ROCHESTER, N.Y. — From sauces, pasta and smoothies, one Rochester business is doing it all.
WellVentions is a non-profit organization training kids on the ins and out of entrepreneurship.
“I'm a bike chef, but he took over," student entrepreneur Justin Ramos said. "Inside sales, Dahani, and outside sales are over there.”
They facilitate their own business all by themselves at the Rochester Public Market. While discovering their career choices, they still manage to incorporate creative ways to have fun and sell their products.
The program's mission is to create and produce products with a purpose, utilizing one of its brands as a teaching lesson for others.
“It’s like social and emotional learning," youth entrepreneur Maniyah Carter said. "I have one right here, and we use these to go into the schools to teach the younger kids about their emotions.”
They are teaching in innovative ways that are resourceful but also entertaining.
“Don’t let your bully voice get to you, you got this, slay," Carter said.
The program is going into its 10th year and founded by organizer Jill Stolt.
“We have alumni that come with their babies and their husbands and their spouses, and they can’t believe we are still selling their product," Stolt said.
They are teaching creative students how to build a pathway into the workforce.
“They really don’t have the skills taught in the schools these days," Stolt said. "Most of these kids are terrified to go into jobs. They don’t know what it’s like, they have no idea how to interview, they can maybe get a job but keeping a job has really been the challenge.”
To date, more than $125,000 in sales has been reinvested into training and stipends for its students, delivering the program to over 750 young entrepreneurs.
“I wouldn’t do it if they weren’t so drastically different within a month, they come out of their shells, they help each other which is the most satisfying part," Stolt said.
As its sales reassure the students of their hard work, Stolt finds the real reward at the end of the day is their growth.
“Just seeing the change in the kids, absolutely, and seeing how far they go," Stolt said.