Detroit nonprofit celebrates 25 years of helping residents dress for success

Event will be held on Thursday, March 20, at 10 a.m. at the Motor City Casino in Detroit

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

DETROIT – As Women’s History Month unfolds, it’s fitting to spotlight a remarkable Detroit nonprofit that has helped thousands of job seekers dress for success.

For 25 years, Jackets for Jobs has offered professional clothing for men and women, career skills training, and employment etiquette education at no cost.

Jackets for Jobs is more than just a nonprofit; it’s a lifeline for countless Detroit job seekers.

Alison Vaughn, its founder and CEO, refers to it as “Her ministry.” Reflecting on the impact of the past two and a half decades, Vaughn explained why she believes this mission is a calling from above.

“What we do is provide clothing for job seekers. So anyone that’s unemployed and they’re looking for employment and they want to look good and feel good. They come to us, and we’ve got an array of clothes, as you can see, and so that’s what we’re all about, just making sure that they look good for a job interview.”

Jackets For Jobs CEO, Founder Alison Vaughn

The organization was founded after Vaughn left her job working for a major airline.

“I was talking to one of my fellow flight attendant friends, and I said, ‘I’ve got this idea, but I don’t know where to house it.’ And she says, ‘Well, I’ve got a pastor. I’ll ask him.’ And so she called Reverend Jim Holley, and he says, ‘Yes, I’ve got a space up on the second floor of Little Rock, and you can use that space.’ And I started there.”

Jackets For Jobs CEO, Founder Alison Vaughn

Since its inception, the organization has helped more than 40,000 job seekers land opportunities they never thought possible.

“We have image consultants, and our image consultants will help you because a lot of the men do not know how to tie a tie, so we assist them with tying a tie.

We assist them putting on a jacket and pants. A lot of the ladies that come to us have never worn a suit before.

They’ve never worn a dress, so we help them pick out a jacket, a nice blouse, and the complete outfit. So when they come, we can give them the complete outfit down to the socks.”

Jackets For Jobs CEO, Founder Alison Vaughn

The 25th-anniversary celebration will highlight the organization’s impact, with Cynthia Bailey, best known as a former fashion model and for her role on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, lending her star power to the event.