Seneca Valley senior wins contest to be Councilmember for a Day

Student submitted a video essay highlighting the critical need for affordable childcare in MoCo

November 28, 2023 4:48 p.m.

This story was published at 11:48 a.m. on Nov. 28. It was updated at 5:51 p.m. on Nov. 28 to include comments from Folashade Epebinu and Councilmembers Will Jawando (D-At-Large) and Marilyn Balcombe (D-Dist. 2).

Folashade Epebinu, a senior at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown, will be spending the day at the Montgomery County Council on Tuesday to experience a day in the life of a county council member and learn about local government. Epebinu, 17, won the “Councilmember for a Day” student contest with a video essay that highlighted the need for affordable childcare in the county.

In Epebinu’s video essay, she described a “disheartening” moment at school when she noticed that another student had to leave class to take care of their younger siblings. She too has been in that position to help her parents offset the costs of daycare, she said.

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“Daycare is essential for so many working parents and guardians in Montgomery County, but it can be extremely difficult,” Epebinu said in her video essay. “Especially with the rising costs of housing, where parents and guardians need to pay for food, clothes, bills, transportation, and rent or mortgage, on top of paying for daycare. That can sometimes be $1,600 or more.”

The Seneca Valley High School student chose the topic of affordable childcare because it is a “critical issue” for residents in the county and a topic many could relate to.

“I think it was a really good connection between, you know, students and youth, but also like the adults among the county,” she said. “So, I felt like it was something that could connect various audiences to one single topic that they’re all impacted by.”

Epebinu highlighted one effort the county can expand to improve access to affordable childcare – preschool centers that are placed in high schools where there is an Early Child Development program. The program is offered at 20 out of 27 MCPS high schools, including Seneca Valley.

For parents, the program allows for a lower-cost preschool. For students interested in a career in childcare or education, the program provides training in the field of early childhood development, according to MCPS.

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Epebinu highlighted ways the County Council can address the issue:

  • Working with daycares in the county and creating new programs to expand enrollment
  • Expand outreach and communication to families about affordable daycare programs
  • Partner with workplaces to provide employees with a form of cost relief for childcare

“Indeed our childcare system is broken,” Councilmember Will Jawando (D-At-Large) said to Epebinu at Tuesday’s council meeting. “We need more options that are affordable, we need to pay the educators more.”

Folashade Epebinu holds a framed County Council proclamation. Credit: Ginny Bixby

The Councilmember for a Day contest was started by former Councilmember Craig Rice (Dist. 2) in 2015 to engage the county’s youth. The contest is an opportunity for middle and high school students to create a video discussing a public policy issue they are passionate about and what local government can do to help.

On Monday, Jawando announced Epebinu as the contest winner. The press release said that Jawando, who is chair of the Education and Culture Committee, was excited to continue Rice’s tradition and learn what issues are important to county youth and the solutions they offer.

“I was impressed with Ms. Epebinu’s video as well as her academic background,” Jawando said in the press release. “Young people are aware of the issues impacting their friends, family, and neighbors and we need to make sure their voices are part of developing solutions that meet the needs of today and beyond.”

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When Epebinu isn’t in high school she is studying at Montgomery College as a dually-enrolled general engineering student, she said in the video. According to the release, she serves as the Secretary of the Maryland Youth Advisory Council, is a student leader and advocate and has served on education committees that advise Montgomery County Public Schools.

“Expensive daycare costs are an issue families all over the nation and in Montgomery County are facing. But everybody in Montgomery County and on the County Council has the opportunity to make an impact and support initiatives to decrease daycare costs and support families in coming years if you take action now,” Epebinu said to councilmembers at the end of the video essay.

Epebinu sat in between Councilmembers Will Jawando (D-At-Large) and Sidney Katz (D-Dist. 3) during a work session about the Fairland and Briggs Chaney Master Plan. Credit: Ginny Bixby

On Tuesday, Epebinu sat with council members on the dais, participate in the council’s discussions and observe how the local government functions. She will also be honored with a proclamation, a luncheon and a $100 gift card.

During a presser at the council meeting, Marilyn Balcombe (D-Dist. 2) – who is the Epebinu’s councilmember – gave congratulations to the Seneca Valley student, as well as her family and teachers.

“Seeing you today, seeing the video, I think it’s these times when we feel most hopeful about our future,” Balcombe said. “And particularly when we look at the problems that are facing us today, you are inheriting those problems. And so it’s great that you’re involved and engaged early in childcare and education, housing, the environment.”

During the meeting, Epebinu had the chance to contribute to the discussion about hate crimes. She said during the presser that she wanted to say “something of substance” during the council meeting.

“Today it felt really good to be able to speak about something that I have experienced,” she said. “But also just to listen. All the council members have very good insight and a lot of different experiences. And so it was really good to just listen in on everything that they had to say.”

Ginny Bixby contributed to this report.

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