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Social/Emotional Learning, A Critical Component to Job Readiness
“Inner-Space”- Social Emotional Health. After this cRaZy Covid year, social-emotional learning has become even more critical - not only personally but as a business skill essential to success in the workplace. Take a journey with us into the inner workings of our brain and the behavior that makes us tick. Self-awareness is key to success, and our students learn it’s ok to feel an overwhelming emotion, it’s how we handle it that counts.
Guided by cognitive-behavioral specialists, WellVentions High School students learned self-awareness and emotional management tools, a critical component to effective job readiness training. They then learned critical thinking skills as they interpreted what they learned into arts based programming, and developed leadership skills as they facilitated sessions with their younger peers. These skills are essential to transitioning from their neighborhoods and schools to the job market and job retention.
Pioneers In Social/Emotional Learning Through The Arts
In 2005, our team pioneered a social/emotional learning curriculum with 96 kids in 4 age groups from the YMCA’s after-school program. Students used the arts to learn about their emotions, creating proprietary songs themed around “Pause Breath Think & Choose” a healthy activity to channel emotions. They also created a public service announcement on anger management, and produced “The Feeling Follies”, a theatrical production uniting 3 schools to share what they learned with family and friends. WellVentions students currently teach emotional wellness using puppets first created by students in 2005. These puppets are still sold today at our retail booth at the Rochester Public Market.
Learning About Physical Signs of Stress, Anger, & The Worry Center In The Brain
Thanks to Amber Keshisian, a seasoned behavioral psychologist, for teaching our students which part of their brain is talking to them when they are stressed, angry or scared https://www.goodbrain.co/resources/instructive-video/. After learning about their emotional triggers, the alarm (worry) center in their brain, physical signs of stress, and anger management techniques, WellVentions young entrepreneurs created entertaining and educational programming to share what they learned with their younger peers.
WellVentions Teens Spent The Summer Facilitating Their Edutainment Programming at The Caring & Sharing Day Care Center
ProsperRochester has developed a social/emotional learning (SEL) curriculum, programming, and range of products themed around “InnerSpace”. Through this work, high school youth have internalized an evidence based social/emotional learning curriculum and have mentored their younger peers to discover emotional triggers and ways to manage their emotions. Our young entrepreneurs are guiding 5-8, and 9-12 year old students to engage in creative and artistic puppetry, mirror work, games, and drawing projects to create and produce: 1) entertaining video scripts to share what they’ve learned with the broader community, 2) updated mental health literacy training curriculum, and 3) products such as emotional management toys to sell at our retail booth at the Rochester Public Market. Through the development process, youth experience purposeful learning, have a safe space to discuss their feelings, are empowered to see their ideas realized, and discover how to communicate with all ages and cultures. Our student leaders mentor their younger peers to learn how to become self-aware of the physical signs of their stress, anxiety, fear, and anger; and to provide tools and calming techniques to reduce escalation and manage their behavior .
Emotional Programming & Toolbelt Products That Share Tips With the Community & Provide A Sustainable Future
Students interpret what they learn into entertaining retail products (toys and/or gaming style products)
Retail products are currently being designed and produced at the Makerspace, to be sold during the 2021 holiday season in a pilot test at our permanent location inside the new building at the Rochester Public Market
A series of social media formats that are entertaining and educational will be created by the students to release information about Mental Health Literacy to the broader community in the style and culture of the students. This social media campaign will also help promote the products sold at the Market.
Through the WellVentions program, youth utilize their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit to brainstorm, design, and produce new product concepts. Students work collaboratively to develop, beta test, and then sell these products at the Rochester Public Market, where PR has a permanent booth. WellVentions students are beta testing their programming and product ideas at the Caring & Sharing Child Care Center, gaining valuable insights into how to make the WellVentions programming more engaging and relevant, and which of their emotional management toy designs appeal to each age group.
WellVentions students will be delivering this tested and improved curriculum at expanded locations in 2022.
In 2022 PR students will also finish developing their first modules and beta testing a mental health literacy program through community partnerships with Science & Technology Programs to connect STEM resources with design, theatre, music, and other artistic mediums to create toolkits of educational products centered on mental health topics.
Puppet Theater, Puppet Fashionistas, Puppet Couture, & Gaming Kick Off Our Season Finales
Artist Row 2021, 2022, and September 17, 2023
Each summer, WellVentions Young Entrepreneurs test gaming and puppetry to teach social/emotional learning in collaboration with the local arts community, creating an annual unique and meaningful experience for children and adults alike. They pop-up an interactive Children’s Activity Center called "Innerspace" at Artist Row - with games, photo booths, and a cast of puppet characters who perform hourly to help children learn how to manage their emotions. Local designers and artists join in to create one-of-a-kind music, theater, dance, and puppet couture.
Shows run hourly, Drama Queens managing their emotions in attendance.
