Marylanders Online Newsletter
December 2025 | Volume 3 | Issue 12
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As we celebrate this festive season and close out another year, Marylanders Online extends appreciation and warm wishes to our valued partners and community members across the state for a year filled with remarkable successes and shared accomplishments.
In 2025, the team worked to advance digital opportunities by empowering residents through free tech support, accessible education, and the strengthening of partnerships. This has allowed us to reach nearly 58,000 Marylanders across the state, including adults, youth, non-English speakers, and individuals with disabilities or those reentering the workforce.
Marylanders Online wishes everyone a peaceful holiday season and looks forward to continuing to build on this progress in 2026 and beyond.
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Holiday Closures
The Marylanders Online office and Tech Support Helpline will be closed in observance of the winter holidays starting December 24, 2025. All emails and voicemails will be responded to when operations resume on January 5, 2026.
| | | | Program Transition Notice | | | | Beginning January 2026, the University of Maryland Extension (UME) Marylanders Online digital literacy projects will enter a planned transition phase. During this time, the project will operate at reduced capacity and shift to a consultative model focused on long-term sustainability, resource refinement, and program quality. Read more | | | |
Marylanders Online remains committed to supporting the resources, services, and partnerships that advance digital opportunities.
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The Marylanders Online Tech Helpline will remain open in 2026, with adjusted hours to be announced in January
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Digital literacy resources - including all learning materials and curricula - will remain available to both partners and the public through the Marylanders Online website
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Partners are encouraged to:
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Complete this form to help guide future program direction
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For additional information about this transition phase, click here.
| | Marylanders Online in Action | | | | |
Winter Team Wrap-Up Meeting
On December 19, the UME Marylanders Online team gathered virtually to reflect on another succesful year made possible by the outstanding contributions of our team members.
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Computer Basics Program with Identity Inc.
A two-year collaborative program with Café Con Mamás at Wheaton High School provided hands-on digital literacy training for mothers of high school students, covering topics ranging from basic computer skills to Excel data management.
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Bulding Digital Skills at Home
A five-week Basic Computer Training program at Rosemont Tower in Baltimore helped residents develop new digital skills, empowering them to rediscover connections, independence, and newfound confidence in today’s technology-driven world.
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AI Community Classes
In Prince George’s County, Marylanders Online graduated dozens of students from a newly developed AI training course, helping residents learn future-ready digital skills for career development.
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In partnership with the Latino Economic Development Office and in response to the expressed interest from the community, Marylanders Online partnered with local organizations in Prince George's County to offer classes on AI. These classes were held in English and French to a multilingual audience of nearly 55 people at the CASA Welcome Center.
This video testimonial was captured by UME Tech Educator Gabriel Fumero and features one student who shares that the class sparked his "inspirational development" and a newfound interest in learning about technology to harness the future career possibilities of AI. Click here to watch.
| | Digital Education Events & Resources | | | |
Allegany County
Allegany County Library System offers free classes to help the community strengthen their computer skills in a relaxed, hands-on setting. All classes are free, but registration is required. For more information or to register, call the hosting library. View Calendar
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Baltimore Innovative Initiatives
Innovative Initiatives Inc. is a non-profit located in the Langston Hughes Community & Resource Center that focuses on STEM education for youth, adults, and senior citizens in the Park Heights area of Baltimore. Their mission is to inspire, educate, and empower their community. Read More
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DC area Digital Navigator Meetup
Community tech helpers, digital navigators, and digital literacy advocates are invited to attend the second DC-Area Digital Navigators gathering at MLK Central Library on Friday, January 9, from 1- 4 PM.
Learn More & Register
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Benton Institute's webinar on November 20 offered an insightful panel discussion about the research, evaluation process, and designing digital inclusion activities based on their effects and effectiveness. Watch Here
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Goodwill has announced its new offering of free Coursera and Google digital skill training programs to help boost career readiness in high-growth tech fields. Learn More
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Kent County
Kent County Public Library is offering Tech Help Drop-In Hours on Mondays from 11 AM - 1 PM at the Chestertown Branch. Call 410-778-3636 or use the online scheduler.
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MDEC's mission is to connect organizations and local governments to anchor and amplify digital opportunity work in Maryland and empower communities.
Click Here to Join MDEC
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Extension Foundation 2025 National AI Report
The Extension Foundation, in collaboration with the University of New Hampshire Extension, NTAE, NIFA, Oklahoma State University Extension, and the University of Maryland Extension, led a national effort to understand the current landscape of AI within the Extension Land-Grant University system. Read it here
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Talbot County
The Neighborhood Service Center in Easton has opened a new community computer lab to offer free workshops on budgeting, interviewing, resume writing, and more every Monday and Wednesday, 2–3 PM. Email Yvette Robinson or call 410-822-5015 ext. 123 with questions.
| | Resources from Marylanders Online | | |
Moving the Needle on Universal and Meaningful Access
December 8, 2025 | Internet Society
The End of Progress: New Data Raises the Alarm that No Progress May Be the New Normal for the Digital Divide
November 25, 2025 | John Horrigan, Ph.D. | Benton Institute for Broadband and Society
NTIA Announces Approval of 18 BEAD Final Proposals
November 18, 2025 | NTIA
Bridging the Digital Divide with Accessible Digital Literacy Tools, Training, and Tests: Sharing the DOORS Program
November 12, 2025 | NEJM Catalyst
The Invisible Divide: Why Bridging the Digital Divide Begins with the Mind, Not the Metrics
November 12, 2025 | Yeweon Kim, Ph.D. | Benton Institute for Broadband and Society
AI in Digital Skills Training: Insights from Community Leaders
October 8, 2025 | NDIA
National Digital Inclusion Alliance Files Lawsuit Seeking Reinstatement of Bipartisan Digital Equity Act’s Competitive Grant Program
October 8, 2025 | NDIA
| | Get in Touch with Marylanders Online | | |
Marylanders Online is working to build digital opportunities across the state through free digital skill training, resources, technical support, and curricula.
📧 Email: MarylandersOnline@umd.edu
📞 Call (toll-free): 1-866-206-8467
Support available in English and Spanish, with translation in 180+ languages upon request.
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Submit a Marylanders Online Testimonial!
Whether you are a partner organization, a community member who received training, or someone who has received tech support, your story can help spread the word about Marylanders Online and contribute to expanding digital literacy across Maryland.
Click here to share a testimonial.
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