Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina awarded five-year federal grant to empower Native American youth

By Staff Report, posted Dec 10, 2025 on BizFayetteville.com

The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina is proud to announce the launch of Project CREATE (Career Readiness and Educational Advancement Through Native Youth Empowerment), a transformative initiative funded through a five-year Native Youth Community Project (NYCP) grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

Project CREATE is designed to address the interconnected socio-economic and educational

challenges facing Native youth across the Lumbee Tribal Service Area, which includes Cumberland, Hoke, Robeson and Scotland counties in southeastern North Carolina. Through strategic partnerships with the Public Schools of Robeson County, Robeson Community College, and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, the project will deliver culturally responsive programming that prepares American Indian students for academic success and future careers.

Key objectives of Project CREATE include:

Enhancing Early Childhood Education- Serving youth through Pre-K STEM initiatives, targeted tutoring, and reading readiness programs rooted in cultural relevance.
Advancing College and Career Readiness-Supporting youth with structured college and career exploration, internships, job shadowing, tutoring, and immersive day and residential camps focused on STEM, culture, and academic transitions.
Strengthening Family and Tribal Engagement- Hosting community meetings, Family STEM events, and providing Navigation Services to connect families with project resources and support.

“This grant represents a powerful investment in the future of our youth, and we are honored to continue building pathways of opportunity that reflect the strength, culture, and resilience of the Lumbee people,” ” said Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery in a press release.

Project CREATE began implementation in October 2025 and aims to foster long-term impact by

equipping Native youth with the tools, experiences, and relationships needed to thrive.

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