About
Everyone deserves the dignity of work and every community has the power to make it possible
Tools to Empower is a youth-led initiative founded by Ria Lewis, a Bernards High School senior passionate about using engineering and business to create practical pathways to financial empowerment.
Ria saw firsthand how people can lose stability through no fault of their own, layoffs, chronic illness, or lack of access to tools and skills. In response, she designed Tools to Empower, a system that loans micro-enterprise starter kits, like lawnmowers, pressure washers, and cleaning tools, through local libraries and community hubs, giving individuals the means to earn income with dignity.
“A single toolkit can change a family’s trajectory,” says Ria. “It’s about turning compassion into opportunity, one job, one neighborhood at a time.”
Our Mission
Creating Lasting Impact
To engineer dignity and economic independence by connecting under-resourced individuals with tools, training, and community support that enable small-scale, sustainable work.
Vision: A future where every person, regardless of circumstance, has access to the means to earn and thrive.
Become A Partner
Become An Ambassador
How It Works
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Partner Sites: Libraries, schools, and nonprofits house toolkits for community use.
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Toolkits: Each includes equipment, safety gear, and simple guides for safe, income-generating work.
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Connections: Partner sites link people seeking jobs with community members or businesses who need them.
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Support: Ambassadors help maintain kits, mentor users, and expand the network.
Impact Goals for 2026
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Launch pilot sites across NY, NJ and PA
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Equip 10 sites with income-generating toolkits
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Expand to three states in partnership with libraries and nonprofits
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Build a national network