The Prospector Theater

THE MISSION OF THE PROSPECTOR THEATER is to provide meaningful employment, vocational training and opportunities to people with disabilities through the operation of a community-supported first run movie theater. Help unemployed and underemployed people turn their passions into professions through quality programming, gourmet thematic food, hand-made art, and Do- Goodery! Empower a wide audience of movie-goers to create meaningful relationships with, and business opportunities for, people with disabilities in their communities, demonstrating that people with disabilities are valuable and employable contributors to society Be a premiere venue for the enjoyment of entertainment and the arts for audiences of all ages OUR STORY The founder of the Prospector Theater, Valerie Jensen, is a resident of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and has been interested in improving the quality of lives of people with disabilities her entire life. The founder’s sister, Hope, was born in 1979 with Down Syndrome. Hope’s greatest joy in life is working her two jobs. Hope’s love, dedication and enthusiasm for working highlighted the importance of creating more jobs and opportunities for people with disabilities. The creation of meaningful employment is the ultimate sustainable source for improving the quality of lives of people with disabilities. WHY A MOVIE THEATER? The Prospector Theater represents a new model of social enterprise. It pairs a first run, commercial movie theater with the mission of training and employing adults with disabilities. This non-for-profit system, with the competitiveness and transparency of a for-profit business model, will provide a new standard. It shows how community groups, businesses, foundations, and people in the private sector can work together to improve the quality of lives for those with disabilities, while lessening the burden on the government money and helping boost employment rates.