Warmth Born in Detroit

Originally a project for school at the Detroit’s Center for Creative Studies , The Empowerment Plan  brings warmth to the city by giving a solution for single moms that end up homeless.

Veronika Scott, social entrepreneur and creator, founded the Empowerment Plan. I had the honor of visiting the space and was pleasantly surprised with the location and the rate of growth that they have.

The product

Empowerment Plan is a manufacturing place that makes heat trapping jackets that can transform into a warm and weather resistant sleeping bag, and that during the day in a not so cold weather wraps into an over the shoulder bag.

The product is incredible and it costs $125 to donate one to someone in need.

The impact

The impact of the initiative does not stop there, the heart of the operation is to employ mainly homeless single mothers from shelters around Detroit.

They start immediately and they are taught everything they need to know to cut, sew and make the coats that will serve other people in the future. They have an in house kitchen and eating area, clean bathrooms, and lots of support and lessons taught during lunch or after work.

With the help of social workers and partner organizations, the workers eventually can afford a place to live and overcome homelessness.

Exciting future outcomes

The building is still changing and is a blank canvas for opportunities offered to the employees. It is an exciting thing to see, support and recognize.

There was a need that could have been addressed with the traditional way of donations and fund raising. Instead we are given a process and product that break the cycle of need and recurrence.

Being my first time visiting the place and learning the full story of the Empowerment Plan, I was sorry I had not learned of it before, and I wanted to share this great thing happening in our city with you.

For more visit The Empowerment Plan at empowermentpan.org.

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