designingnorth

[designingnorth]

Why is James Karagiannis designing north*?

It’s summer. It’s hot. If you’re a child, there is perhaps no more welcome sound than that of the Ice Cream Man’s bell ringing or music blaring. Can you remember hearing that sound, then rushing into the house to gather any and all change? In the secret drawer, under the sofa cushions, on your dad’s bureau – frantically searching?

James Karagiannis, better known in Buffalo, New York as the Ice Creamcycle Dude, cruises the streets of Buffalo eliciting just that reaction. Except some of his customers are short of spare change.

James frequents disadvantaged neighborhoods, bucking others’ “irrational fear of the inner city.” Though the children are dying for an icy treat just like kids in more upscale neighborhoods, they often can’t afford it. As a kind, but small businessman, it crushed James to see the disappointment on their faces, yet he knew he couldn’t afford to give away the goodies to all the needy children.

So like any good entrepreneur worth his salt, he developed a solution. He began raising funds so that he could give away ice cream to the kids when needed. He created a social contract with the children. Before receiving the treat, the creamcycle recipient had to write a thank-you note to the benefactor, creating a connection between donor and recipient.

Happy children. Happy donors. Happy Ice Creamcycle Dude. Happy community.

*Many people in this world “add a little extra” to whatever they do: their career, how they live, the relationships they nurture, or just a random act of kindness – and we consider that *designing north* – designing your life and living it just north of the average bell curve.

James is designing north. Are you or someone you know? Tell us. We’re looking for the global count.

NOT A SUBSCRIBER?

JUMP ON BOARD.

[designingnorth]

Why is Bob Votruba designing north*?

For most of us, reading headlines about mass killings elicits gasps of horror. The mental images sit with us for a while, and we find ourselves contemplating how on Earth any human being could do such a thing to other human beings. Eventually, the routine of daily life begins to soften the hard edges of those images, until finally they dissolve from our daily consciousness.

No so for Bob Votruba.

Mr. Votruba was so aghast at the horror of the 2007 Virginia Tech mass shooting in which 32 innocent people were massacred, that he was changed forever. Or at least for the last eight years and counting.

For Mr. Votruba, the tragedy became an epiphany. He quit his job as a 35 year veteran in the home building business, sold his major possessions, and set out on a journey – more of a pilgrimage or odyssey really – to promote his new life’s mission.

“One Million Acts of Kindness is a goal, a lifetime goal, for each and every person who’s young enough. Anybody under the age of 30 mathematically can still personally perform one million acts of kindness through little things, some of them bigger things, and what I like to call ‘kind acts from the heart.’” [Quote from 27east.com]

He now travels the country in his bus, spreading his message and bestowing kindnesses upon others – an inspiration to us all.

Who knows? Perhaps your own small act of kindness will soften a hard heart at a desperate moment some day.

*Many people in this world “add a little extra” to whatever they do: their career, how they live, the relationships they nurture, or just a random act of kindness – and we consider that *designing north* – designing your life and living it just north of the average bell curve.

Bob is designing north. Are you or someone you know? Tell us. We’re looking for the global count.

[designingnorth]

Why are Marty and Seon designing north*?

The pair worked hard to achieve their dreams. And the path was not exactly paved for them. Both Marty and Seon were the first in their families to graduate from college - there was no long legacy of higher education to draft from.

Seon earned two masters degrees and a doctorate degree and serves as the early childhood education faculty chair at Vanguard University in southern California. Marty holds a law degree and served in the U.S. Navy.

Their lifelong dream was to buy a sailboat to indulge their love of the water. They were close to making that dream a reality when they attended a church sermon on charity. Instead of sailing in their own futures, they changed course and decided to help a group of 26 English-language learning kindergarteners sail to a future that will include college.

The pair committed to funding each student's college education (two years of community college + two years at a California state university). The price? About $1,000,000.  The worth? Priceless.

Read more about Marty and Seon's story here.

*Many people in this world “add a little extra” to whatever they do: their career, how they live, the relationships they nurture, or just a random act of kindness – and we consider that *designing north* – designing your life and living it just north of the average bell curve.

Marty and Seon are designing north. Are you or someone you know? Tell us. We’re looking for the global count.

[designingnorth]

Why is Nancy Jundi designing north*?

So often we think that we have to be heroic to make a real difference in the world. Yet the reality is probably just the opposite. This story of a young woman, Nancy Jundi, taking time out of her day to connect with a little girl is priceless. In a matter of minutes she likely infused a lifetime of confidence in a young stranger. Nancy is an ordinary person who for a moment became heroic in the eyes of a little girl.

