
The Empowerment Plan
Model & Strategy
The Empowerment Plan tackles the punishing cycle of homelessness and poverty through a unique system of employment, education and empowerment. The Empowerment Plan employs single parents from local homeless shelters and trains them to become full-time seamstresses. Their current team manufacture coats that transform into sleeping bags, which are then distributed across the nation to homeless individuals who are living on the streets. In addition to employment, the organization offers educational and professional workshops in an effort to equip each team member with the confidence and skills necessary to lead a more sustainable, financially stable and healthy life. The Empowerment Plan believes in giving second chances to those who want it, while providing warmth to those who need it.



Veronika’s vision for The Empowerment Plan started when she was a 20-year-old product design student at The College for Creative Studies in Detroit and was given a class assignment to design a product to fill an actual need. Upon her December 2011 graduation and after spending countless hours at local shelters, she had created an organization that began around a single idea: to design a self-heated, waterproof coat that transforms into a sleeping bag specifically for the homeless. Her idea has now transformed into a system of empowerment in which homeless women are paid to learn how to produce coats for people living on the streets, giving them an opportunity to earn money, find a place to live, and gain back their independence for themselves and their family.
Veronika is the youngest recipient of the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award from the JFK Library Foundation and Harvard University. She has received an IDEA Gold Award from the Industrial Design Society of America and has an honorary PhD of Humane Letters from Johnson State College. Veronika has been named one of CNN’s Ten Visionary Women in the World, the winner of the 2014 DVF People’s Voice Award, listed as one of Forbes “30 Under 30”, as well as the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s “40 Under 40”. The Empowerment Plan story has been told across the world and shared at events such as the World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the Forbes 400 Philanthropy Summit with Oprah, Melinda Gates, and Warren Buffett.
IMPACT
The Empowerment Plan employs previously homeless parents, with a focus on low-income, minority single mothers. Earning livable wages enables employees to find permanent housing and establish a stable life for their children within the first three months of employment. Programs such as GED tutoring, domestic violence support groups, and Financial Health and Wellness seminars are also offered to ensure the personal and professional success of all program participants.
The Empowerment Plan manufactures coats that convert to sleeping bags, which are distributed directly to people living on the streets. Close to 40,000 sleeping bag coats have been distributed globally to homeless individuals, across all 50 U.S. states, 11 Canadian provinces and territories, and 18 other countries. Distribution occurs with the help of generous community advocates and partner outreach organizations.
Approximately 60% of the paid workweek is spent on coat production and the remaining 40% of paid time is dedicated to supportive services, time with case management, and other educational programming.
The Empowerment Plan News
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Veronika Scott of The Empowerment Plan Featured on CNN HeroesVeronika Scott was recently featured as one of CNN’s Heroes for the work her organization, The Empowerment Plan, does to hire homeless individuals from local…Mar 2016
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The Empowerment Plan Recognized as a Chevy Detroit ChampionBased out of Detroit, The Empowerment Plan has gained international recognition for their dedication to helping the homeless community. Using materials donated to them by…Mar 2016
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Forbes 30 Under 30 Social EntrepreneursForbes recently released their “30 Under 30” for 2015 in Social Entrepreneurship and three DRK grantees were included in the list of social entrepreneurs. Kiah…Jan 2016
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Veronika Scott Featured in Michael Bolton's Documentary about Detroit: Gotta Keep Dreamin'Grammy-award winning singer and songwriter Michael Bolton was first drawn to Detroit to explore Hitsville USA, the roots of his greatest musical influences, but what…Jan 2016
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Here are some quick stats for #MentalHealthAwareness Month. #EMPWRcommunities
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🖤 Pam 🖤 our creative seamstress who loves to make clothing for herself and her family. If you wanted to learn one t… https://t.co/NYYhVpNAdr
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RT @amie_zamudio: Thank you to our formerly homelessness @Housing4Hmless volunteer Stephan for showing up & helping out w the seniors in ou…
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RT @amie_zamudio: We are so proud of our @Housing4Hmless participant, Stephen, who is always giving back. We are a commUnity. 🥰@empowerment…
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Here is Stephen from @luckyduckfoundation showing off an #EMPWRcoat haul with some socks ready for distribution! St… https://t.co/zLwTCognA5
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The signature part of the EMPWR Coat is the footbag, which Shauna is sewing here. The footbag folds up into the EMP… https://t.co/eQFEpoXAME
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Everyone will experience some type of traumatic event in their lifetime and acknowledging that these experiences ca… https://t.co/jDXB37hUa0
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When you shop Empowerment Plan swag, 100% of the proceeds go back to us. It goes without saying our merch is pretty… https://t.co/SOKVOASrwQ
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Starting today through May 8th, when you donate $50 to EP via this link: https://t.co/CAlupS7DlV you'll receive a p… https://t.co/OlcIAcc2Fo
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Coats on coats getting sewn, stuffed, and shipped all in a day's work. Pop Quiz! We've recently told you how many E… https://t.co/8j8l0dfg9p
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It was such an honor to meet with @RevJJackson and his team at @RPCoalition in Chicago earlier this week! We’ve pre… https://t.co/fKMOaX4Nhj
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Co-workers can become some of your closest friends, but this is especially true when you work at EP. Do you have a… https://t.co/cue6b9LMWr
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At EP, our team isn't just paid to work, but they're also paid to learn. From computer skills tutoring, trauma-info… https://t.co/PQXIgI2fdt
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While the cost to sponsor an #EMPWRcoat is being adjusted from $125 to $150 - its impact is priceless. Your sponsor… https://t.co/xZ4XZo2jXW
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We're so thrilled for the lovely Taylor who recently graduated from the EMPWR program! Of her time at EP she says:… https://t.co/7d82iEHuqs
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Meet Lauren! She's our Development and Outreach Manager, and the one who coordinates all EMPWR Coat distributions a… https://t.co/2pwSJJRqQq
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It's the #firstdayofspring and as we enter the season of renewal, it's time to shed the fear of what others think a… https://t.co/v6dVPfANgK
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That feeling when you get called out for being an amazing team player who makes everyone feel loved and appreciated… https://t.co/9OJGVwglCs