Lumbee Students Explored Healthcare Careers at The Pearl
Eight high school students from the Lumbee Tribe toured Charlotte’s innovation district for a STEAM program on July 15.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Secondary Education
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On July 15, eight high school students from the Lumbee Tribe visited The Pearl innovation district in Charlotte for a healthcare career exploration program. The initiative provided participants with hands-on exposure to advanced medical technologies and educational resources.
Why it matters
The program seeks to cultivate early interest in healthcare and STEAM careers among Lumbee youth. This effort addresses a critical need as global projections indicate a shortage of 11 million healthcare workers by 2030.
The students participated in a program supported by a five-year grant from the United States Department of Education known as Project CREATE. The participants each received STEAM kits to continue their exploration after the visit.
The players
Lumbee Tribe
This is an Indigenous American tribe based in Robeson County, North Carolina, that is currently participating in the Project CREATE initiative.
United States Department of Education
This federal agency is the provider of the five-year Project CREATE grant designed to foster educational opportunities for Lumbee youth.
The details
During the tour, students engaged with staff at the Siemens Healthineers Experience Center and the Howard R. Levine Center for Education. The curriculum included interactive demonstrations featuring ultrasound machines, X-ray technology, and 3D anatomy simulations through a mock patient accident case study.
Timeline
July 15, 2026: Eight students from the Lumbee Tribe visited The Pearl in Charlotte.
2030: The global healthcare sector faces a projected shortage of 11 million workers.
Culture Shift
This initiative follows the educational outreach patterns established by Project CREATE to address national labor gaps. It marks a shift toward early-intervention programs designed to funnel diverse talent into specialized medical fields before students graduate high school.
The program provides students with tangible experience through professional-grade equipment, including blood testing devices and prosthetic design tools. Local residents can observe how these specialized educational partnerships are being integrated into the developing landscape of The Pearl district.
The takeaway
Early engagement with professional technology can bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world medical practice for secondary students. Providing hands-on access to advanced equipment is a primary method for fostering student interest in high-demand technical careers.
Further reading
For more information on programs supporting students, visit Secondary Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EdNC.
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