Her story, in her own words as she told it on Facebook:

Stopped for coffee this morning at 7 eleven (don’t judge) and when a little girl saw me she hid behind her mother and screamed.

When she started crying I felt really bad and had no idea what I’d done. Her mother bent down to comfort her and asked what happened. The little girl whispered something and then the mother turned to look at me.

“She thinks you’re Wonder Woman,” whispered the mom in broken English. “You’re her favorite...Could you...I’m so sorry...”

“OF COURSE!!!!”

So I bent down and had the sweetest most encouraging conversation with a 4 year old that I ever ever had outside of my own nieces.

“Why aren’t you wearing your uniform?” Sofia asked. “Well, I work with non super heroes for most of the day - even though we do super hero stuff on the computer.”

“So you fight the bad guys on the computer?” she asked. 

“Sometimes, yes, but we also build some really cool stuff, too.”

“But when do you wear your boots and tiara? When do you fight crime with your bracelets?” she wondered.

“Lots. Lots and lots. I love my boots - and I’ll tell you a secret, even when you can’t see my tiara, I’m wearing a crown. It’s like my Invisible Jet. Wanna touch it?”

She froze. She was so excited. She touched my head and smiled. She said, “You have hair just like mine!” 

So I asked her if she’d like my crown. “I have more, promise, but I want you to have this one.” She was so happy. So, so happy.

She hugged me, her mom thanked me and I was late for work. Because that mattered. And until something in this world tells her differently, she’ll carry herself like she’s wearing that crown.

And hopefully, that crown will help her tell the world to stick it, if and when it ever tells her she’s anything other than worthy.

Oh, God. How I love you. How thankful I am for what you give me in a day.

Go be super heroes, friends.

*Many people in this world “add a little extra” to whatever they do: their career, how they live, the relationships they nurture, or just a random act of kindness - and we consider that *designing north* - designing your life and living it just north of the average bell curve.

Nancy Jundi is designing north. Are you or someone you know? Tell us. We’re looking for the global count.

[designingnorth]

Why is Dorothy Largay designing north*?

She’s a technophilanthropist on a mission to change the lives of women living in poverty in Latin America.

Don’t let the diminutive figure of former director of worldwide leadership development at Apple, Inc. fool you.

Despite her petite frame and soft voice, Dorothy Largay is nothing but high-density energy. And we are all blessed that she is directing both that intrinsic verve and her financial resources to make the world a better place.

After receiving a ‘windfall’, both she and her husband, former Google Vice President of Engineering Wayne Rosing, decided to focus their talents and treasure on the things that interested them most. For Dorothy, that meant launching sustainable and scalable health initiatives in Latin America, and for Wayne, it meant developing a global network of telescopes to advance astronomy.

Because of Dorothy’s Linked Foundation and its dynamic partners, thousands of women and their families now have access to basic health needs through their rural pharmacies models.

Dorothy treated the foundation like a start-up. It was 24/7 to start, but is now chugging smoothly along, thanks to hard work, a great team, learning from mistakes, and sharing successes.

“My husband and I have a very nice life, but we wanted to keep it simple – uncomplicated. We didn’t want to spend our time managing our ‘things’. That has zero interest to me – too much complexity. We were excited about the potential to make real change in our own lifetimes.”

Check out more on Linked Foundation’s initiatives here.

*Many people in this world “add a little extra” to whatever they do: their career, how they live, the relationships they nurture, or just a random act of kindness — and we consider that *designing north* — designing your life and living it just north of the average bell curve.

Dorothy Largay is designing north. Are you or someone you know? Tell us. We’re looking for the global count.

[designingnorth]

Why are Katie Kirsch, Jenna Leonardo, Rachel Chung and Natalya Thakur designing north*?

These four women are hitting the road this summer in an RV, with a mission to change young girls’ lives.

Inspired by Stanford’s SparkTruck team and their workshops for elementary school students on design thinking – the creative process of approaching any problem – these four Stanford students decided to start Girls Driving for a Difference.

They will spend this summer in an RV traveling across America, visiting 50+ communities and leadership and summer camps for middle school girls, coaching design thinking and leadership workshops; empowering the young girls to become leaders of social change and helping them to find – and hold on to – their voices by answering questions like "What kind of change do you want to create in the world?" and "How can you begin to achieve that dream today?"

