PHILADELPHIA and ELKRIDGE, Md., Jan. 9, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and EKOS Ministries have partnered to launch a new executive education program for pastors who are using real estate development as a means to strengthen their communities. The EKOS/Wharton Community Revitalization Leadership Program, led by Wharton faculty, will enable participants to enhance their business knowledge, develop financial strategies, and network with leaders in the real estate development industry.
Traditionally, religious institutions have offered spiritual guidance, social programs, and economic assistance to needy families. Recently, these services have expanded as economic disparity grows and churches seek to fill a greater role in aiding their communities. A 2004 report on faith-based development from a non-partisan institute at the State University of New York reported that between 60 and 90 percent of churches engage in at least one community development or social service project. Increasingly, those projects include the creation of affordable housing. Although churches may own or be able to acquire land, they often lack an understanding of the complex issues associated with community and housing development.
The EKOS/Wharton Community Revitalization Leadership Program is designed to address the obstacles to purchasing and/or developing real estate, including obtaining funding, negotiating with strategic partners, and understanding the pre-development process. The executive education program provides attendees with the tools, access to capital, and confidence they need to succeed. It also fosters strategic alliances among regional businesses, government, churches, and nonprofit groups working together to benefit low-income residents and their communities. Wharton faculty, along with adjunct and affiliated instructors, provide the academic instruction, with content complemented by relevant outside speakers and inspirational leaders.
Slated for February 4-8, 2008, the certificate program has been designed to utilize the real estate development expertise and experience of the attending pastors to direct the curriculum. Additional training and support through on-line training modules will be provided once the pastors return to their churches. Attendees will return to the Wharton School in six months for an additional session on August 4-6, 2008. Targeting pastors who have plans for a real estate development project, the program seeks to have 90 percent be able to access the capital they need for their projects, resulting in the creation of 2,000 units of affordable housing and a 10 percent reduction of unemployment in the targeted distressed communities.
About Executive Education at the Wharton School
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania -- founded in 1881 as the first collegiate business school -- is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. The most comprehensive source of business knowledge in the world, Wharton bridges research and practice through its broad engagement with the global business community. Executive education at Wharton brings together over 10,000 executives each year from all corners of the globe in a partnership of learning. The best and the brightest business minds today tackle real-world issues in a highly collaborative environment.
Informed by in-depth, groundbreaking academic research and extensive industry experience, Wharton programs can span anywhere from a few days to a year or more. Each executive education program offers a supportive and challenging context where participants gain the skills necessary for their next level of executive development. Participants who come to Wharton from a diverse range of industries engage with faculty who are the most cited, most published faculty of all top-tier business schools. With a profound influence upon global business, Wharton faculty are the sought-after, trusted advisors of corporations and governments worldwide.
The Wharton School Aresty Institute of Executive Education is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4522
About EKOS Ministries
EKOS Ministries is a para-church organization that raises capital for faith-based real estate projects. EKOS, together with its strategic partners, provides parity for churches in negotiating and developing their real estate projects. As an organization, it combines financial expertise with knowledge of the church community to guide churches toward achieving their commercial real estate goals.
EKOS is composed of a staff of professionals recognized as experts in church finance and economic development primarily on the East Coast of the United States. Collectively, over the past ten years the Officers of EKOS Ministries have financed in excess of $50,000,000 in commercial real estate projects for religious organizations.
Working with an extensive network of lenders, architects, developers, and other partners, EKOS provides its clients with creative solutions to their commercial real estate needs. EKOS saves their clients much of the effort and time typically required to carry out projects. These clients can also take advantage of the other services EKOS offers, such as pre-development planning, accounting services, and financial planning