little Hero Dash for children, and a costume contest. 5K finishers are awarded their finisher medal by Grace, who joined the Christalis Home at 6 months old. Prizes include a weekend stay in Deep Creek, Giant Food Gift Card, Spa Certificates, Fuel Gift Cards, and more. Runners also get entered into a special scavenger hunt lottery for a $100 Shell Gas Station Gift Card.

At the Pop-Up Market everyone can enjoy coffee and other specialty drinks from Travlen’ Tom’s Coffee Truck along with other local food vendors. Kids enjoy Kona’s Ice, a slime cart, and other kids activities. Attendees also get to browse products from local artisans, fashion & beauty vendors.

Registration and packet pickup begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by the Little Hero Dash at 8:35 a.m., and warm-up at 8:45 a.m. The 5K and pop-up market begin at 9:00 a.m. Registration is $35 in advance and $40 on race day, with discounted pricing for undergraduate students. More information for participants, vendors, volunteers, and sponsors is available at christalis.org/5k-run-walk.

Started in 2014 at Washington Adventist University, the Christalis Superhero 5K has grown from a small community fundraiser into an annual event that brings together supporters from across the DMV and beyond.

“Our Superhero 5K not only brings together our donor community, but unites the local community with our cause in a fun and exciting way,” said Shalini, President of Christalis.

Christalis is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has served vulnerable children and families for more than 20 years. Through its Child & Family Development Program in Uganda and Lilly’s Gifts Program in the United States, Christalis provides education support, food, emergency healthcare, school supplies, clothing, gifts, and other basic needs, while also helping caregivers through income-generating projects and microloans. https://www.christalis.org/

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