"We believe that there is so much potential in helping people think in more ways than one, and the design-thinking process is what helps us do that," Kirsch says. "The world is filled with problems that haven’t been solved yet, and it’s going to take more than one approach to figure them out."

To learn more about Girls Driving for a Difference, watch their campaign video.

Their belief and passion for making a difference in young girls’ lives are why Katie Kirsch, Jenna Leonardo, Rachel Chung and Natalya Thakur are *designing north*.

*Many people in this world “add a little extra” to whatever they do: their career, how they live, the relationships they nurture, or just a random act of kindness — and we consider that *designing north* — designing your life and living it just north of the average bell curve.

Katie Kirsch, Jenna Leonardo, Rachel Chung and Natalya Thakur are designing north. Are you or someone you know? Tell us. We're looking for the global count.

Sources:

Girls Driving for a Difference How Four Women in a RV Plan to Change Young Girl’s Lives

[designingnorth]

Why is John Bramblitt designing north*?

John Bramblitt, a 42 year-old former office manager from Denton, TX, lost his sight 12 years ago due to a bad reaction to a new epilepsy medication. It wasn’t until then that he started to paint, creating his vibrant images just by touch.

Bramblitt can determine colors through the viscosity and texture of the oil paint; and through a series of raised lines on the canvas, he can determine his spatial position.

"I thought, ‘If I can get myself across the street, I can get myself across the canvas.’ It changed my entire perspective on life," Bramblitt said. "It forced me to live brushstroke to brushstroke. Always thinking about paint on the end of that brush, not the future.”

With his vivid imagination, Bramblitt has produced over 300 paintings since he lost his sight; stunning viewers with his trademark vibrant use of color and swirling brushstrokes. He insists that his blindness is not a drawback to his appreciation of life at its fullest.

"The idea of color means more to me now than it did when I was sighted. Now it has more emotion," says Bramblitt. "It's more than just light being reflected off something.”

His talent, determination and artistic spirit are why John Bramblitt is designing north.

*Many people in this world “add a little extra” to whatever they do: their career, how they live, the relationships they nurture, or just a random act of kindness — and we consider that *designing north* — designing your life and living it just north of the average bell curve.

John Bramblitt is designing north. Are you or someone you know? Tell us. We're looking for the global count.

Sources: Painter discovers a love of art after going BLIND by creating pictures in his mind and transferring them to a special canvas After Losing His Sight, Painter John Bramblitt Feels The Colors On His Canvas

[designingnorth]

Why is Tommy Kleyn designing north*?

Tommy Kleyn, a graphic designer in the Netherlands decided to make every day Earth Day.

Biking to work everyday, he was confronted with trash along a heavily polluted riverbank. He eventually decided that instead of sitting around thinking how much the trash bothered, he’d devote time to picking up the trash himself. By getting up a half an hour earlier each day, he vowed to spend that extra 30 minutes filling one trash bag a day until the waterway was clean.

“I shared my experiences on Facebook and now, over 180 people ‘like’ the project,” says Kleyn. “The idea is to motivate people to fill one garbage bag with litter each year. It only takes 30 minutes, it really makes a difference and you will be amazed about how good you’ll feel afterwards.”

His initiative and determination to do his part for the environment is why Tommy Kleyn is *designing north*.

*Many people in this world “add a little extra” to whatever they do: their career, how they live, the relationships they nurture, or just a random act of kindness — and we consider that *designing north* — designing your life and living it just north of the average bell curve.

Tommy Kleyn is designing north. Are you or someone you know? Tell us. We're looking for the global count.

Sources:

Dutch Guy Was Annoyed By The Trash On His Way To Work So He Did ThisThis 

Dutch Guy Gets Sick Of Seeing Litter On His Way To Work, And Decides To Do Something About It

[designingnorth]

Why is Daniel “Doc” Jacobs designing north*?

29-year old Navy corpsman Daniel “Doc” Jacobs was injured in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006 – 18 months into his eight-year service. Not deterred, he decided he was going to try to continue on with his service regardless of his injuries. Athletics played a large role in his rehab, and once out of the military, he was ready for the next thing in his life: pursuing his dream of playing major league baseball.

After meeting Tommy Lasorda – who asked him if he could hit a baseball – he was given a shot to tryout with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Next came a tryout with the Chicago White Sox. This last March, he was given the opportunity to tryout with the Detroit Tigers. While he didn’t leave Detroit with a contract, he is not one to give up. He will have a second chance to tryout with the White Sox this summer. “Any day you can get out and play baseball is a good day,” says Jacobs.

