Marylanders Online Newsletter
November 2025 | Volume 3 | Issue 11
| | Highlights from the 2025 Summit | | Over 170 digital inclusion leaders, policymakers, and advocates came together on October 15 at the Silver Spring Civic Building for the 2025 Maryland Digital Opportunity Summit. Centered on the theme “Investing in Maryland's Future,” the third annual conference explored how collaboration, innovation, and strategic digital investments can fuel workforce innovation and economic development. | | Maryland Digital Equity Coalition Recognition | | Pictured: Josh Bokee, Molly Sherman, Vishnupriya Desai, Mitsuko Herrera, Comptroller Brooke Lierman. | | After delivering her remarks at the summit, Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman presented the Maryland Digital Equity Coalition (MDEC) with a special citation recognizing the group's 370+ members and their collaborative efforts to expand digital inclusion in Maryland. Click here to learn more about MDEC or get involved. | | Maryland's 2025 Digital Equity Champions | | Maryland’s digital inclusion champions took center stage to be recognized for their innovation, collaboration, and leadership in advancing digital literacy. Their work continues to bridge digital divides and strengthen communities from within. Out of 31 outstanding nominees, four individuals were named Digital Equity Champions, and four received Honorable Mentions in the categories of Navigator, Workforce, Practitioner, and Program Champion. Click here to read more about the 2025 Digital Equity Champion awardees. | | Naimani Staley, UME Tech Extension Educator, received the Navigator Champion Award for her leadership in community capacity building and delivering digital skills programming across Northern Maryland. | | Lillian “Lil” Trotman received the Workforce Champion Award for her dedicated work with Rebuild Johnston Square and advancing workforce readiness in Baltimore City. | | Malarie Burgess, Digital Inclusion Specialist with the Howard County Office on Aging, received the Practitioner Champion Award for her exceptional work in expanding access to digital devices and education. | | Devin Jackson, CEO and President of A Prosperous Tomorrow, received the Program Champion Award for his transformative work creating and delivering digital skills programming that empowers both youth and adults. | | 2025 Digital Equity Notable Mentions | |
| | The late Michael Elonge was honored with a posthumous Impact Award for his transformative work advancing digital opportunities across Maryland. Michael's daughter, Eposi Elonge, accepted the award on his behalf, sharing her hope that his legacy will continue through the educators, partnerships, and communities he inspired. | | | | Building Digital Opportunities | | Since launch, UME Marylanders Online has reached tens of thousands of residents across the state through a digital inclusion framework grounded in learner-centered curriculum design, community-informed resources, culturally responsive training, and strategic partnership development. | | |
UME Marylanders Online To-Date Program Highlights:
- Reached 56,663 adults and youth
- Handled 25,943 helpline calls
- Assisted with the distribution of 23,420 devices
- Facilitated 5,404 Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) sign-ups
- Supported 1,305 community events
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Expanded MDEC to 371 members
- Collaborated with 266 community, state, educational, and federal partners
Maryland’s approach to advancing digital literacy is now serving as a model for communities worldwide, inspiring new pathways for social and economic opportunity.
| | Marylanders Online in Action | | | | |
NEAFCS National and Regional Awards
In October, Marylanders Online received multiple honors from the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS). The program was named 1st Place National Winner and 1st Place Eastern Region Winner for the Florence Hall Award; 2nd Place Eastern Region Winner for the Community Partnership Award; and 2nd Place National Winner and 1st Place Eastern Region Winner for the Communications and Social Media Award.
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Hispanic Empowerment Award
UME Marylanders Online received the Daily Record's Maryland Hispanic Leadership Empowerment Award for its commitment to building culturally responsive, bilingual digital skills training and strategic partnerships with trusted community organizations. Read more.
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INFO Published in JASIST
The College of Information (INFO) curriculum team published "Crossing the Third-Level Digital Divide Through Digital Literacy Programs" in the Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology (JASIST). Led by INFO professor Dr. Mega Subramaniam and postdoctoral researcher Dr. Yeweon Kim, the study examined how digital literacy programs help close the third-level digital divide, drawing on data from 305 Maryland participants. Read the full open-access article here.
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Baltimore MONET Partnership
In partnership with the Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition (BDEC), the first in-person MONET training session was offered this September. The Marylanders Online Navigator Education Toolkit (MONET) is a train-the-trainer digital navigator certification program designed to equip local leaders with tools to offer digital navigation support at a local level. Learn more about MONET.
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AI Community Classes
In Prince George’s County, UME Marylanders Online has brought introductory AI classes to two new locations through a partnership with the Lakeland Civic Association and the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System. These courses are helping residents learn future-ready digital skills for career development.
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Maryland Housing Toolkit
The Marylanders Online INFO team has created easy-to-use housing resource modules with clear, step-by-step instructions to help Maryland residents apply for rental assistance, public housing, housing vouchers, and other government housing programs. View the Housing Toolkit.
| | Digital Education Events & Resources | | | | |
Allegany County
Allegany County Library System is offering a free Adult Technology Series, designed to help strengthen 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.
Next class: Microsoft Word
Saturday, November 22 | 10:30 AM–12:30 PM
Locations: South Cumberland Library: 301-724-1607 George’s Creek Library: 301-463-2629
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Talbot County
The Neighborhood Service Center in Easton has opened a new community computer lab, where free workshops on budgeting, interviewing, resume writing, and more will be offered every Monday and Wednesday, 2–3 PM.
Email Yvette Robinson or call 410-822-5015 ext. 123 with questions.
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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. Check the calendar for details about a specific date. Tech Help Appointments are available at any KCPL location. Call 410-778-3636 or use the online scheduler.
| | Maryland Digital Inclusion News | | | | |
Asset Mapping Maryland
UME Marylanders Online is building a statewide digital asset map to share the many resources that are available to the community. If you are an organization that provides digital skills classes, wi-fi, tech support, training, devices, or other digital services, please share your resources for inclusion in Maryland’s digital asset map.
Click here to submit a resource.
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MONET Digital Navigator Curriculum
The Marylanders Online Navigator Education Toolkit (MONET) is a train-the-trainer curriculum developed by the UME Marylanders Online and the UMD College of Information (INFO). MONET is designed to empower community-serving agencies to offer localized digital navigation services through 12 scalable hybrid modules.
Click here to learn more or request more information.
| | About UME Marylanders Online | | |
Marylanders Online is working to build digital opportunities across the state through free digital skill training, resources, technical support, and curricula.
The Marylanders Online Helpline is a free service staffed by a team of trained digital navigators who offer personalized, no-cost computer help, tech support, and connections to local resources - all by phone or email.
📧 Email: MarylandersOnline@umd.edu
📞 Call (toll-free): 1-866-206-8467
🕒 Hours of operation: Monday - Friday: 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Support available in English and Spanish, with translation in 180+ languages upon request.
| | Stay in Touch with UME Marylanders Online | |
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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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