The Pri nce Ge orge’s Pos t OMMUNITY EWSPAPER FOR RINCE EORGE S OUNTY SINCE A C N P G ’ C 1932 Vol. 87, No. 6 February 7 — February 13, 2019 Prince George’s County, Maryland Newspaper of Record Phone: 301-627-0900 25 cents Four D.c.-area students among Outstanding group of 100 teens selected from thousands to take part in 2019 Disney Dreamers academy High school students will receive all-expenses-paid trip to Disney to participate in coveted mentoring event in March with Steve Harvey and ESSENCE Magazine By pRess oFFICeR tJM communications, inc. The Prince George’s County lAKe buenA VIsTA, Fla. (Jan. 14, 2019)— Today, Walt Disney World Resort revealed the 100 extraor - Summer Youth Jobs Program dinary youths from across the nation who will par - The prince george’s County 15 –19. The training mimics the ticipate in the 2019 Disney Dreamers Academy with government’s Youth@Work/ workplace and is a safe environ - steve Harvey and essenCe Magazine. each stu - summer Youth enrichment pro - ment where young people can dent receives an all-expenses-paid trip to Walt Dis - gram (sYep) (aka summer Youth demonstrate their proficiency and ney World to participate in an immersive, transfor - Jobs program) is a six-week, paid readiness for work. The curricu - mational four-day experience that will take place entry-level introduction to work lum supports the development of March 21 –24. in public and non-profit agencies skills such as communication, Among the selected students, four are from the for the youth of prince george’s customer service, and teamwork. Washington D.C. area. They are: County. This countywide initiative Youth who successfully complete Name City State offers youth enriching and con - the program will receive place - lauren Taylor Washington DC structive summer work experi - ment preference in the prince Ilyna Fontaine Waldorf MD ences in various assignments george’s County summer Youth lauryn howell Upper Marlboro MD pHoTos CouRTesY WAlT DIsneY WoRlD throughout the County. Youth Jobs program (Youth@Work/ gabrielle Williams accokeek MD pictured above are (l) lauryn howell of Upper Marlboro and (r) who successfully complete the Job sYep). The program, now in its 12th year, is an important gabrielle Williams of accokeek. Readiness Training will have pri - Whether or not they do the job part of Disney’s commitment to helping the next gen - ority placement, but must apply readiness training, county youth eration of young people by inspiring them at a critical time in their TV personalities such as celebrity chef Carla Hall and “good for employment. ages of 14 –22 years old are en - development. The Disney Dreamers Academy theme is “be100,” Morning America’’ co-anchor Michael strahan. Requirements for summer couraged to apply for public and encouraging teens to be positive, to be “all in” and to carry what Additionally, students participate in immersive career-oriented Youth Jobs program eligibility: private positions for summer they learn back with them, so they can relentlessly pursue their workshops that range from animation to zoology. each student is • Youth must be a resident of youth employment through sev - dreams and make a difference in the lives of others. also given important life tools such as effective communication prince george’s County eral resources. Youth are encour - “These students are in for a life-changing experience,” said Tracey techniques, leadership skills and networking strategies. • between the ages of 14 –22 aged to apply for all opportunities. D. powell, Walt Disney World Resort vice president and Disney “Having a dream is one of the most important things in life. years old by July 1, 2019 Apply beginning on February 1. Dreamers Academy executive champion. “our goal is to help them My success is a direct result of dreaming big,” said Harvey. “It is • In order to provide employ - Application period closes on Feb - see the unlimited possibilities and to inspire them to achieve their my passion to help others dream bigger and to give them the tools ment opportunities to as many ruary 28. summer employment full purpose—to become the heroes of their own stories.” to achieve those dreams. That is why I enjoy partnering with Dis - youth as possible, youth will last for 6 weeks and is an exciting participating students, known as “Disney Dreamers,” embark ney on this program every year.” only be able to work a maxi - opportunity for our young people on a journey that takes them throughout the Disney theme parks since 2008, Walt Disney World Resort has provided all-ex - mum of 2 years in the to gain work experience and great and behind the scenes of this 40-square-mile vacation destination. penses-paid trips to more than 1,100 students, plus a parent or Youth@Work/sYep life skills. Walt Disney World becomes a vibrant classroom where students guardian, to participate in the annual Disney Dreamers Academy. Visit www.princegeorges discover new career opportunities, pursue their dreams and interact students are selected from thousands of applicants who answered summer youth Jobs countymd.gov with Harvey