Marylanders Online Newsletter
March 2025 | Volume 3 | Issue 3
| | 2025 Empowering Health Conference | | | | Explore the exciting future of healthcare and technology at the 2025 Empowering Health conference on May 2nd. From 9 AM - 4 PM, attendees of this free and virtual event will discover how emerging technologies can be leveraged to improve health outcomes, reduce disparities, and empower communities. Register by April 27th. Learn more. | | Empowering Health Webinar Series | | | | Extend your learning beyond the 2025 Empowering Health conference! Join the health and technology webinar series and gain actionable insights into how technology can foster access, inclusion, and integrity at the intersection of health and digital equity. | | |
Navigating the Future of AI Regulation
May 16 | 11 AM - 12 PM
Register Here
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Addressing Disability Disparities Through Health Equity
May 23 | 11 AM - 12 PM
Register Here
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Tech Literacy in the Digital Health Era
May 30 | 11 AM - 12 PM
Register Here
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Tackling Social Disparities in Access & Technology
June 6 | 11 AM - 12 PM
Register Here
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Geographical Disparities in Health Equity & Access
June 13 | 11 AM - 12 PM
Register Here
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Policy, Health Misinformation, & Public Trust
June 20 | 11 AM - 12 PM
Register Here
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Social Media’s Impact on Public Health & Spread of Health Misinformation
June 26 | 11 AM - 12 PM
Register Here
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Digital Health Technologies & Misinformation: Navigating the Challenges
June 27 | 11 AM - 12 PM
Register Here
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Stop the Scam!
Identifying & Avoiding Commons Scams
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Do you know how to recognize and avoid today's most common scams? Learn about phone, text, and email phishing scams and how to avoid them in our free "Stop the Scam!" webinars.
Two opportunities to attend:
Tuesday, May 6th | 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday, May 13th | 9:00 PM - 10:30 PM
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Maryland Digital Equity Coalition (MDEC)
Digital Equity Grant Planning Webinar Series
| | | | Join the Maryland Digital Equity Coalition (MDEC) for a free webinar series designed to equip digital literacy practitioners with the knowledge and skills needed to build programs, partnerships, and successful digital equity grant applications. Learn about applying, planning, and evaluating your initiatives. All webinars will be recorded and posted on the Marylanders Online YouTube channel. Register for individual sessions by clicking the links below. | | |
Rural Maryland & Digital Skills Training
March 26 | 1 – 2 PM Register Here
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Workforce Development & Digital Skills (Part 1)
April 9 | 1 – 2 PM
Register Here
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Workforce Development & Digital Skills (Part 2)
April 23 | 1 – 2 PM
Register Here
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Older Adults & Digital Skills & Technology
May 7 | 1 – 2 PM
Register Here
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People with Disabilities & Digital Inclusion
May 21 | 1 – 2 PM
Register Here
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AI & Digital Skill Building
May 28 | 1 – 2 PM Register Here
| | Marylanders Online in Action | | | |
HICSS Call for Papers
The Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) has issued a call for papers for a mini track on "From Digital Divide to Digital Literacy, Equity, and Inclusion Track", within the special track: Information Technology, Social Justice, and Marginalized Contexts. They are seeking original research papers, case studies, and review articles that investigate digital literacy and its impact on marginalized populations, as well as initiatives that address these vulnerabilities, moving towards digital equity and inclusion.
Dr. Mega Subramaniam, curriculum program lead for Marylanders Online and Associate Dean for INFO, is serving as a co-chair of this mini track. Learn more.
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Bridging the Rural Digital Divide
On March 20th, team members Teri Mumm and Julie Slivka presented at a virtual webinar, “Marylanders Online: Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural Communities.” This session, hosted by the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, provided an overview of the innovative strategies and initiatives developed by UME aimed at increasing internet access and digital literacy in Maryland’s rural areas. Watch the recording.
