Speakers and Panelists Announced for the
2023 Maryland Statewide Digital Equity Summit
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The first annual Maryland Statewide Digital Equity Summit takes place in Annapolis on Thursday, November 9th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with registration and breakfast beginning at 8 a.m. The event will feature panel discussions, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities with digital inclusion leaders from across the state. The objective of the summit is to advance community engagement and support the establishment of partnerships and collaborations to foster ongoing digital equity initiatives throughout Maryland. Register by November 3.
Following the summit, attend the Maryland Digital Equity Champion Awards Ceremony to recognize individuals and organizations which have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to digital inclusion efforts in Maryland.
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Isaias Y. Tesfalidet
Project Director for Digital Literacy, University of Maryland Extension
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Jake R. Day
Secretary, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
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Keynote Speaker
Keynote Natalie S. Burke will share the historical context of digital inequity and its connection to the other social determinants of health, such as health, employment, education, and other areas of life. She will also discuss the role that information technology has in creating an equitable future in Maryland.
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Natalie S. Burke
President and CEO, CommonHealth ACTION
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Digital Equity Plenary Discussion Panel
Digital skills, increasing broadband adoption, and broader technology issues and opportunities will be addressed at the plenary discussion panel. Participants will gain a better understanding of how digital equity issues and outcomes play into the social determinants of health. Panelists will discuss the importance of building trust and collaborating with community organizations to achieve digital equity.
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Natalie S. Burke
President and CEO, CommonHealth ACTION
Moderator
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JJ Ortuno Reintsch, MBA
Vice President, Multicultural Banking Leader at Truist
Panelist
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Amy Gyau-Moyer, MBA
Senior Director of Community Health, UMD Medical System
Panelist
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Michael Dickson
President and Executive Director, The Metamorphosis Community Project, Inc.
Panelist
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Shaneka Henson, Esq.
Delegate, District 30A
Anne Arundel County
Panelist
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Maryland Digital Equity Plan Presentation
The Office of Statewide Broadband will provide an overview of regulations in the state code and the state’s role in enabling access to high-speed internet and the expansion of digital literacy. The session will review the challenges, lessons learned, and opportunities within the state, and how stakeholders can help to improve the coordination and implementation of digital equity efforts.
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Ronnie Hammond
Deputy Director, Office of Statewide Broadband
Presenter
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Breakout Session 1A
Learner-Centered and Community-Driven Digital Skills Training: What’s Next in Designing Digital Skills Education
In this panel, the UMD College of Information Studies (INFO) Marylanders Online research and curriculum team will present findings from their statewide stakeholder digital needs assessment and Marylanders needs interview study. Panelists will reflect on how their respective organizations interpret the results within the context of the communities they work with, and discuss how these results may influence how they serve their communities.
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Dr. Mega Subramaniam
Professor and Associate Dean, UMD College of Information Studies
Moderator
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Alison Harding
Ph.D. Candidate, UMD College of Information Studies
Presenter
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Jane Behre
Ph.D. Candidate, UMD College of Information Studies
Presenter
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Regina Paige, MS-LDT
Manager of Internal IT Training, Enoch Pratt Free Library & MD State Library Resource Center
Panelist
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Candice Zhu
Chief of Digital Transformation, Enoch Pratt Free Library & MD State Library Resource Center
Panelist
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Jane Hager
MAT Specialist, Telecommunications Access of Maryland, MD Department of Disabilities
Panelist
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Breakout Session 1B
Rural Broadband Connectivity:
Challenges, Solutions, and Resources
This breakout session will host panel members from rural areas across Maryland discussing how challenges to broadband connectivity manifest in their local communities. The conversation will introduce innovative solutions they have implemented - or would like to implement - and other available resources that can be leveraged by rural communities interested in expanding broadband connectivity. The panel will explore potential solutions to these challenges, from micro trenching and customer dig solutions to infrastructure barriers and collaboration with organizations like Marylanders Online, as a way to mitigate educational barriers. Panelists will also discuss the state of Maryland’s digital maturity, from previous initiatives through to future goals.
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Cheryl DeBerry
Broadband and Energy Manager,
Garrett County Government
Moderator
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Charlotte Davis
Executive Director,
Rural Maryland Council
Panelist
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Bob Kelly
Chief Information Officer,
St. Mary's County Government
Panelist
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Rebecca Clark
Economic Development Coordinator, Queen Anne's County
Panelist
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Breakout Session 2A
Connecting Government Services
In this panel, representatives from Maryland government, community partners, and service providers will engage in a robust discussion sharing their experiences, perspectives, and recommendations as they relate to coordinating government services, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), and device distribution. Participants in this session will gain a deeper understanding of how to improve accessibility, connectivity, and silo-free operation of government services in order to enhance digital equity and close the digital divide.
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Ethel Rasmussen
Communications Manager, Baltimore County Department of Aging
Moderator
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Timothy Bozman
Director, Wicomico County Partnership for Families and Children
Panelist
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Jhoselyn Rodriguez
Founder and CEO,
Coaching Salud Holistica
Panelist
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Mitsuko Herrera
Program Director,
Montgomery Connects
Panelist
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Breakout Session 2B
Preparing for the Evolving Digital Equity Landscape: Blending, Braiding, Sequencing Upcoming Initiatives, Emerging Technologies, and Resources
This panel session will discuss the importance of being ready for the changing landscape of digital equity in an effort to ensure that every resident has equitable access to the opportunities provided by the digital world. In this panel, strategic approaches and forward-thinking strategies for promoting digital equity within the state will be reviewed, including how to stay updated on upcoming initiatives, emerging technologies, and how to apply digital literacy resources comprehensively.
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Chrissie Powell
Chief Growth and Impact Officer,
Byte Back, Inc.
Panelist
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Chris Abell
Executive Director,
Carroll Technology and Innovation Council
Panelist
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Michael Paroby
Program Officer, National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Panelist
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Following the summit, join us for the Maryland Digital Equity Champion Awards Ceremony, which will recognize individuals or organizations which have shown exceptional leadership and dedication to Maryland's digital inclusion efforts. | |
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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.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact your local University of Maryland Extension Office.
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