Braveboy Climate Leadership Summit
The Braveboy Climate Leadership Summit unites government, business, and community leaders to accelerate climate action throughout Prince George's County.
New Venue | Same Date & Time
Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 3:15 PM
Bowie State University
Student Service Center
14000 Jericho Park Road
Bowie, MD 20715-9465
We’re Adding a Virtual Program!
Due to overwhelming demand, the Braveboy Climate Leadership Summit will now be livestreamed. We want as many people as possible to participate in the day's conversations, insights, and climate leadership moments—no matter where you are.
If you can’t join us in person, we invite you to participate in the summit virtually. Please register below to receive the livestream link and event updates.
IKYMI!
More than 250 leaders from government, business, academia, and the community gathered for a full day of learning, collaboration, and action focused on advancing the County's Climate Action Implementation Strategy Plan. Sessions explored the expansion of the Resilience Hub Network, the launch of the Solarize Prince George’s campaign, and the growing opportunities created by a climate-ready workforce. With strong support from regional and community partners—including Bowie State University, MWCOG, and Constellation—the Summit underscored the County’s commitment to building a cleaner, more resilient, and more equitable future for all residents.
If you missed the event or would like to revisit the conversations, you can now watch the full morning program and all Summit sessions on our YouTube playlist here.
Additionally, you can review the Summit programs below.
Programs
Powering a Climate-Ready Future—Together
Prince George's County is leading the way toward a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient future. The Braveboy Climate Leadership Summit is the County's first-ever gathering dedicated to empowering leaders across every sector—government, business, education, faith, and community—to turn climate goals into collective action.
Join County Executive Aisha Braveboy, officials from Prince George's Community College, the Department of the Environment's Climate and Energy Division, and partners across Prince George's County for a day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration as we chart a path toward a climate-ready future for all.
Why This Summit Matters
As our community faces the growing impacts of climate change—from extreme heat and flooding to energy costs and infrastructure challenges—the need for leadership, innovation, and equity-centered solutions has never been greater.
This summit will:
- Showcase local climate action already underway through the County's Climate Action Implementation Strategy Plan (CAISP)
- Highlight tools and resources available to organizations and communities
- Foster new partnerships across sectors to accelerate progress
- Uplift youth and community voices as part of our shared vision for a sustainable future
What to Expect
Opening Remarks: County Executive Aisha Braveboy
Keynote Address: Serena McIlwain, Secretary, Maryland Department of the Environment
Panel Discussions: Exploring equity, innovation, and local solutions
Networking Opportunities: Connect with County leaders, experts, and changemakers
Student Climate Research Showcase: Featuring original projects by PGCPS high school students
Interactive Exhibits: Discover ways to take action at home, work, and in your community
Be Part of the Movement
Whether you're an elected official, business owner, educator, student, or resident who cares about sustainability, your voice matters. Together, we can build a County that's not only prepared for the impacts of climate change, but thriving because of our collective action.
Register now to attend the Braveboy Climate Leadership Summit and help shape Prince George's County's climate-ready future.
Schedule of Events
(Speakers and sessions subject to change)
Sign In and Light Breakfast
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM | Bowie State Student Center Entrance
Welcome to the Braveboy Climate Leadership Summit
10:00 AM | Bowie Theater
Pat Lawson Muse, Emcee
Welcome from Bowie State University
10:05 AM | Bowie Theater
Dr. Aminta H. Breaux, President, Bowie State University
Opening Remarks
10:10 AM | Bowie Theater
The Honorable Aisha N. Braveboy, Prince George’s County Executive
The Honorable Edward P. Burroughs III, Council Chair, District 8
The Honorable Ingrid S. Watson, Council Member, District 4
The Honorable Wala Blegay, Council Member, District 6
Dr. Falecia D. Williams, President, Prince George’s Community College
Remarks From Young Climate Leaders
10:20 AM | Bowie Theater
James Dubon Garcia, 10th grader at Parkdale High School
Maya Gudderra, 10th grader at Oxon Hill High School
Olivia Thomas, 9th grader at Charles Herbert Flowers High School
Mikal Witherspoon, 12th Grader at Academy of Health and Sciences
Remarks from Our Sponsor
10:30 AM | Bowie Theater
Pepco & BGE
State of the Climate in Prince George's County
10:35 AM | Bowie Theater
Samuel B. Moki, Ph.d.; Director, Prince George's County Department of the Environment
Keynote Address
10:45 AM | Bowie Theater
The Honorable Serena C. McIlwain, Maryland Secretary of the Environment
Plenary Session - Local Government's Role in Driving Climate Solutions: Best Practices from the Front Lines
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM | Bowie Theater
Learn from County and city leaders who have taken a variety of approaches to mitigating and adapting to climate change within their communities. From rural to urban settings and from small municipalities to large counties, these practitioners will share the unique conditions and constraints that have driven their approaches, as well as the promising practices that have contributed to their successes. This fireside chat will be a moderated discussion with audience participation.