When not on the field, Jacobs serves as the Director at VETsports, a non-profit that helps veterans get the support they need after being discharged, is the Co-founder and Co-host of the Devil Doc Show (Radio Outreach for Disabled Veterans), and has also been an inspiration for other amputees across the country.

“I'm heavily involved in the nonprofit work just trying to get out there and get [veterans] out in more productive, healthier aspects to living their life," Jacobs said. "Because sitting on the couch and feeling sorry for yourself, the survivor's guilt and the stages of grieving, it's terrible. Once you get inside your head, it's a hard place to get out of. I just feel that if I can get out here and play baseball and get my story out there, then it can reach out to somebody else.”

See more of Jacobs’s story in a segment on Passion Driven TV.

His perseverance and determination are why Doc Jacobs is *designing north*.

*Many people in this world “add a little extra” to whatever they do: their career, how they live, the relationships they nurture, or just a random act of kindness — and we consider that *designing north* — designing your life and living it just north of the average bell curve.

Doc Jacobs is designing north. Are you or someone you know? Tell us. We're looking for the global count.

Sources: Passion Driven TV Episode 3 with Daniel “Doc” Jacobs Amputee Daniel Jacobs, an Iraq war vet, gets tryout with Tigers War veteran and amputee Daniel Jacobs tries out for the Detroit Tigers

[designingnorth]

Why is Naoto Matsumura designing north*?

In the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan, Naoto Matsumura – a 55 year-old former construction worker – is the only person out of the 80,000 who left the 12.5-mile exclusion zone, who chose to stay. He chose to stay simply out of love for his dogs.

Matsumura defied government orders to evacuate, even after his family left the area initially, because he needed to feed his dogs. “After two or three days alone, I heard the neighbor’s dog barking. He was hungry, so I started to take care of him. Then I found another stray dog…” Seeing the suffering of the area’s abandoned animals cemented his decision to stay and take care of them all.

Now known as the ‘guardian of Fukushima’s animals’, he spends his time driving around Tomioka looking for abandoned animals to take care of and feed. Doing so has exposed him to high levels of radiation on a daily basis, but he says that he “refuses to worry about it.”

“I don’t fear it: I can’t see it and it doesn’t hurt. A doctor at a university told me I was highly radioactive, but it would take about 30 years for the first symptoms to appear. In 30 years, I will be over 80. It’s normal to die when you are 80.”

His love and devotion to caring for all of Tomioka’s abandoned animals is why Naoto Matsumura is *designing north*.

*Many people in this world “add a little extra” to whatever they do: their career, how they live, the relationships they nurture, or just a random act of kindness — and we consider that *designing north* — designing your life and living it just north of the average bell curve.

Naoto Matsumura is designing north. Are you or someone you know? Tell us. We’re looking for the global count.

Sources: Stand Your Ground Just One Man Remains in Fukushima Radiation Zone – He’s Feeding All the Animals Left Behind

[designingnorth]

Why is Rikki Mendias designing north*?

The childhood memory of an act of kindness has Rikki Mendias paying it forward with his Hav A Sole project.

Growing up in a Los Angeles shelter for six years, and not being able to afford new shoes, Rikki’s shoes had holes in them.  A woman approached Rikki and his mother offering to buy him new ones. Receiving two new pairs of shoes was huge to him, and something he has never forgotten.

Eventually as an adult, he found himself surrounded by over 150 pairs of shoes he rarely used.  That is when something clicked, and he thought, “What if I gave my shoes back to those in need?”  That’s when he started Hav A Sole – an organization aimed at restoring comfort in the lives of the underprivileged.

He started traveling the streets of LA, asking homeless people if they needed a new pair of shoes, taking their pictures, taking the time to talk to them and listen to their stories.

Donations of new and gently worn sneakers now come in from all over the western U.S., giving people in need the chance to choose the pair they want – a choice he says “gives them confidence, and makes them feel human again.”

His passion for making a difference in someone’s life is why Rikki Mendias is *designing north*.

Shout out to Heather Marshall who brought Rikki's story to our attention: it takes a village to find the global count!

*Many people in this world “add a little extra” to whatever they do: their career, how they live, the relationships they nurture, or just a random act of kindness — and we consider that *designing north* — designing your life and living it just north of the average bell curve.

Rikki Mendias is designing north. Are you or someone you know? Tell us. We're looking for the global count.

Read More: Hav A Sole website Homeless receive shoes through “Hav A Sole” Movement

[designingnorth]

Why is James Robertson designing north*?

