Women Making History | Veronika Scott of The Empowerment Plan

We’re all about products that do some good for the world from start to finish. That’s why we’re sharing a bit about The Empowerment Plan founder and CEO Veronika Scott as part of today’s Women Making History post. She’s the brains behind the EMPWR coat, an ultra-warm and durable sleeping bag/jacket hybrid made for and by Detroit's homeless.

Scott was inspired to create The Empowerment Plan after a college class assignment tasked her with designing a product that helped the community. She camped out in warming centers for the homeless and spoke to the people who frequented them. It soon became clear that although many of the people she met needed a coat, what they really needed was a job. And so the EMPWR coat was born.

Manufacturing of the coat begins with a mix of durable materials, including upcycled automotive insulation from General Motors, and is crafted exclusively by single parents from Detroit shelters. Scott helps employees get back on their feet by providing full-time employment, training, and ongoing education in the form of financial literacy programs and GED classes. As team members move out of shelters, the organization also assists with furnishing their homes and easing the transition.

Since its founding in 2012, the nonprofit has provided employment for 50 homeless individuals and continues to produce coats that make sleeping outside on a cold night a little more bearable.

Want to learn more about Scott and The Empowerment Plan? Check out their site here, then view our entire Women Making History series here. Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments or tag us on social @shetravelswellco.