WellVentions

In 2022, ProsperRochester/WellVentions entered its 17th year and is now our region’s only year-round, youth-run business which has provided stipends to over 700 teens over it’s history. Students who participate in the program get real-world experiences working in WellVentions’ storefront in the Rochester Public Market every Saturday, as well as throughout the week at the market and partnering businesses. The skills students build in inventory management, calculating profit margins, customer service, teamwork, communication, and other core business organization areas, will have impact far beyond their work in school. 

This year, 18 total students participated in WellVention cohorts that were run in the spring and summer. A main focus of the program was mental health skill building for success in the workplace. Students had the opportunity to develop and implement a “play-based” curriculum facilitated with 35 mentor youth at School #54 and Rochester Childfirst Network’s (RCN) Summer Adventures Day Camp. Professors from the U of R and St. John Fisher helped infuse trauma-informed learnings into the program, and students incorporated them into facilitated puppetry activities, role-playing, and games at RCN.

WellVentions also implements creative learning opportunities through event management where students are charged with tasks like developing floorplans, shift schedules, and VoiceOver production for Artist Row, which will take place on September 18th. Students created various activities, as well as puppets that will be sold at the event. 

For those interested, the event on the 18th will feature a variety of youth-friendly activities like puppetry, a cappella singing, role play, and dancers from Jack ‘n Jill Childcare. You can learn more about the event at https://www.artistrowrochester.com/ and WellVentions at https://wellventions.org/.