A faith-based approach

The Petra Foundation takes a Faith-based approach to empowering individuals to identify their gifts for opportunities that can bring about economic gains, build wealth, and create financial and economic security for families through entrepreneurship.  We meet individuals where they are by partnering with local faith-based organizations and business partners such as Citizens Bank. 

Petra’s Economic Empowerment

  • Economic empowerment initiatives provide communities with the tools, resources, and support needed to break the cycle of poverty. By increasing access to education, job training, and employment opportunities, individuals are empowered to secure stable and higher-paying jobs, leading to increased household income and financial stability. As economic conditions improve, families are better able to afford essential needs such as housing, healthcare, and education, ultimately lifting entire communities out of poverty.

  • Economic empowerment helps to address wealth disparities that disproportionately affect communities of color. By promoting entrepreneurship, homeownership, and asset-building initiatives, individuals within these communities can accumulate wealth and assets over time, narrowing the wealth gap between racial and ethnic groups. Access to affordable credit, financial literacy education, and investment opportunities further enables individuals to build and preserve wealth, creating a more equitable distribution of economic resources within the community.

  • Economic empowerment empowers communities of color to have a greater voice and influence in social and political spheres. By gaining economic independence and financial stability, individuals are better positioned to advocate for their rights, address systemic injustices, and participate actively in civic engagement activities. Economic empowerment initiatives also create opportunities for leadership development, community organizing, and collective action, empowering marginalized communities to challenge discriminatory policies and institutions and effect systemic change.