A Green Visions Success Worth Celebrating: Xoviera Watts

Some stories remind you exactly why this work matters.

Xoviera Watts started 2025 with a simple interview for the Green Visions Winter Program. She came in curious about landscaping and growing flowers—and quickly proved she was a fast learner with an open mind about her future.

Our Winter Program is designed to do more than teach hands-on skills. Alongside training, participants meet a rotating roster of local professionals who visit weekly to share real-world career paths, advice, and inspiration.

For Xoviera, those conversations made a lasting impact.

“My favorite part of the Winter Program was the guest speakers. I learned about a lot of different professions… My other favorite part was taking the YouScience aptitude test and learning about my strengths, a lot of things I didn’t know about myself. It also showed me what jobs would go with my existing strengths, jobs that I had never even considered. It really inspired me.”

Growth, Certifications, and a Big Next Step

By the time Xoviera graduated from the winter cohort, she had gained multiple work-based certifications, valuable experience, and even earned her New York State driver’s license through the program.

With new confidence and options in front of her—including opportunities to explore nursing and manufacturing—Xoviera made a powerful choice: she decided to stay with Green Visions and continue growing her leadership skills.

“I was able to come back to Green Visions in the summer as the Site Manager. I really appreciated coming back to help with the program and learning a whole new set of skills. I obtained management experience and built on the landscaping skills I learned in the winter program.”

A Leader We’re Proud Of

Xoviera became an absolute asset to our team. She’s a natural leader—someone who leads by example and supports others through empathetic mentoring. Our summer successes wouldn’t have been the same without her diligent work, steady demeanor, and incredible energy.

We’re proud to recognize Xoviera not only as a success story of the program, but as a friend moving forward.

Watch Her Spotlight Feature

Xoviera was featured in a Green Visions spotlight piece that aired regionally on Spectrum News.

And the best part? Her journey is still unfolding:

“Today I have an internship through Green Visions and RochesterWorks at Nothing Bundt Cakes as a cake decorator. It is going to turn into a permanent full-time position!”