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Formerly Homeless Manufacture Coats for the Needy

Remember the name Veronika Scott the next time you feel like nobody in this big cruel world cares.

Today, we’re spotlighting a process and, ultimately, a message of hope.

Remember the name Veronika Scott the next time you feel like nobody in this big cruel world cares. When she was in college in Detroit, Ms. Scott was challenged by a professor to “fill a need” in the beleaguered city they called home. Her thoughts immediately went to the homeless population, a class of citizens who motivated her to design the EMPWR coat – designed to serve as a warm winter jacket and also convert into a functional sleeping bag.

But Scott took the project one step further, acknowledging that Detroit’s homeless needed more than just warmth – they needed jobs. So she founded The Empowerment Plan, the business behind the coats, and now creates jobs for the people it set out to serve. Dedicated to paying a living wage, The Empowerment Plan employs 20 formerly homeless, with plans to produce 6,500 coats this year.

Looking to give back? The Empowerment Plan has a wish list of items ranging from coat materials to day care scholarships for the children of its employees. Find this noble company online at empowermentplan.org.

I’m Anna Wells and this is IEN Now.

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