Learning and Earning

High Rocks believes that one of the most powerful ways to change the future of West Virginia communities is through youth empowerment. Most of our young people are low-income, and too often they have to make the choice to work at low-end jobs instead of pursuing professional enrichment and advancement opportunities. We know our teens need to earn money; that is the financial reality of their families. We aim to create programs that strengthen students’ résumés, build essential life skills, and provide meaningful income—while offering mentorship and support as they plan for their futures.

Innovation and entrepreneurship lay at the heart of our journey, not only as an organization, but as a state. To build a sustainable and healthy future for our region and our people, we need to invest in entrepreneurship and in opportunities for young people to earn and learn simultaneously.

Our goal is to build social enterprise ventures with young people in leadership roles. We will produce a triple-bottom line – people, profit, and place – by building young entrepreneurs, creating programs that are financially self-sustaining, and highlighting our Appalachian wealth in an environmentally-friendly way.

As we work to transition to a just economy for Appalachia, key partners and leverage points continue to emerge. Small business and non-profits (perhaps better known as “social profits”) will be a driving force in developing a strong local economy. Sectors including technology, cyber-security, local foods, agri-tourism, farm-to-table, STEM opportunities, and value-added products are emerging as exciting opportunities that we can explore.

The Hub Café is a non-profit cafe and community space offering delicious drinks and meals, catering, workshops, events, rentals, makerspace, seasonal local produce and goods, and great customer service. High school students who work at the Hub Café design the menu, order inventory, set prices, and manage income and expenses; they are learning how to manage money in a real-life situation and will understand what it means to be financially stable when they are out of high school and out in the world living independently.

Tech Express is a computer and cell phone repair business that positions young people at the center of promising technology sectors and social entrepreneurship. Tech Express works with their business plan canvas, price sheets, repair training, web presence, and workflow processes in partnership with youth technicians. 

Ruby Grow grows organic vegetables to market produce to local programs (including other High Rocks programs) and regional markets. We have a high tunnel in production and are partnering with a local business owner to create a memorial youth social enterprise garden program for Ruby Burns, who was also a High Rocks founding board member. Ruby Grow gardens will grow youth social enterprise by introducing youth entrepreneurs to production-focus organic produce gardening in Hillsboro, WV. 

High Rocks Academy provides opportunities for High Rocks girls to earn and learn as leaders at camp and as advisors to the High Rocks Board of Directors. Their junior counselor program, their Youth Advisory Board, and their summer internship program are all pathways to earn and learn.

The First2 Network is committed to providing students with travel support and educational stipends to resource students’ time to conduct STEM research to improve STEM undergraduate education and increase the number of college graduates in STEM to strengthen our communities and drive an innovation economy in West Virginia and beyond. Through High Rocks partnership, First2 Network funds our scholars’ participation as network leaders, researchers, mentors, educators, and more - to enable students to invest their time and focus on leveraging STEM pathway success for themselves and for others.