and other celebrities and motivational speakers. a series of essay questions about their personal stories and dreams readiness training —Prince George’s County Celebrities who have participated in the past include singers patti for the future. Job Readiness Training is Department of Human labelle and ne-Yo, nbA legend and business mogul Magic John - “We have a remarkable group of students attending this year,” FRee to County residents ages Resources Management son, gospel music star Yolanda Adams, actor Jussie smollett, plus said Michelle ebanks, Chief executive officer of essence Commu - nications Inc. “At essenCe, we embrace the mission of inspiring the next generation of leaders, and we’re looking forward to partnering with Disney once again to cultivate greatness in the 2019 class.” council announces expansion of For more information, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com. Regular updates about Disney Dreamers Academy are also avail - special partnership grant with able on social media at Facebook.com/DisneyDreamersAcademy, venture philanthropy partners Twitter.com/DreamersAcademy and Instagram.com/disney Strategic Initiative Enhances Capacity of dreamersacademy. Youth-Serving Nonprofits in the County academy award-nominated costume designer ruth e. carter, By AngelA J. Rouson who recently worked on Black panther, shares inspiring stories prince george’s county council with high school students saturday, March 10, 2018, during a panel discussion of Disney Dreamers academy with steve har - uppeR MARlboRo , Md. (Jan 24, 2019)—The prince george’s vey and essence at epcot in lake Buena vista, Fla. the County Council and Venture philanthropy partners (Vpp) announced 12th annual Disney Dreamers academy, taking place March the expansion of its Ready for Work nonprofit Capacity building Ini - 21 –24, 2019 is a career-inspiration program for distinguished tiative to strengthen nonprofits to better serve youth across the county. high school students from across the U.s. Ready for Work is a six-year $15 million investment by Vpp to pHoTogRApH CReDIT: ToDD AnDeRson help young people in prince george’s County successfully transition to college and career ready adults. The nonprofit Capacity building Anne Arundel currently has 60 minutes initiative launched as a special partnership grant from the County Bill Would Mandate school time of p.e. required a week, and officials esti - Council in FY2018 as part of Ready for Work. With a goal of building mated it would cost the county $3.5 million networks of community-based organizations that can provide integrated to rollout changes in fiscal year 2020. supports for students, the nonprofit Capacity building Initiative was For student physical activity developed to strengthen the capacity of nonprofits to provide more An increase of $19.9 million or signifi - “It is critical for a local board of education By DAVID JAHng students in the County with high-quality services. cantly more would be needed in the 2020 to retain the authority to address curricular capital news service Following a competitive process, four additional nonprofits in the fiscal year to fund these counties that have issues for its schools,” the board said in writ - County were identified as organizations specifically focused on pro - AnnApolIs, Md. (January 31, 2019)— maximums of 45 or 60 minutes per week in ten testimony. viding high school students with academic achievement, high school legislation that would require 150 minutes p.e., according to the Maryland Department Matt slatkin, a physical education teacher completion, post-secondary preparation, career readiness and healthy of physical activity, including 90 minutes of of education. in Montgomery County, told lawmakers the behaviors. The Training source, College and Career pathways, Inc., physical education, a week for elementary Delegate Jay Walker, D-prince george’s, time set aside for physical education is a liberty’s promise and Community Youth Advance will join FY 2018 school students in Maryland was heard by sponsored the bill—which failed last legisla - proactive and cost-effective strategy for recipients First generation College bound, Foundation for the Ad - the House Ways and Means committee on tive session—and said it was not helpful that boosting students’ well-being. vancement of Music and education, Inc. (FAMe), Joe’s Movement Thursday. his daughters were only receiving one day of “This falls under the moral obligation of emporium and end Time Harvest Ministries as a part of the Ready for The student Health and Fitness Act re - p.e. a week. ‘see something, say something’ for me,” Work nonprofit Capacity building Initiative for FY 2019. quires schools to create a physical leadership “I realized that children in my county, slatkin said. Council Chair Todd M. Turner (D)—District 4, says the expansion activity team to fill the remaining 60 minutes throughout the state, we have a problem with Delegate eric luedtke, D-Montgomery, of Ready for Work is an important continued investment in our County’s with “moderate to vigorous” activity.