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Photo Courtesy Historic Annapolis
Abby Phillip
Historic Annapolis, Inc., Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, and Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts to Present “A Conversation With Abby Phillip”
By PRESS OFFICER
Historic Annapolis
Historic Annapolis, Inc., Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, and Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts are pleased to present “A Conversation with Abby Phillip” at Maryland Hall on October 12, 2025 at 6 p.m.
Anchor of CNN’s News Night with Abby Phillip, Ms. Phillip will share her thoughts on her lived experience, from her Maryland childhood to her noteworthy career as a journalist.
Phillip grew up in Bowie, Maryland, graduated from Harvard University, and has made her extraordinary career reporting on and interviewing the most remarkable people of our time. Phillip combines her political experience and reporting savvy to help viewers understand all sides of an issue.
The conversation will be led by WHUR radio news host Harold T. Fisher and will touch on a number of subjects from Phillip’s exciting life and career. Phillip’s visit comes just ahead of the release of her highly anticipated debut book, A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power, arriving October 28, 2025.
This presentation has been produced through the generosity of Carroll H. Hynson Jr. Hynson says, “Abby Phillip coming to Annapolis makes my dream a reality.”
“Historic Annapolis, in partnership with the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum and Maryland Hall, is delighted to provide the public with a unique opportunity to hear from such a gifted journalist,” says Karen Theimer Brown, President and CEO of Historic Annapolis.
“Welcoming Abby Phillip to Maryland is a tremendous honor. Her voice as a journalist and storyteller resonates deeply with our values of truth, justice, and cultural empowerment as an institution, and we are proud to be a part of it,” says Chanel C. Johnson, Executive Director, Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum.
“Bringing luminary speakers and thought leaders like Abby Phillip to our stage allows us to further expand our mission of Art for All. We are grateful to our presenting partners for this opportunity,” says Jackie Coleman, Executive Director, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts.
The event is FREE, but advanced registration is required. Seats can be reserved via Maryland Hall’s website, https://marylandhall.org/maryland-hall-presents
Historic Annapolis is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Maryland’s capital city. Through stewardship of historic sites and educational programming, Historic Annapolis connects visitors and residents to the stories that shaped the nation. Historic Annapolis operates four local museums and hosts a wide array of activities year-round, including guided tours, educational field trips, and living history events. For more information, visit www.annapolis.org
As the State of Maryland’s official museum of African American heritage, the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum serves to document, interpret, and promote African American history and culture in Maryland through exhibitions, programs, and projects in order to improve the understanding and appreciation of America’s rich cultural diversity for all. The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum is operated by the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture.
At Maryland Hall, visitors can enjoy the arts in countless ways whether signing up for a class, attending a performance, visiting the on-site galleries, meeting artists-in-residence, volunteering, or spending time on the campus. Maryland Hall is proud to welcome more than 100,000 people to enjoy the arts each year. This campaign is a reinforcement of the organization’s continual commitment to Art for All.
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NourishNet Team Showcases AI-Driven Food Systems Innovation at the 2025
Prince George’s County Community Garden Summit
By DR. EID GUL
University of Maryland
At the 2025 Prince George’s County Community Garden Summit, the University of Maryland’s NourishNet Project showcased its AI-powered Scenario Analysis Engine, a groundbreaking tool designed to help government institutions, nonprofits, and local organizations reduce food waste and make smarter sustainable decisions. The tool, part of the project’s FoodLoops app, which supports smarter food redistribution in Prince George’s County and beyond, predicts and ranks strategies for handling surplus food from donation and composting to anaerobic digestion, animal feed, and landfill disposal.
By analyzing factors such as greenhouse gases, costs, and potential for food recovery, the engine helps organizations identify the most effective strategies. Summit attendees called it a “game-changer for sustainable food management.”
“This event allowed us to connect science with real community impact,” said lead developer and Postdoc in the university’s Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Dr. Eid Gul. “Our AI models help institutions save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen local food systems.”
Visitors at the NourishNet booth engaged with interactive visuals, and flyers explaining how the Scenario Analysis Engine works. The dashboard allows users to input their own data such as food type, quantity, and location and instantly receive ranked diversion strategies, complete with maps, cost-benefit analyses, and downloadable reports.