Jim Robertson doesn’t look like your average endurance athlete, but he has been walking a marathon-length commute five days a week to work for the last decade – rain, snow or shine.

Robertson, a 56 year-old, soft-spoken man, starts his daily 23 mile commute at 8 a.m. from his home in Detroit, to his job at Schain Mold & Engineering in Rochester Hills, where he makes $10.55 an hour. While he is able to catch a bus for part of his journey, he walks 21 of those 23 miles. His commute and workday consume 22 hours of his day. But despite the distance, he isn’t complaining, and has never missed a day of work.

He says every trip – through some of the city’s most dangerous areas – is an ordeal of mental and physical toughness, and every day is a tribute to how much he cares about his job, his boss and his co-workers.

After a feature ran in the Detroit Free Press, multiple people started GoFundMe campaigns to raise $5000 to help Roberston get a new car. Combining their campaigns into one, they have well exceeded their goal, raising over $66,000 in just one day. The money will be used to get him a car, and also to help Robertson in any way he needs it.

The generosity of strangers touched by his story and wanting to help, is eclipsed only by Robertson’s own spirit, dedication to his job and sheer perseverance. That is why James Robertson is *designing north*.

*Many people in this world “add a little extra” to whatever they do: their career, how they live, the relationships they nurture, or just a random act of kindness — and we consider that *designing north* — designing your life and living it just north of the average bell curve.

James Robertson is designing north. Are you or someone you know? Tell us. We're looking for the global count.

Read More:

Heart and sole: Detroiter walks 21 miles in work commute

Detroiter's daily trek inspires hundreds to donate

www.facebook.com/FrankSomervilleKTVU/posts/869496919780303

www.gofundme.com/l7girc

[designingnorth]

Why is Barbara Beskind designing north*?

Barbara Beskind smashes a handful of stereotypes every time she goes to work. At 90 years old, she is the oldest member of the world-famous human-centered design team, IDEO, in Silicon Valley.

Beskind started designing her own toys at 8-years old during the Great Depression. After retiring from the Army as a major in 1966, she started the country’s first independent occupation-therapy clinic, where she designed new equipment. She holds six patents on inflatable therapeutic equipment.

After watching a 60 Minutes segment on IDEO about their belief in having a diverse design team, she wrote a letter to the company that she was ready to go to work. It turns out that interest in designing products for older adults is growing as baby boomers age. Talk about perfect timing; she heard back from them within days.

Beskind now works at IDEO one day a week offering input to designers working on medical-technology products for elderly users. From the sounds of things at IDEO, she's good.

“People get very excited when she shows up,” Gretchen Addi, an associate partner at IDEO said. “When she walks in, an email goes out to the whole office that just says, ‘She’s here!’"

Beskind says, as she gets older, she's thankful for being a designer. "It makes aging more tolerable, more enjoyable," she says. "I enjoy the age I'm in. I think it's one of the best chapters of my life."

We are in awe at the way Barbara lives her life and the extra effort she makes at 90 to get every design for her "posse" just right. That is why Barbara Beskind is *designing north*.

*Many people in this world “add a little extra” to whatever they do: their career, how they live, the relationships they nurture, or just a random act of kindness — and we consider that *designing north* — designing your life and living it just north of the average bell curve.

Barbara Beskind is designing north. Are you or someone you know? Tell us. We're looking for the global count.

Read More: At 90, She's Designing Tech For Aging Boomers In ‘Ageist’ Silicon Valley, 90-Year-Old Designer Happy at IDEO

[designingnorth]

Why is Eclipse designing north*?

  Eclipse, a black Labrador/Bull Mastiff mix has become a famous fixture on Seattle’s D-Line after she figured out how to ride the bus alone to the nearby dog park.

  Bus riders report she hops onto seats next to strangers, and watches out the window for her stop. Says commuter Tiona Rainwater, "All the bus drivers know her. She sits here just like a person does. She makes everybody happy. How could you not love this thing?"

  Eclipse, doesn't always ride the bus alone. She visits the dog park a few times a week, sometimes with her owner. "We get separated. She gets on the bus without me, and I catch up with her at the dog park," said Jeff Young, who owns the dog. 

  "I think it's a win-win. It works out for Eclipse. She gets to where she's going, fulfills her mission, and it brings a smile to a lot of people's day," Young says with a smile. 

We think Eclipse is certainly giving that extra effort in her life. If this doesn't inspire you to give extra in yours, what could? See Eclipse in action here.

