Marylanders Online Newsletter
May 2025 | Volume 3 | Issue 5
| | UME Marylanders Online: Connecting as a Team, Engaging with Community | | On April 22nd, the UME Marylanders Online team gathered for the second annual in-service event—a day dedicated to team building, reflection, and celebration. Together, the team looked back on three years of meaningful impact across the state. Since launching in 2022, Marylanders Online has helped thousands of people build their digital skills, access technology and the internet, and participate in the online world with greater confidence. We are grateful to our dedicated team, generous partners, and the clients who inspire and inform this work. Thanks to you, we continue to create programs that promote the health, connection, employment opportunities, and well-being of communities across Maryland. | | Thousands of community members flocked to the University of Maryland, College Park campus on April 26th for #MarylandDay2025. This annual event celebrates everything that makes UMD incredible – from science and tech to agriculture and art and beyond. Marylanders Online is proud to be a part of UMD's history, legacy, and future. Thank you to all who stopped by the Marylanders Online table and learned something new with our team. | | Marylanders Online in Action | | | |
Marylanders Online on TV
DelmarvaLife, a news segment of WBOC TV, recently interviewed Tech Extension Educator Keri Grant about how UME Marylanders Online helps individuals overcome the intimidation and challenges of using technology through supportive classes and personalized learning assistance. Watch the clip.
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Highlighting Successes in Hyattsville
At St. Mark's Parish in Hyattsville, Esther, a hairdresser with limited digital experience, joined Tech Extension Educator Gabriel Fumero's class to overcome her fear of technology. Since taking this class, Esther has gained confidence in using her iPhone and purchased a computer to practice her computer skills and to support her small business. Esther is an example of determination and entrepreneurial spirit—and just one of the many success stories Marylanders Online celebrates each week!
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AI Experiential Learning Grant
INFO Professor Mega Subramaniam has been awarded a $25,000 Experiential Learning and Community-Engaged Course Development Grant for her course proposal: "AI Literacy for Community Empowerment" by the AI Interdisciplinary Institute at the University of Maryland. With this funding, Dr. Subramaniam plans to create a course where students will develop the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to understand, apply, and facilitate AI learning to promote AI literacy in the communities they serve. Learn more.
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UME at Net Inclusion 2025
On May 21st, Digital Navigation Program Manager Teri Mumm served as a panelist during the "How Tech Hubs Are Building Community" session at the 2025 Net Inclusion conference, held in the Gila River Indian Community in Phoenix, Arizona. Watch the recording.
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Digital Skills & Youth Development
UME Tech Extension has partnered with Minary's Dream Alliance to teach youth in several lower Eastern Shore, Maryland, counties about online scams and misinformation. In a recent Worcester County session, students were taught to critically analyze a sensational news article. After a guided discussion, the youth demonstrated their newfound abilities to question sources and think independently about news credibility.
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Maryland Healthy Heart Learning Collaborative
In April, Marylanders Online Project Director Isaias Tesfalidet was offered an opportunity to present at the Maryland Healthy Heart Learning Collaborative, a statewide effort that brings together professionals and individuals with lived experiences to promote heart health education, prevention, and care and reduce health disparities.
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Skillbuilding in Southern MD
In April, Marylanders Online partnered with The Arc of Southern Maryland to teach participants how to write prompts with GenAI. The group enjoyed learning these new digital skills and practiced them together as a group and individually.
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TRAILS Affiliate
Pawan Pradhan, IT Associate at Marylanders Online, has been selected as a Research Affiliate with the Institute for Trustworthy AI in Law & Society (TRAILS). In this role, he will join a vibrant community dedicated to advancing trustworthy AI design, development, and oversight, contributing to projects that foster inclusive governance, accountability, and amplify diverse voices in AI research.
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UME Heads to WV
Marylanders Online team members Isaias Tesfalidet and Getachew Ferede will be heading to Charleston, West Virginia in June to present a workshop on Digital Skills Training, E-Commerce, Remote Work at the 2025 National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) Conference. Learn more.
| | Marylanders Online Events | | | |
Sponsorship Opportunities
The 2025 Maryland Statewide Digital Opportunity Summit will convene over 150 cross-sector leaders committed to shaping a more connected, equitable digital future for all Marylanders. Agencies interested in sponsoring the event through in-kind support or financial contributions, please contact marylandersonline@umd.edu for more information.
| | Empowering Webinar Series | | From May 16th to June 27th, UME Marylanders Online in partnership with the College of Information and Family and Consumer Sciences will host the Empowering Health Webinar Series. These weekly one-hour webinars offer an opportunity to explore the future of health technology, addressing digital literacy, disparities in technology access, and the role of policy and media in combating health misinformation and building public trust. | | |
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
| | Digital Equity Grant Planning Webinar Series | | The Maryland Digital Equity Coalition (MDEC) continues to host a free webinar series designed to equip digital literacy practitioners with the knowledge needed to build programs, partnerships, and successful digital equity grant applications. Learn about applying, planning, and evaluating digital inclusion initiatives. All webinars will be recorded and posted on the Marylanders Online YouTube channel. Register for the final three webinars by clicking the links below. | | |
AI & Digital Skill Building
May 28 | 1 – 2 PM Register Here
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Technology for Health Outcomes & Telehealth
June 4 | 1 – 2 PM
Register Here
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Program Evaluation and Shared Metrics
June 5 | 1 – 2 PM
Register Here
| | | | Do you know how to recognize and avoid today's most common scams? Watch a recording of our recent Stop the Scam webinar to learn practical strategies and essential resources that can protect you from phishing, phone, text, and computer scams. Watch the recording. | | | | Nearly 160 people attended the 2025 Empowering Health Conference on May 2nd. Hosted by UME Marylanders Online in partnership with INFO and FCS, this free and virtual event featured a dozen speakers exploring how AI technologies can be leveraged to improve health outcomes, reduce disparities, and empower communities. Watch the recording. | | Digital Inclusion Resources | | | |
MONET Digital Navigation Toolkit
The Marylanders Online Navigator Educator Toolkit (MONET) is a flexible, module-based train-the-trainer course designed to train digital educators and public-serving agencies to confidently deliver digital skills training within 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 or download the flyer.
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MDEC Survey
Maryland Digital Equity Coalition (MDEC) members are invited to complete a brief, anonymous survey to enhance, guide, and sustain MDEC's work. Take the survey.
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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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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. INFO professor Dr. Mega Subramaniam is serving as a co-chair of this mini track. Submission deadline is June 15th. Learn more.
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Baltimore City
The Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition (BDEC) hosts "Coffee & Connection" every first Tuesday of the month. 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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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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