The project encourages local nonprofits, food distributors, those who may be experiencing food insecurity, and other partners to get involved by completing a short survey and joining beta testing for FoodLoops. The QR code below provides quick and easy access for participation. Feedback from the community is crucial as FoodLoops seeks to refine its AI-powered solutions. For more information on the beta testing process, please connect with Michelle Burton at mburton@institutephi.org. The NourishNet Project, led by Professor Stephanie Lansing in the Department of Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland and funded by the National Science Foundation, bridges cutting-edge research with real-world community needs. By combining machine learning, greenhouse gas and cost modeling, GIS-based routing, and an intuitive dashboard, the project empowers institutions to make data-driven, sustainable decisions about food diversion.
Through innovation, data, and community engagement, the NourishNet team is helping Maryland move toward equitable, efficient, and sustainable food systems.
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Heart of America Launches Multi-Million-Dollar Library Transformation Project At 46 Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland
This initiative is one of the most significant public-private partnerships in the country dedicated exclusively to reimagining libraries at a top 20 public-school district.
By PRESS OFFICER
Heart of America
Washington (Aug. 26, 2025)—Heart of America (HOA), a Washington, DC-based nonprofit dedicated to transforming learning spaces for underserved students since 1997, has launched a multi-million-dollar, year-long initiative to transform 46 libraries across Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) in Maryland that will shape the future of learning for generations to come. The partnership also includes constructing a brand new 47th library dedicated to training and professional development for the district’s librarians and educators.
In an era when many K–12 schools face critical funding shortfalls, this public-private partnership is bridging the resource gap with modern, innovative spaces designed to prepare students for 21st-century careers.
PGCPS, the second-largest public school system in Maryland and the 18th largest in the nation, serves more than 132,854 students in 200 schools and centers. Its student body is one of the most diverse in the country. More than 26,000 students and educators will benefit from the custom-designed libraries, tailored to the unique needs of each school and community.
“It’s incredibly rare to have the opportunity to contribute to such a transformative change within a school district. With the Prince George’s County Public Schools’ library initiative, we’re making a system-level investment that will shape student experiences for generations to come, said Jill Hardy Heath, HOA President and CEO. “This effort is about more than remodeling spaces—it’s about reimagining the role of libraries as vibrant, inclusive hubs of learning. We’re creating dynamic environments that foster curiosity, support every student’s growth, and unlock their full potential.”
The library transformations, each taking 12–14 weeks, will be completed in three phases, with the final phase wrapping up in early 2026. Each school will select from innovative library models, such as:
• Collective Learning & Literacy Hubs
• STEAM Innovation Labs
• STEM Exploration Centers
HOA will be providing more than 72,000 culturally relevant books that represent the diversity of the student population to complete each transformation space. HOA’s nature-inspired design aesthetic will incorporate natural, fresh materials and lighting to create a relaxing environment for students, while a variety of high-tech educational resources will also be featured to inspire learning, including:
• High-tech tools: smart TVs, projectors, computer stations, 3D printers, robotics kits, Arduino and Raspberry Pi tools, LEGO MINDSTORMS, VEX Robotics, and Sphero robots.
• Media production gear: Green Screens, video equipment, and editing tools.
• Hands-on learning tools: makerspaces with engineering instruments, digital calipers, and construction kits.
“We’re thankful for our partnership with Heart of America, whose support will help transform more than 46 school libraries across our district,” said Dr. Shawn Joseph, Interim Superintendent of Prince George’s County Public Schools. “Early in my career, I met a student who struggled to read, and that moment ignited my lifelong mission to ensure every child has the tools to succeed. These new library spaces are more than buildings—they are gateways to literacy, a love of reading, and brighter futures for our students.”
This initiative is one of the most significant public-private partnerships in the country dedicated exclusively to reimagining libraries. Pull Up Fund is the proud supporter and funding partner for the PGCPS transformation project. Pull Up Fund, based in Prince George’s County, has deep local ties and a history of supporting a variety of educational, youth and health development initiatives in historically excluded communities.
With these modern, flexible learning environments, HOA and PGCPS are setting a national example for how thoughtful design can address inequities in education and equip students with the skills they need to thrive for generations to come.
