ANNAPOLIS, MD — Lieutenant Governor Miller today visited Riverdale to reaffirm the importance and impact the
ENOUGH Act will have on suburban communities across Maryland, including those in Prince George’s County. More than 60 community members and local elected officials, including Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks; Prince George's Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Alexander Austin; Employ Prince George’s President and Chief Executive Officer Walter Simmons; Latin American Youth Center President and Chief Executive Officer Lupi Quinteros-Grady; and UNITE HERE Local 25 Political Director Samuel Epps joined the lieutenant governor for the event hosted at the Latin American Youth Center - Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers.
“We live in one of the wealthiest states in the nation and there is no reason why any Maryland child should be growing up at or below the poverty line — but we know that far too many do. With this legislation, the Moore-Miller administration is saying ENOUGH – enough of the wasted potential; enough of the dreams deferred; and enough of the cycles of poverty in our state.”
said Lt. Gov. Miller. “Working in partnership through the ENOUGH Act with state government, local communities, and the private sector, we will achieve our goals to create safe and thriving communities, support healthy and economically secure families; and ensure access to high-quality education and high-quality health care for our children.
The ENOUGH Act uses place-based interventions in communities with disproportionately high numbers of children living in poverty—rural, suburban and urban. Communities that show an ability to assess existing pathways to success, coordinate across sectors, and address challenges strategically and in a holistic manner can apply for competitive grant funding of up to $10 million per year. The program will be run through the Governor’s Office for Children.
“Today, I am proud to stand with Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller in support of the Miller-Moore Administration’s ENOUGH Act. The ENOUGH Act will help greatness grow in Prince George’s County by supporting communities and children who need it most,”
said Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. “This poverty reduction effort will target resources to communities most harmed by cycles of poverty and will help us build a safer and more vibrant Maryland for all.”
“The Moore-Miller Administration's ENOUGH Act is a catalyst for positive change, and in partnership with initiatives like this, we are witnessing a transformative era for our state and our country,”
said Prince George's Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Alexander Austin. “This immersive opportunity gives us the ability to work hand in hand, and build a future where prosperity knows no bounds.”
Lt. Governor Miller hosted a roundtable discussion to share and learn more about how the ENOUGH Act can uplift the region. She was joined by Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy and local leaders from the Prince George’s County Commission for Children, Youth and Families; Prince George's Chamber of Commerce; Latin American Youth Center; UNITE HERE Local 25; Employ Prince George’s; and the Greater Washington Community Foundation.
“My staff is confronted each day with serious challenges facing our youth and their families from mental health, substance abuse, homelessness to crime. I am encouraged with the ENOUGH Act to know that we have leaders that understand the investment that our communities need right now,”
said Latin American Youth Center President and Chief Executive Officer Lupi Quinteros-Grady. “I am also encouraged that there is bold leadership and thinking taking place on behalf of our under-resourced communities.”
“The ENOUGH Act is exactly what Maryland needs to collectively move the entire state forward. Using a community-based approach to make our communities safer, healthier, and more accessible to economic opportunities has been the missing link to ensuring every community and Marylander has access to the American Dream,”
said Employ Prince George’s President and Chief Executive Officer Walter Simmons. “Employ Prince George’s is proud to support the Moore-Miller Administration in this effort.
“When communities are focused on good paying jobs, it allows workers to live close to where they work, have only one job, and send their kids to college if they choose — this enables workers, as members of their communities, to invest in the quality of life in their neighborhood,”
said UNITE HERE Local 25 Political Director Samuel Epps. “The ENOUGH Act creates that roadmap and our union looks forward to working with all stakeholders – state, county, local governments, business, nonprofit and local communities to make this a success for workers, children, and their families.”