In our first episode, Danialle Karmanos sits down with personal stylist Clare Pollard to discuss style trends for Spring and Summer 2019.

Then, we hear the inspiring story of Veronika Scott, who created coats for the homeless that turn into sleeping bags. "The Coat Lady," as she was called, soon got the attention of some very big names and became a global force to be reckoned with.  Now, her nonprofit, The Empowerment Plan, not only helps the homeless, it employs them too.

[gallery link="file" columns="2" size="full" ids="75,74,76,77"]
About Clare Pollard
While accompanying her mother to beautiful stores in her hometown and around the world, Clare learned how the clothes we wear have an impact on our sense of self.  In college, Clare spent a semester abroad in Florence, Italy studying fashion design with a Swedish designer. Creating her own collection from start to finish helped her appreciate the artistic process that goes into bringing fashion to life. After graduating from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder, she started her career in marketing, and was fortunate to live in cities like San Francisco, New York, and Miami – places brimming with styling inspiration. Today – as a mom of two energetic children – Clare starts a new chapter with Pollard Style to continue to follow her love for fashion, styling, and helping people feel great.

pollardstyle.com
Instagram: @pollardstyle
About Veronika Scott and The Empowerment Plan
Founder of 'The Empowerment Plan', a Detroit-based social enterprise, Veronika Scott has built an organization that began around a single idea: to design a coat that transforms into a sleeping bag for individuals that are homeless. That idea has now transformed into a system of empowerment that creates jobs to permanently lift people out of poverty. The production staff, which is composed of previously homeless women and men, has proven that Empowerment Plan is radically changing workforce development. Each employee is paid to learn how to produce the coat, employed full time, and is also provided with supportive services. This opportunity gives employees a chance to earn a stable income, find secure housing, and gain back independence for themselves and their families.

Veronika is the youngest recipient of the JFK New Frontier Award and received an honorary doctorate from Johnson State College. She is a winner of the IDEA Gold Award, the Diane von Furstenberg People’s Voice Award, and has been named one of Forbes 30 Under 30, Chronicle of Philanthropy's 40 Under 40, and CNN’s 10 Visionary Women. Her organization's story has been told at the World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Forbes 400 Philanthropy Summit, and on other platforms across the globe.

[caption id="attachment_191" align="alignnone" width="420"] Veronika Scott, "Coat Lady" and founder / CEO of The Empowerment Plan stands by her famous sleeping bag coats.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_190" align="alignnone" width="600"] French Moore of Detroit sews pieces of the sleeping bag coats at The Empowerment Plan[/caption]

The Empowerment Plan
7640 Kercheval Ave
Detroit, MI 48214
[email protected]

In our first episode, Danialle Karmanos sits down with personal stylist Clare Pollard to discuss style trends for Spring and Summer 2019.

Then, we hear the inspiring story of Veronika Scott, who created coats for the homeless that turn into sleeping bags. "The Coat Lady," as she was called, soon got the attention of some very big names and became a global force to be reckoned with.  Now, her nonprofit, The Empowerment Plan, not only helps the homeless, it employs them too.

[gallery link="file" columns="2" size="full" ids="75,74,76,77"]
About Clare Pollard
While accompanying her mother to beautiful stores in her hometown and around the world, Clare learned how the clothes we wear have an impact on our sense of self.  In college, Clare spent a semester abroad in Florence, Italy studying fashion design with a Swedish designer. Creating her own collection from start to finish helped her appreciate the artistic process that goes into bringing fashion to life. After graduating from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder, she started her career in marketing, and was fortunate to live in cities like San Francisco, New York, and Miami – places brimming with styling inspiration. Today – as a mom of two energetic children – Clare starts a new chapter with Pollard Style to continue to follow her love for fashion, styling, and helping people feel great.

pollardstyle.com
Instagram: @pollardstyle
About Veronika Scott and The Empowerment Plan
Founder of 'The Empowerment Plan', a Detroit-based social enterprise, Veronika Scott has built an organization that began around a single idea: to design a coat that transforms into a sleeping bag for individuals that are homeless. That idea has now transformed into a system of empowerment that creates jobs to permanently lift people out of poverty. The production staff, which is composed of previously homeless women and men, has proven that Empowerment Plan is radically changing workforce development. Each employee is paid to learn how to produce the coat, employed full time, and is also provided with supportive services. This opportunity gives employees a chance to earn a stable income, find secure housing, and gain back independence for themselves and their families.

Veronika is the youngest recipient of the JFK New Frontier Award and received an honorary doctorate from Johnson State College. She is a winner of the IDEA Gold Award, the Diane von Furstenberg People’s Voice Award, and has been named one of Forbes 30 Under 30, Chronicle of Philanthropy's 40 Under 40, and CNN’s 10 Visionary Women. Her organization's story has been told at the World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Forbes 400 Philanthropy Summit, and on other platforms across the globe.

[caption id="attachment_191" align="alignnone" width="420"] Veronika Scott, "Coat Lady" and founder / CEO of The Empowerment Plan stands by her famous sleeping bag coats.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_190" align="alignnone" width="600"] French Moore of Detroit sews pieces of the sleeping bag coats at The Empowerment Plan[/caption]

The Empowerment Plan
7640 Kercheval Ave
Detroit, MI 48214
[email protected]
theempowermentplan.org
DONATE