Planning Department Teams Up With Junior Achievers in the Schools 

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Prince George’s County Planning Department has entered into a partnership with Junior Achievement of the National Capital Area, Inc., to present its third grade curriculum, “Our Cities” to three area elementary schools.  Students reviewed the role of various industries in a city and learned about related planning concepts.  Children worked with staff to develop their own planning projects, by using land use regulations and blue prints to build their own city.

Nine staff members of the Planning Department are currently teaching at Ardmore, Berkshire and Hollywood Elementary Schools. The staff consists of one chief, Yvonne Magee; one researcher, Joseph Valenza, Ph.D.; six planners, Judith D’Ambrosi, Heather Higgins, Susan Lareuse, Faramarz Mokhtari Ph.D., Dineene O’Connor and Christine Osei; and public affairs specialist, Patricia Thornton. This program is the first public participation program to be launched by the Public Affairs unit of the Department’s Information Center.  Many more community education programs will be launched throughout the year.