  *Many people in this world “add a little extra” to whatever they do: their career, how they live, the relationships they nurture, or just a random act of kindness — and we consider that *designing north* — designing your life and living it just north of the average bell curve.

  Eclipse is designing north. Are you or someone you know? Tell us. We're looking for the global count.

[designingnorth]

Why is the team at Be My Eyes designing north*?

  There’s a lot of cool stuff in the Apple App Store these days, but rarely does an app make such a profound impact on humanity as Be My Eyes – an app that helps the blind by connecting them with sighted people who can assist with small daily tasks via live video.

  The idea is simple: the app asks if you are sighted or blind to see if you’re asking for help or offering help. If you sign up as a sighted volunteer you become part of larger pool, and when a blind person requests assistance, the app searches the network for a volunteer who's available at that moment to help with the task.

  Requests for help can be anything from identifying a can on a shelf, reading a street sign in an unfamiliar area, or just routine things that can become unsolvable tasks for the visually impaired. When connected, volunteers are on a video call with the blind user who tells the sighted volunteer what they need. Volunteers are effectively offering their eyes. What a beautiful concept. For a better idea of how it actually works, watch the Be My Eyes video.

  Hans Jørgen Wiberg, who is visually impaired himself, came up with the idea and presented it at a Startup Weekend event in Denmark April 2012. He later collaborated with Danish software studio, Robocat, who helped him build the idea into reality.

  “It's my hope that by helping each other as an online community, Be My Eyes will make a big difference in the everyday lives of blind people all over the world,” says Hans Jørgen Wiberg.

  This truly simple idea and the real gift of offering a moment of one's time is why we think the team and all the volunteers behind Be My Eyes are indeed *designing north*.

  *Many people in this world “add a little extra” to whatever they do: their career, how they live, the relationships they nurture, or just a random act of kindness — and we consider that *designing north* — designing your life and living it just north of the average bell curve.

  By My Eyes is designing north. Are you or someone you know? Tell us. We're looking for the global count.

[designingnorth]

Why is Michelle Vandy designing north*?

  Michelle Vandy was an architecture student who developed a repetitive strain injury in first one arm, then the other. Obviously this was a rather crippling setback. "All my interests and hobbies revolved around my arms and my studies and future career depended on them too. But now all I had was pair of useless extremities causing me pain."

  While she could still use her arms to perform basic tasks, spending all day working with a mouse and keyboard was no longer a possibility. That is when she started to experiment with more unconventional methods that would enable her to still pursue a career in design.

  Michelle and her father tried building various devices before finding the perfect solution for her – an Apple trackpad connected to a tripod so that it sits on a desk at nose height. With this contraption, she is able to tap and swipe with her nose, and even perform some gestures with her mouth.

  These days, Vandy is a designer at Omada Health in San Francisco, CA. Her drive, ingenuity — not to mention her design work — all make Michelle *designing north* in our book.

  Watch more about Michelle and how she works here.

*Many people in this world “add a little extra” to whatever they do: their career, how they live, the relationships they nurture, or just a random act of kindness — and we consider that *designing north* — designing your life and living it just north of the average bell curve.

  Michelle Vandy is designing north. Are you or someone you know? Tell us. We're looking for the global count.

[designingnorth]

Most homework assignments can hardly be classified as life-changing, but an assignment given to design student Veronika Scott 3 years ago has turned into something that has changed not only her life, but the lives of more than 10,000 people in the City of Detroit.

Scott, a Detroit College for Creative Studies student, was tasked with creating something that could fill a real need for the city. Scott chose to focus on homelessness – an issue that affects one of every 42 residents in Detroit.

Scott spent five months interviewing people at homeless rest stops, warming centers and other makeshift shelters around town.  One such shelter, a nearby playground structure covered in clothes and tarps, sparked an idea for Scott. She decided that she would create a heavy-duty coat that could be converted into a sleeping bag. "It lets people take care of themselves and feel independent," says Scott. "Plus, 20 others haven't worn it; it's new and made for them." 

The idea evolved into the creation of Scott’s nonprofit, the Empowerment Plan, and in the three years since its launch they’ve manufactured 10,000 of the hybrid coats (with fabric donated by Carhartt). But the story doesn’t end there, in addition to providing coats for the homeless, Scott’s also provided jobs. All the coats produced by the Empowerment Plan are sewn by 17 women who once lived on the streets or in homeless shelters. "Everyone we've hired has been able to move out of the shelter system," Scott says.