Montgomery County is one of the larger counties within the state of Maryland, at a total of 497 mi2. Because of its size, demographics, both racially and economically, can vary from place to place. In general, upper county cities tend to have less racial diversity and higher median incomes. In Potomac, for example, the median household income is $189,729, the median property value of a home is $905,800, and the majority of the population is non-Hispanic white (60.6%). Eastern county cities tend to differ. For instance, the city of Burtonsville has a median household income of$122,541, a median property value of $396,100, and the largest ethnic group is of Black/African American descent. There is a significant socioeconomic gap between different regions of Montgomery County, affecting not just residents, but also schools, with eastern county schools receiving less funding than upper county schools.
To address and resolve these issues, a group of students from the Northeast Consortium created an organization, Montgomery County ConNECts, that aims to “engage students in civic duties and address socioeconomic disparities in the Northeast County region.” The high schools in the NEC include Paintbranch, James Hubert Blake, and Springbrook. Students from these schools are part of MoCo, which connects the main audience with each school having its chapter. MoCo ConNECts was founded after the 2021 former Student Member of the Board (SMOB) elections when students from schools noticed there were predominantly upper county students running for this position.
MoCo ConNECts offers information on their Instagram on events within the schools in the NEC. MoCo ConNECts also offers multiple academic resources such as offering tutoring and resources for students to help study for the SAT and ACT. Since their primary focus is advocacy, members of MoCo ConNECts can attend Zoom meetings with members of different schools to discuss issues and brainstorm possible solutions. These meetings happen weekly on Fridays from 6:30-7:30 and biweekly on Tuesdays. Though Instagram is their main social platform members receive most of their information from remind, remind is a private mobile messaging platform that seeks to make it easier for teachers, parents, students, and administrators in schools to interact with everyone at the same time, which allows members to have more open conversations with the board of their schools chapter of MoCo ConNECts.
MoCo ConNECts’ agenda for this year includes having testimonies, encouraging middle school advocacy programs, initiating policy workshops, and hosting school cultural discussions. MoCo ConNECts offers applications to aid in continuing this essential organization, as well as joining! If you are interested in joining and going to a school in the NEC contact members of your school’s chapter of MoCo Connect to find out more information. Information on how to join can can be found on their Instagram and Linktree.
Written by Maru Amtataw of John F Kennedy High School
Photo courtesy of Edward Johnson
