80% of people with disabilities don’t have a job. This isn’t due to an unwillingness to work but a lack of true opportunities. Ryan Wenke, the director of operations and technology, in an interview explained how this fact led to the birth of Prospector. Since its opening, Prospector has established itself in both the theater and gourmet popcorn scenes with 74% of their workforce, referred to as “prospects”, self-identifying with a disability. At Prospector, they believe that “meaningful employment is vital to a person’s mental, social, financial, and emotional health.” This is something that everyone deserves.
With competitive wages and jobs tailored to each individual’s strengths and passions, every employee gets to leave with a sense of fulfillment. With this, prospects are able to move out of their parent’s homes, buy their first car, and go through some many other major life changes because someone gave them a shot. That is Prospector’s mission, and that is what they will continue to strive for!
Prospector Theater
If you are in Ridgefield Connecticut, stop by Prospector Theater for a great and inclusive cinema experience. With adaptive technology like audio description headsets and closed-captioning devices just to name a few, everyone should receive the best experience possible. In addition to this, there are also once a month sensory friendly screenings which gives the same movie watching experience but in a much more relaxed environment. With every visit, know that your time and money go towards supporting Prospector’s mission! Learn more about Prospector Theater by checking out their website!
Prospector Popcorn
If you are not from Connecticut but would still like to support Prospector, purchase a bag of their gourmet popcorn! With tons of delicious flavors and delivering to all states, you’re bound to find something you’ll love! With National Popcorn Day on the 19th of January, take advantage of the 20% off site wide sale and order yourself a delicious bag of gourmet popcorn! Don’t forget to check back in on Valentine’s day too for the perfect gift for your significant other. Check out their website for the latest deals and prices!
Spread the Word
With every bag of popcorn you buy or every movie you watch, you are supporting a great cause. You are giving a community that is oftentimes overlooked a chance to do what everyone deserves which is making a living for themselves. With the Covid-19 pandemic, many people lost their jobs and those with disabilities weren’t spared either. Prospector is doing their part to help this community bounce back, but they can’t do it alone. By spreading the word and telling others about Prospector, anyone can make a huge difference in the lives of so many people everywhere. This little theater in Connecticut has a much greater impact than their town, state, and even country. The mission at Prospector can ultimately have so many positive benefits internationally as well!
In an interview with Wenke, he concluded with this:
“I truly believe that everybody on this planet has some connection to a relative with a disability whether they have a disability themselves or they have a friend or a loved one. The disability community is the only minority group that you can enter at any point in your life. Anytime between now and the end of your life something can happen where you suddenly have a disability whether it’s temporary or not, so it’s important that we collectively make sure that we’re finding and creating opportunities for all of us. I would encourage you if you’re an employer or have a small business, reach out to us and learn about our culture and how we work.”
To most, January 19th will simply be another day. The majority of the population probably won’t even realize that it is National Popcorn Day. It’s not just another day for Prospector. It’s an opportunity for them to spread their mission through an all time classic movie snack…popcorn. A simple snack but for Prospector, a vessel to better work opportunities for everyone.