Lunch & Networking Break
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM | Wiseman Room A and Wiseman Room B
Lunch & Learn with Pepco
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM | Bowie Theater
Lunch & Learn with WSSC
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM | Wiseman Room A
Breakout Session 1A: Accelerating Climate Action Through Interagency Partnerships: Mapping Heat Islands to Improve Equity, Health, and Environmental Outcomes
12:30 PM - 1:20 PM | Bowie Theater
In this federal-local partnership, NASA satellite data is used to map surface temperatures throughout Prince George’s County over time. In turn, the Prince George's County Departments of the Environment, Health, and Public Works and Transportation rely on these data to inform policy and investment decisions for tree planting, stormwater management, and health assessments. Potential future applications for surface temperature data modelling in all three departments will also be discussed in this panel session.
Breakout Session 1B - Leveling the Playing Field: Investing in Overburdened Communities
12:30 PM - 1:20 PM | Wiseman Room A
Learn from state, local, and community advocates about their vision for addressing environmental justice in Prince George’s County. Whether it is healthy and clean air and water, a livable climate, or reliable and robust infrastructure, mitigating the impacts of historical disinvestment and the cumulative burdens imposed on individuals in these neighborhoods, who suffer disproportionately from climate impacts, is a top priority.
Breakout Session 1C: Climate Change and Human Health: Pathways for Addressing Public Health, Wellbeing, and Cumulative Impacts
12:30 PM - 1:20 PM | Wiseman Room B
Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts, storms, and flooding, create conditions that exacerbate respiratory and cardiac conditions like asthma and heart disease. Individuals residing in underinvested/overburdened communities are the most likely to face such health conditions, and to bear the brunt of extreme weather conditions. This interactive discussion will feature experts from national and local organizations that provide research, tools, and support to mitigate the health impacts of climate change.
Coffee and Networking Break
1:20 PM - 1:40 PM | Wiseman Room A and Wiseman Room B
Breakout Session 2A - Unlocking Economic Opportunity: Growing the Climate Workforce of the Future
1:40 PM - 2:30 PM | Bowie Theater
Despite being an urgent crisis, climate change also provides opportunities to grow the local economy through the creation of new green jobs. Learn from workforce advocates and practitioners who prepare, train, and help place Prince Georgeans into green jobs. From education and job readiness to training and apprenticeship programs, as well as placement services and job support, speakers will cover the full range of the workforce lifecycle.
Breakout Session 2B - Resilience Hub Programming Jam (Workshop)
1:40 PM - 2:30 PM | Wiseman Room A
In this workshop, County officials and community members are invited to come together to envision what climate resilience programming could look like for users of the Hyattsville Branch Library Resilience Hub. Participants will work together in small groups, each with a different theme, to develop a community engagement or educational activity that helps residents better access the resources they need to withstand the climate crisis.
Breakout Session 2C - Tools for Changing the Game: Green and Renewable Energy Solutions
1:40 PM - 2:30 PM | Wiseman Room B
In this fireside chat, practitioners from the State, County, and non-profits will share their experiences facilitating renewable energy adoptions at County facilities and among private residents and businesses in Prince George’s County. Learn about the incentives and tools available to various stakeholders, despite the Federal retrenchment from renewable energy.
Break and Transition to Final Session
2:30 PM - 2:40 PM
Small Group Activity: From Planning to Action
2:40 PM - 3:10 PM | Wiseman Room B
Closing Remarks
3:10 PM - 3:15 PM | Wiseman Room B
Derrick Coley, Deputy Director, Prince George's County Department of the Environment
Presented by
The Office of the County Executive and the Prince George's County Department of the Environment, Climate and Energy Division