UMD’s “Marylanders Online” Initiative Receives Maryland Hispanic Leadership Empowerment Award

Julie Slivka UME - October 7, 2025

The UME and INFO College's initiative is recognized by the Daily Record for digital literacy impact

Members of the Marylanders Online team accept the 2025 Maryland Hispanic Leadership Empowerment Award

The University of Maryland Extension (UME), in partnership with the University of Maryland College of Information (INFO), leads Marylanders Online, a state-funded digital literacy initiative dedicated to advancing digital opportunities across Maryland. Since 2022, the Marylanders Online initiative has worked to remove barriers to technology access and digital skills development through multilingual digital navigation services, culturally responsive programming, and strategic community partnerships. These collaborations have resulted in new approaches for improving Marylanders’ access to economic opportunities, healthcare, education, and civic engagement. In recognition of this work, Marylanders Online was honored with the 2025 Maryland Hispanic Leadership Empowerment Award from The Daily Record. The following highlights showcase the program’s impact and reach within Maryland’s Hispanic community.

The Essential Role of Extension Educators

Acknowledging the disproportionate digital divide facing the Hispanic residents, Marylanders Online prioritized intentional recruitment and hiring of multilingual and bicultural staff for the Tech Education and Digital Navigator teams. These efforts result in strong engagement with Hispanic, Latino, and other non-English-speaking communities. Twelve percent of the program’s surveyed event attendees identified as Hispanic in 2024, reflecting the same proportion of Maryland’s overall Hispanic population.

Strategic Partnerships Building Digital Opportunities in Maryland’s Hispanic Communities

UME Tech Extension Educators Gabriel Fumero, in Prince George’s County, and Aziz Hurtado Olson, in Northern Maryland, are collaborating with trusted local organizations to become trusted allies within the Hispanic community. Intentional and strategic outreach has led to the development of new programming, co-created alongside both partners and participants, that addresses community-specific needs.

Community Organizations

At Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center in Montgomery County, nearly 200 people completed a basic computer skills training course in 2024. Gilchrist’s courses were developed and facilitated by Aziz Hurtado Olson and include an eight-week introductory course, an eight-week intermediate course, and a one-hour anti-scam workshop. Gilchrest primarily serves immigrant and Spanish-speaking community members.

A partnership with CASA Welcome Centers in Prince George’s County has led to high engagement among a multilingual audience of English, Spanish, and French speakers. CASA is a nonprofit that has established strong engagement within the local immigrant population. One Marylanders Online course designed for 25 participants attracted over 600 registrants, revealing an urgent need for accessible digital skills programs. This scenario highlights how word-of-mouth recommendations within tight-knit cultural communities can significantly amplify digital skills programs, even more so than traditional marketing efforts.

At El Centro Latino de Frederick, twenty-five students completed a computer business basics course developed by Marylanders Online in collaboration with organizational leadership. After completing the program, one older participant went from being unable to turn on his computer to successfully typing up his life story to leave behind for his grandkids.

Faith Organizations

At St. Mark’s Church in Hyattsville, UME Marylanders Online partnered to set up a community computer lab where Gabriel teaches no-cost, bilingual digital skills courses requested by the community. Course topics have included Google Workspace, OneDrive, and AI applications for both educational and business purposes.

Schools

At Wheaton High School in Silver Spring, MD, Aziz partnered with Café Con Mamás, a group of Spanish-speaking mothers of high school students dedicated to developing new skills and strengthening community connections.

Correctional Facilities

A pilot project funded by UME Marylanders Online achieved remarkable success at a Maryland prison. Twenty-one incarcerated individuals nearing release completed a six-week “Digital Skills Financial Education and Small Business Ownership” course, learning business and economic concepts to prepare them for future employment opportunities. The program was taught by Extension Agent Michael Elonge, who will be posthumously awarded the Digital Equity Champion Impact Award at the 2025 Maryland Digital Opportunity Summit.

Statewide Program Impact

Through a network of nearly 200 partners, targeted outreach, resource development, and the Maryland Tech Helpline, UME Marylanders Online continues to break down the digital barriers faced by many across the state. In 2024, the Marylanders Online supported 224 classes and 177 community events, reaching over 14,000 people. By prioritizing accessible and inclusive programming, the University of Maryland Extension’s digital literacy project is helping to bring new education, economic, and civic opportunities to Marylanders of all backgrounds and abilities. Learn more about the program’s 2024 impact here.