Best Practices & Collaborative Strategies in Digital Equity:
Recap of the 2024 Maryland Digital Equity Summit
[Baltimore, MD] — On Tuesday, October 15th, nearly 160 digital inclusion advocates from Maryland and beyond convened at the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore for the 2024 Maryland Statewide Digital Equity Summit. Building upon the success of last year's event, the 2024 summit brought together leading experts to explore best practices and collaborative strategies for advancing digital literacy and inclusion. The annual Maryland Digital Equity Summit is presented by Marylanders Online, a University of Maryland Extension (UME) initiative in partnership with the University of Maryland College of Information (INFO), working to promote digital literacy throughout the state. Learn more about the speakers, view the agenda, and view the event pictures here.
About the Summit and Panelists
Aligning with the Maryland Statewide Digital Equity Plan and the Digital Equity Act, the annual Digital Equity Summit is organized to maximize the meaningful exchange of information, best practices, and experiences in overcoming challenges. From implementation and collaboration to evaluation and impact - the second annual Maryland Statewide Digital Equity Summit aimed to address the topic, "Beyond the Divide: Best Practices and Collaborative Strategies in Digital Equity."
Summit Speakers & Keynote Address
Summit opening remarks were offered by Carol A. Beatty, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Disabilities; Anil Lewis, M.P.A, Executive Director with the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute; and Dr. Jinhee Kim; Associate Professor, Associate Dean, and Associate Director at the University of Maryland Extension (UME), after which followed a series of five moderated panel discussions.
Dr. Revati Prasad, Vice President of Programs at the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society, delivered the summit's keynote address. Her presentation introduced the 'Human Infrastructure of Broadband' project, a collaborative study led by the Benton Institute in partnership with the American Library Association, METRO's Digital Equity Research Center, and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, working to examine the crucial role of human capital in bridging the digital divide.
Higher Education Systems Plenary Session
Following the keynote address, the Higher Education Systems plenary session explored the University of Maryland Extension's impactful digital equity work from both a statewide and national perspective, expanding on concepts that showcase how higher education systems can leverage their expertise and resources to connect with underserved communities. The plenary was tabled by Dr. Dondra Bailey, Assistant Professor at Coppin State University; Stephen Alessi, Associate Director for the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development; Kathryn (Katie) Leach, Instructional Director for the University of Idaho Extension Digital Economy Program; John Horrigan, Senior Fellow at Benton Institute for Broadband & Society; and moderation provided by Isaias Tesfalidet, Project Director with the UME Marylanders Online initiative.
Lightning Rounds
During lunch, an exciting Lightning Rounds session featured a series of short presentations from community-based digital equity leaders sharing valuable insights for approaching digital equity initiatives from a community level.
Presenters: Tyler Wolfe, Employer & Community Engagement Partner of Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley; Zach Tomlin, Founder of Tomlin Technology; Janae Henson, Executive Assistant of Tomlin Technology; Tony Schloss, General Manager of Apartments Wifi with EducationSuperHighway; Jade Burnham, Director of the AmeriCorps Digital Navigation Program with Digital Harbor Foundation; Mitsuko Herrera, Program Director of Montgomery Connects; Tom Branen, Director of National Service with Lead for America; Santana Mays, 4-H Agent with University of Maryland Extension - Baltimore County Teens as Teachers Program; Stefano Selorio, CEO & Founder of Carevocacy; moderation by Taylor Carter-Disanto, Deputy Director of Broadband and Digital Equity, Baltimore City Office of Information Technology.
Lunch was catered by local Baltimore-based business Zeffert & Gold Catering.
Maryland Digital Equity Champion Awards
Three organizations were named Digital Equity Champions out of twenty-five deserving nominees, and two others received honorable mentions. Read about the awardees.
State Entities Panel
The State Entities panel launched the summit's afternoon session, discussing the Maryland State Digital Equity Plan, funding strategies, and the role of community technology centers in expanding digital inclusion. Panelists included Amy Huffman, Policy Director with the National Digital Inclusion Alliance; Ronnie Hammond, Director of Maryland's Office of Statewide Broadband; Jay Uebel, Broadband Manager of Carroll County Broadband Project; Ashley Teagle, CEO of Southern Maryland Regional Library Association; and moderation provided by Jake Varn, Broadband Access Initiative Associate Manager with Pew Charitable Trust.
Digital Equity Planning and Outreach Panel
The Digital Equity Planning and Outreach panel brought together state and local experts to address essential strategies for implementing regional and county-level digital equity plans. Key focus areas were on community outreach, outcomes-driven data collection, and building strong rural, urban, and state-level coalitions for inclusive and sustainable digital equity solutions. Panelists for this session were Samantha Musgrave, Interim Executive Director of the Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition; Molly Sherman, Executive Director of Carroll County Technology and Innovation Council; William Honablew Jr., Digital Equity Coordinator of the Baltimore City Office of Information and Technology; Vishnupriya Desai, Digital Equity Manager of the Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband, and moderation provided by Andrew Coy, CEO and President of the Digital Harbor Foundation.
Digital Skills Training Panel
The Digital Skills Training panel discussed lessons learned from successful digital training programs, focusing on effective program sustainability, resource curation, and reaching diverse populations. Panelists for this session included James Neal, Senior Program Officer with the Institute of Museum and Library Services; Gabriel Fumero, Tech Educator with UME; Rachael Stephens Parker, Executive Director of the Governor's Workforce Development Board of Maryland; Maria Barga, Senior Planet Instructor and UME Tech Educator; with moderation provided by Quiana Bannerman, Director of the Maryland Center for Computing Education.
Digital Navigation Panel
The 2024 Maryland Statewide Digital Equity Summit culminated with the Digital Navigation panel, featuring experienced digital navigators sharing insights on the challenges and successes of bridging the digital divide in their communities and offering practical advice on sustaining digital navigation programs. The Digital Navigation panel was tabled by Diane Ducharme, Manager of the Veterans Directed Care Program for the IMAGE Center for People with Disabilities; Meinaldo Puente Batista, Digital Navigator with UME Marylanders Online; Noah O'Ryan, Regional Program Manager of Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) with AARP; Rasheed Green, Digital Navigator with Enoch Pratt Free Library; and moderation provided by Dr. Mega Subramaniam, Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty at UMD College of Information.
Accessibility
The event offered Braille programs, two CART captioners, three ASL translators, and five on-site escorts for blind attendees.
CEUs
Attendees were eligible for 6.5 entry-level Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) or 5.5 Social Work continuing education credits (CEUs).
About the University of Maryland Extension - Marylanders Online
Marylanders Online is a statewide digital literacy project through the University of Maryland Extension that offers free tech support, computer help, and digital skills resources and training. The toll-free helpline 1-866-206-8467 can be reached 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 Spanish, English, and over 180 additional languages upon request.
University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class.