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UME at Net Inclusion 2025
The annual Net Inclusion conference will be held May 20th - 22nd at the Gila River Indian Community in Phoenix, Arizona. UME Marylanders Online Digital Navigation Program Manager Teri Mumm is serving as a panelist on the panel, " Evolution of the Digital Navigator Model." View the session schedule.
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Safety & Scam Prevention in SoMD
Tech Educator Maria Barga facilitated an Internet Safety: Phishing and Scams workshop on March 4th in North Beach at the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maryland. Youth learned how to spot phishing attempts and scams on platforms like Roblox and TikTok with the help of police officers from the Calvert County Police Department. Contact Marylanders Online to schedule a training in your community!
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Cayden Bro
Tech Extension Educator
Cayden joins the UME Marylanders Online team as the Tech Educator for Baltimore City. He has a background in community organizing and education and is excited to contribute to strengthening the community and expanding access to digital resources in Baltimore. With a varied background in basic science and the humanities, Cayden’s previous projects include investigating the prevention of congenital heart defects and studying the relationship between literature and political activism.
Cayden moved to Baltimore City in 2024 after receiving a B.S. in Developmental Biology and a B.A. in Portuguese Literature from BYU, and he is excited to give back to the community that has welcomed him. He is preparing for a Ph.D. program addressing medical equity in urban areas. When not working, Cayden can be found outside hiking or inside cross-stitching.
Meet the rest of the UME Marylanders Online team here.
| | | | Digital Inclusion Resources | | | |
Highlighting MD's Digital Efforts
To illustrate the state's progress in closing Maryland's digital divide, MDEC compiled data and information from statewide efforts into a two-page summary that was provided to legislators on Digital Opportunity Day in Annapolis on February 13th. View it here.
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MONET Digital Navigation Toolkit
The Marylanders Online Navigator Training Toolkit (MONET) is a module-based train-the-trainer course designed to equip digital navigators with essential skills needed to bridge the digital divide in their communities. MONET is currently accessible to digital navigators based in Maryland, with future plans for an open-source curriculum that offers digital badges and CEUs. Learn more.
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eGovernment Resources
Marylanders can learn how to apply online for government services through a series of user-friendly eGovernment learning modules. Find simple, step-by-step instructions to apply for driver's licenses, food stamps, Temporary Cash Assistance, and other government benefits. View the resources.
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Asset Mapping Maryland
If you are an organization that provides digital skills classes, wi-fi, tech support, training, devices, tablets, hotspots, or other digital services, please share your resources for inclusion in Maryland’s digital asset map. Submit a resource here.
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Digital Equity Capacity Grant Interest Form
The Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband (OSB) is gathering information about digital equity efforts across the state to address the technology needs of Marylanders. As the entity administering NTIA Digital Equity Capacity Grant funds, OSB seeks to establish five subgrant programs that will allow for a variety of digital inclusion activities and initiatives.
Complete this form by March 31st.
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Windows 10 End of Life
Microsoft has set October 14, 2025, as the official End of Life date for Windows 10. After this date, Windows 10 will no longer receive security, support, or software updates from Microsoft, which may leave millions of devices at risk for malware or cybersecurity breaches.
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Baltimore City
The Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition will be offering a recurring series of "Coffee & Connection" every first Tuesday of the month. The next meeting is on April 1st from 10 AM to noon at Arcola Cafe. Contact Lo Smith for more information.
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Digital Navigator Helpline
Marylanders Online is a free, statewide digital literacy project through the University of Maryland Extension (UME) in partnership with the College of Information (INFO) that offers computer help, digital skills classes, resources, tech support, and more. Learn more at www.MarylandersOnline.umd.edu.
The toll-free Marylanders Online Helpline can be reached at 1-866-206-8467 Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or by emailing marylandersonline@umd.edu. Support is available in English and Spanish, with translation to 180+ other languages upon request.
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Flyers are available in large print, English, Spanish, Korean, Amharic, Chinese, French, Russian, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Haitian Creole.
Please contact us for additional languages.
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Submit a 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.
Email us your testimonial.
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