Heart of America is a 501c3 nonprofit that transforms learning spaces and helps bridge resource gaps. Our work focuses on the whole student, knowing that the physical spaces where young people learn are just as important as?what?they are learning. Since 1997, we’ve worked towards education equity by renovating nearly 1,400 spaces in classrooms, libraries, STEAM labs, college/career centers, school gymnasiums, and community centers, and more. We have provided current resources, including over 4.4 million books, and infused over $14.3 million in technology. https://www.heartofamerica.org
Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), one of the nation’s 20th largest school districts, has 200 schools and centers, more than 132,854 students and nearly 20,000 employees. PGCPS’s mission is to ensure all students graduate with the skills and knowledge to thrive in a globally competitive world. https://www.pgcps.org
Pull Up Fund proudly supports the youth of Prince George’s County. We are pulling up communities around the county and connecting them with resources to help them thrive.? Prior Pull Up Fund grants have supported an array of different issues including increasing access to mental health services, supporting youth development initiatives, and providing resources for individuals returning to the community after incarceration. https://pullupfund.org/
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Promising Student Gains Mark Start of 2025–26 School Year in PGCPS
New leadership, rising achievement signal upward momentum.
By PRESS OFFICER
PGCPS
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (Aug. 26, 2025)—On Tuesday, August 26, more than 130,000 students returned to Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) as the 2025–26 school year began with fresh momentum and a focus on accelerating growth for every learner. Newly released Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) results—coinciding with the first day of school— show steady gains in reading and math, with especially strong progress among multilingual learners and students with disabilities.
“These results send a powerful message—our students are moving forward,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph. “It’s the best way to start a school year and the perfect moment to push harder. For multilingual learners and students with disabilities, that means high expectations, excellent instruction, and systems designed to deliver results. Our goal is to meet every student where they are and ensure they make measurable progress.”
To highlight the academic momentum, Dr. Joseph—joined by County and district leaders —visited several schools that posted significant MCAP gains. Some of these campuses are designated Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) schools that have historically struggled, making their progress especially noteworthy.
At District Heights Elementary School, English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency rose 12% and math 5%, with multilingual learners achieving double-digit growth in literacy. Andrew Jackson K-8 Academy posted one of the district’s strongest year-over-year ELA gains, climbing 13%—a result the school attributes to focused community partnerships. Crossland High School students recorded a 12% jump in math proficiency and continued a multi-year upward trend in graduation rates. Catherine T. Reed Elementary, recognized for success and innovation serving special education students, posted gains of 11% in math and 8% in ELA.
Dr. Joseph closed the day at two high schools aligned with his school year priorities: boosting attendance and advancing multilingual learners. Largo High School reduced chronic absenteeism by more than 11%, and the International High School at Largo improved literacy proficiency for multilingual learners by 6%.
This academic growth comes at a pivotal moment, as PGCPS implements key elements of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future while also launching a new multi-year strategic planning process centered on academic excellence, equity, innovation and whole-child development.
Academic Achievement & Innovation
PGCPS enters the new school year with a sharp academic charge: accelerate learning, act early and ensure resources, leadership and instruction are aligned for impact—especially in schools that have historically struggled. Several of these campuses are now part of the new Innovation Zone, a focused improvement initiative that pairs proven principals with greater resource flexibility, targeted supports for multilingual learners and students with disabilities, and real-time data monitoring to speed progress.
Short-term benchmarks and formative assessments are now central to measuring and responding to student learning.
“We can’t wait until May to find out a student didn’t master a concept in September,” Dr. Joseph said. “Real-time data must drive real-time action.”
Twenty-four schools identified as consistently underperforming will receive targeted support beginning with proven principals, sustained coaching, and strengthened operational assistance. A new Associate Superintendent for Innovation and Performance will lead improvement efforts across high-need campuses.
The district is also reviewing Title I and Community School resource use with a focus on transparency and measurable outcomes, and has introduced real-time dashboards—soon to include an additional public-facing dashboard offering a performance snapshot highlighting academic outcomes and school climate measures, with an emphasis on growth and gains, for every school.
Community-Centered Leadership
Dr. Joseph’s 100-Day Plan includes countywide community sessions—nine virtual sessions completed in July and nine in-person sessions underway—to elevate stakeholder voices. Feedback will directly shape the new strategic plan.
Transportation Improvements
PGCPS begins the school year navigating a bus driver shortage—part of a national trend—that is expected to cause delays and longer travel times for some students. To help families plan, the district launched a new online portal with regularly updated route and delay information. The district is also piloting a new mobile app offering real-time bus tracking and arrival alerts, ahead of a wider rollout later this year.
New School Construction
PGCPS recently broke ground on Hyattsville Elementary School and Brandywine Area 3-8, part of the second phase of the Blueprint Schools initiative. These projects join four other Blueprint Phase II schools already in progress with staggered delivery of eight total schools through 2028.
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