BLU: Bridge to Learning & Upskilling

Our new mobile community opportunity and access hub — bringing learning, financial tools, and housing support directly into South Carolina neighborhoods. Pilot visits are being planned, with more details to come.

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Three women standing next to a Palmetto Palace Education Lab mobile unit, smiling. The bus has educational and technological words printed on it, with a modern building in the background.

A man in a white uniform shirt and dark pants standing inside a mobile classroom or office with large windows, desks, computers, and educational materials, outdoors visible through the windows.

Table with STEM educational materials including paper circuits guides, a STEM in a Bag kit, a steam car kit, and storage cases, with a window and a sign in the background.

People inside a mobile tech exhibit bus engaging in conversations, with tables displaying LEGO sets and other items, and a window view of greenery outside.

A computer station with two monitors, a keyboard, mouse, and two small robot figures with white bodies and pink eyes, positioned in front of a window. A wooden sign with the Navy emblem reads 'Naval Information Warfare Center ATLANTIC'.

Three adults leaning over a table in a bus, which has a colorful city street mat and yellow bee helmets on display.

A blue bus with signs for Palmetto Palace Education Lab, promoting online presence on social media platforms, and highlighting characteristics like data-driven, innovative, and technology-driven.

People standing inside a mobile office or bus with computers and electronics on a counter, some looking at their phones, and others working or browsing. There are toys and signs on the countertop indicating a problem-solving or community event.

People standing and waiting in line outside a mobile medical unit with trees and parked cars in the background on a sunny day.

Table with STEM activity materials, including paper circuits, paper circuit guides, and game boxes. There are paper circuit templates and instructional papers laid out, along with boxes of circuit components.

What BLU Lab Offers

Learning and Digital Access

Hands-on STEM activities and mobile lab experiences that introduce students to robotics, engineering, health science, and other high-demand fields — plus tools and support that build digital literacy and connect families to broadband and technology access, helping close the digital divide and open pathways to future education and careers.

Financial Capability and Mobility

Age-appropriate financial literacy sessions for youth and families covering budgeting, saving, understanding credit, and planning for education and training — paired with resources that support economic mobility, from workforce readiness to connections with employment and transportation resources.

Housing Access and Stability

On-site support connecting families to housing resources and referrals — including rental assistance information, homeownership readiness resources, and navigation support for families facing housing instability — alongside broader family resource connections like basic needs assistance and community workshops.

Launching soon in select South Carolina communities.

Featuring

Get Connected with BLU

Want to be the first to know when the Bridge to Learning and Upskilling (BLU) Lab visits your area or learn how you can get involved? Share your contact information and we’ll send updates as launch details are confirmed.