Petra Cares Opens New Cypress Training Facility to Help Foster Youth Build Careers and Stable Futures
For many young adults aging out of foster care, the path into adulthood can come with overwhelming uncertainty. Housing instability, unemployment, and limited access to education often create barriers that can feel impossible to overcome. In Cypress this week, community leaders, nonprofit supporters, and graduates gathered to celebrate a project designed to change that trajectory for generations to come.
Petra Cares officially opened its new 7,800-square-foot automotive technician training facility at 11629 Telge Road in Cypress near the CFISD Mark Henry Administration Building and VPAC on May 28, marking a major expansion for the Houston-based nonprofit focused on helping foster youth and at-risk young adults build stable careers in the automotive industry.
The ribbon cutting ceremony brought together business leaders, donors, civic supporters, students, and community members to celebrate what organizers described as the beginning of a new chapter for the organization. The event included remarks from leadership, a student testimonial, a $100,000 check presentation from the Regions Foundation, and the official opening of the new training campus.
The expanded facility comes at a time when both workforce demand and community need continue to grow across the Houston region.
A Growing Need in Houston and Cypress
According to Petra Cares, 80% of youth aging out of foster care face homelessness, incarceration, or unemployment within three years of leaving the system. At the same time, the automotive industry is facing a shortage of trained technicians nationwide, creating a direct opportunity to connect young adults with stable, in-demand careers.
Founded in 2023, Petra Cares was created to bridge that gap through free workforce training programs, career placement support, scholarships, and life-skills education designed specifically for vulnerable young adults.
By opening a permanent campus in Cypress, the nonprofit now has the capacity to serve even more students while strengthening workforce development efforts across Greater Houston.
“The donors, partners, dealers and supporters who believed in this mission early on made everything you see today possible. They saw young adults who just needed a pathway, and they helped us create one,” said Brian Meza, managing director at Petra Cares. “Today we open a facility that will train more students, place more graduates, and change more lives than ever before. None of it happens without the help of those who have stood behind Petra Cares from the beginning. This ribbon cutting belongs to all of them.”
What the New Cypress Facility Includes
The new Cypress training center represents a 75% increase in training capacity compared to Petra Cares’ previous operations.
The campus includes:
- Two automotive service bays
- Expanded classroom space
- Dedicated training areas for automotive technician instruction
- Additional space for title clerk and warranty administration certification programs
Students participating in the nonprofit’s free seven-week training program can earn Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications along with certificates through Reynolds and Reynolds for title clerk and warranty administration coursework.
Petra Cares estimates the program represents roughly a $9,000 investment per student at no cost to participants.
The facility expansion also created new employment opportunities, including two part-time positions, one full-time role, and more than 20 construction jobs during the build-out process.
Student Success Stories Highlight Program Impact
While the new building represents physical growth, much of the emotion surrounding the ribbon cutting centered on the lives already impacted by the program.
Since launching its first class in June 2023, Petra Cares has served 140 students across 14 cohorts, reporting a 72% graduation rate and a 78% job placement rate among graduates.
One of those graduates, Damacio Perez, shared how the program helped redirect his future.
“I grew up in foster care and spent a lot of my life making the wrong choices because I didn’t think I had a future,” said Damacio Perez, a Petra Cares graduate. “Petra Cares gave me more than training – it gave me structure, belief, and a real path forward. Today, I’m working as an automotive technician at Mack Haik Pasadena, earning an honest living, and dreaming bigger than I ever thought I could. For the first time, I’m building something I’m proud of.”
For many attendees, stories like Perez’s reinforced why programs focused on workforce readiness and mentorship are becoming increasingly important in fast-growing communities like Cypress and the broader Houston area.
Community Support Helps Expand Petra Cares Mission
During the event, the Regions Foundation announced a $100,000 contribution to help support Petra Cares’ continued growth and student programming. Regions Bank associates in Houston also volunteer with the nonprofit by teaching financial education classes to students enrolled in the program.
“When you equip young people with the right tools and support, you don’t just change one life – you create lasting impact for an entire community,” said Marta Self, executive director of the Regions Foundation. “Petra Cares is helping youth confidently chart their path forward with purpose, and we’re proud to invest in the life-changing work they’re leading.”
The nonprofit’s momentum has continued to build over the past year. In April, Petra Cares raised more than $1 million during its third annual “Fueling Futures” Gala in Houston, helping fund future program expansion and student support initiatives.
What Happens Next
Petra Cares has already welcomed its first cohort into the new Cypress facility, with classes beginning May 11. Leaders say the larger campus will allow the organization to train more students simultaneously while deepening partnerships with employers throughout the Houston automotive industry.
As Cypress and northwest Harris County continue to grow, community organizations focused on workforce development and youth support are becoming an increasingly important part of the region’s long-term economic future.
For young adults searching for stability, mentorship, and a career path, Petra Cares hopes this new facility becomes more than just a training center — but a place where futures can begin to take shape.
Residents interested in learning more about Petra Cares or applying for an upcoming cohort can visit petra-cares.org.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more Cypress-area community updates, nonprofit initiatives, and local development news.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
