Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronika Scott.
Hi Veronika, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am called to the work I’m doing now because as a child I grew up in a situation of poverty and homelessness with my family. Both of my parents struggled with addiction, maintaining a job, and their mental health. My siblings and I were looked at as a worthless extension of my parents and doomed to repeat their life of struggle.
As a student in college faced with a daunting class project, I set out to create an opportunity I wished my own family had been given. Initially, this opportunity took the form of a coat—a coat that could turn into a sleeping bag. Pursuing this, I designed that coat not only for individuals but also with them, spending months in shelters across Detroit.
The spark that turned my coat project into what has become Empowerment Plan was a homeless woman. I had worked with her for months and one day she yelled at me and told me that the coats we were making meant nothing, that she needed a job, not a jacket.
She made me realize that the coat on its own is just a band-aid for a systemic issue, and what would make an impact would be hiring those that would need a coat in the first place. It was at that moment that I decided to hire parents from shelters across Detroit to manufacture the coats in an effort to help families break that vicious cycle of poverty and become financially secure.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. My path has been filled with challenges—personally, professionally, and emotionally. I started Empowerment Plan as a college student, driven by a design assignment that turned into something much bigger than I could’ve imagined. But turning an idea into a sustainable organization—especially one rooted in addressing generational poverty and homelessness—meant facing constant uphill battles. I was young, didn’t come from wealth or connections, and was building something in a space that can be resistant to new ideas, especially from someone who didn’t “fit the mold.”
There were times I didn’t know how we were going to keep the lights on or how to support the team I had hired—many of whom were parents trying to break cycles of homelessness. Personally, I was also navigating my own trauma and family history while trying to lead and grow. But those struggles shaped me. They made me a more empathetic leader and grounded me in the mission. The adversity forced me to be creative, scrappy, and deeply committed to building something that could last—not just for me, but for everyone we serve.
As you know, we’re big fans of Empowerment Plan. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Please tell us more about your business or organization. What should we know? What do you do, what do you specialize in / what are you known for? What sets you apart from others? What are you most proud brand wise? What do you want our readers to know about your brand, offerings, services, etc?
We are a holistic workforce development organization that addresses homelessness in two critical ways. First, we provide full-time employment and services for individuals experiencing and recovering from homelessness in Detroit. Second, we produce innovative sleeping bag coats, which are distributed to those who are unsheltered globally. EP addresses deep-rooted systemic and racial inequities that greatly impact marginalized communities experiencing poverty, homelessness, and unemployment by reducing – and in many cases removing – barriers that prevent one from entering the workplace. EP works to provide low-income families experiencing and recovering from homelessness in Detroit the opportunity for stable employment and the safety net needed to create lasting intergenerational change.
We are know for our Sleeping Bag coats. By distributing these EMPWR Sleeping Bag Coats, we provide a key resource to individuals and organizations offering supportive services and unsheltered outreach, helping them build trust and relationships with those they serve.
The goal of our program is to help those we employ to achieve stability. We want to prepare the people we serve for long-term success by supporting them with the tools, skills, and resources needed to navigate life events.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Spending time with my mom who was sewing me a giant stuffed dog, that ended up looking like an alien.
Pricing:
- $150 a coat, info can be found on EP website
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.EmpowermentPlan.org
- Instagram: empowermentplan
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/E8eqBIsMRZI
