In this first installment of the MADE series, REDFworkshop.org profiles Detroit social enterprise The Empowerment Plan, their fearless approach to employment and their intentionally selective distribution base. The Empowerment Plan creates jobs for talent overlooked due to homelessness, and creates a product that is exclusively focused on serving the communities who most need its warmth.

SE Mission:

The Empowerment Plan is a nonprofit whose mission is to educate, employ, and empower homeless individuals to create a better life for themselves and their families while producing a humanitarian product for those in need.

Featured Product:

Their EMPWR coat is a water-resistant and self-heating jacket, which can transform into a sleeping bag, or be worn as an over-the-shoulder bag when not in use. The coat is constructed of upcycled automotive insulation, fabric from Carhartt, and other materials provided by generous donors.

The MADE Factor:

This social enterprise stepped over misconceptions about what was possible for its employee talent, and has an unwavering focus on its primary consumer—homeless men and women of Detroit. Its distinctive style, craftsmanship and adaptive design have caught the attention of mainstream markets, and we’re watching its rise.

Connect:

http://www.empowermentplan.org