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    Author: Julie Slivka, Communications Manager

    Jun 10, 2025

    Building Towards a Digitally Equitable Future for Maryland: Insights from the 2025 MDEC Grant Planning Webinar Series


    From May to June 2025, the Maryland Digital Equity Coalition, in partnership with UME Marylanders Online, hosted an eight-part Digital Equity Grant Planning Webinar Series. This free virtual series was developed to support organizations in securing grant funding and building sustainable and impactful digital skills education programs.

    The series attracted nearly 400 attendees from various sectors, including nonprofits, libraries, local governments, community coalitions, and educators, all working to address the digital divide. The webinars were structured to guide participants through the complexities of grant applications related to the federal Digital Equity Act, encompassing topics such as grant planning basics, fostering partnerships, measuring impact, and implementing best practices for digital skills programs that drive economic opportunities.

    Recordings of all webinars can be found on the UME Marylanders Online YouTube channel.

    Session Highlights & Topics

     

    Digital Opportunity Grant Basics

    The Digital Opportunity Grant Basics webinar on March 12, 2025, offered an overview of Maryland's Digital Opportunity Grant Programs and how the NTIA Digital Equity Capacity Grant funds will support five key digital equity initiatives: Digital Equity Planning & Outreach; Digital Education; Digital Navigation; Community Technology Resources; and Connecting Underserved Communities. Ronnie Hammond and Vishnupriya Desai from the Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband presented in this webinar.

    Attendees: 59

    Click here for the slides

    Click here for the video

     

    Rural Maryland & Digital Skills Training

    The Rural Maryland and Digital Skills Training webinar on March 26, 2025, hosted Charlotte Davis of the Rural Maryland Council and explored digital skills training initiatives in rural areas and how they can be integrated into workforce development and regional partnerships. Attendees learned about available grant opportunities and collaboration strategies to strengthen local workforce programs.

    Attendees: 48

    Click here to view the slides 

    Click here to view Video

     

    Workforce Development & Digital Skills: Building Equity through Partnership

    The Workforce Development & Digital Skills: Building Equity through Partnership webinar on April 9, 2025, emphasized the critical role of digital skills in workforce development, exploring community-based strategies to reach under-resourced populations. The session also identified opportunities for future collaboration and funding to advance these efforts. The presenter for this session was Mana McNeill, Executive Director of The Career Catchers.

    Attendees: 31

    Click here to view the video

    Click here for the slides

    Click here for crowdsourcing funding opportunities

    Workforce Development & Digital Skills for Specialized Populations

    The Workforce Development & Digital Skills for Specialized Populations webinar on April 23, 2025, focused on digital skills training for specialized workforce populations, including veterans, individuals with disabilities, older adults, and formerly incarcerated individuals. Presenter Reid Sharkey, Community Broadband Specialist and Research Associate with the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, shared information about the Benton Institute's report on the digital skills needs of veterans. 

    Attendees: 48

    Click here for the video

    Click here to view slides

    Older Adults & Digital Skills & Technology

    The Older Adults, Digital Skills, and Technology webinar on May 7, 2025, explored how digital skills training and technology can enhance the lives of older adults by supporting social engagement, lifelong learning, workforce participation, and improved healthcare access.

    Attendees: 45

    Click here for slides

    Click here for the video

    People with Disabilities & Digital Inclusion

    The People with Disabilities & Digital Inclusion webinar, hosted on May 21, 2025, featured presenters Sharon Dols from The Arc Maryland and Renee Seigley from The Arc of Southern Maryland. This session covers how digital inclusion programs support people with disabilities in employment, education, and daily life.

    Attendees: 37

    Click here for the slides

    Click here for the video

    AI & Digital Skill Building

    The AI and Digital Skill Building webinar, held on May 28, 2025, explored the relevance of AI to workforce development, digital equity, and resilience against misinformation. Moderated by Josh Bokee, Montgomery Connects, this session featured presentations from  Dr. Mega Subramaniam (UMD INFO) on AI Literacy for Community Empowerment and Katherine Lam-Besc (OATS/Senior Planet) on Senior Planet’s AI Literacy Tools for Older Adults.

    Attendees:47

    View Dr. Subramaniam's slides

    View Katherine's slides

    Click here for video

    Technology for Health Outcomes & Telehealth

    The Technology for Health and Telehealth webinar on June 4, 2025, explored how digital tools and training programs can improve healthcare access and outcomes, particularly for older adults and underserved populations. The presenter for this webinar is Katherine Kim, PhD, MPH, MBA, Founder and CEO of Health Tequity, and Adjunct Professor at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine.

    Attendees: 40

    Click here for slides

    Click here for video

    Program Evaluation and Shared Metrics

    The Program Evaluation and Shared Metrics webinar on June 4, 2025, explored how to develop evaluation frameworks and adopt shared metrics. Presenters Sandra Saperstein, University of Maryland, Sharp Insight, LLC, and Isaias Tesfalidet, University of Maryland Extension - Marylanders Online, shared best practices and tools for evaluating digital inclusion efforts across Maryland. It will help programs prepare for reporting under state and federal grants by exploring realistic metrics and templates aligned with the NTIA evaluation framework.

    Attendees: 27

    Click here for slides

    Click here for video

    Participant Feedback

    • 99% of survey respondents rated the webinars as excellent, good, or very good.
    • 98% agreed or strongly agreed that the presentations provided new information and ideas that would benefit their work or life.
    • 61% of the respondents stated that these webinars would improve the quality of services they provide to their community and/or clients
    • 58% of the respondents stated that they would share knowledge and resources with colleagues or other organizations to broaden the impact
    • 42% of the respondents noted that these webinars would help them promote digital equity by increasing access and inclusion in underserved populations
    • 39% of respondents stated that the information shared in these webinars would help them build partnerships with other organizations
    • 29% of respondents stated that they would use the information provided to apply for grants or additional funding for digital equity

    Core Takeaways

    The 2025 Digital Equity Grant Planning Series delivered critical guidance to hundreds of stakeholders preparing for federal and state digital equity funding opportunities.

    By centering community-based partnerships, real-world use cases, and data-informed planning, the series strengthened Maryland’s cross-sector capacity to design sustainable digital skills programs aligned with the priorities of the federal Digital Equity Act.

    Key takeaways include:

    • Grant Readiness: Practical strategies for aligning proposals with federal and state funding criteria, including planning, implementation, and evaluation frameworks.  
    • Equity-Driven Collaboration: Models for inclusive partnerships that elevate underserved populations—veterans, older adults, people with disabilities, and rural communities—into long-term digital opportunity ecosystems.  
    • Workforce Integration: Insight into embedding digital skills training within workforce systems and wraparound services to drive economic mobility.
    • Program Impact & Evaluation: Tools for developing shared metrics and outcomes reporting aligned with federal expectations, promoting transparency and continuous improvement.
    • AI & Telehealth Relevance: Exploration of emerging technologies that will shape the next generation of digital equity solutions.

    All recordings and materials remain publicly accessible on the Marylanders Online YouTube channel, providing an ongoing resource for community-based organizations, state and local leaders, and other stakeholders shaping Maryland’s digital future.