Jackets for Jobs, Inc. (JFJ) is celebrating its upcoming event, “Clothed in Confidence: 25 Years Strong,” on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 10:00 AM (EST) at Detroit’s Motor City Casino. The event’s motto, “Clothed in Confidence: 25 Years Strong,” is celebrating its 25th anniversary of impacting the community and its commitment to supporting job seekers through professional attire and career development resources.
The event is hosted by Fox 2 News style guru Chuck Bennett, with actress, TV personality, women’s health advocate, and businesswoman Cynthia Bailey as the keynote speaker.
ABOUT JACKETS FOR JOBS, INC.
Jackets for Jobs, Inc., a non-profit organization, has been a pillar of hope for job seekers in Detroit since its establishment in 2000. JFJ has provided career attire and employment training, empowering many to achieve financial stability and career growth. The organization’s 25 years of service have been recognized with a feature in the Detroit Historical Museum, a testament to our significant impact on the community.
L-R: Betty Henderson (Director of Career Development) seen assisting a client, Archie King, with a tie while being fitted for a suit; Photograph image of Betty Henderson, Alison Vaughn (CEO and Founder of Jackets for Jobs), and Brenda Bunnell (Career Image Specialist) at the Jackets for Jobs boutique; and Alison Vaughn (CEO and Founder of Jackets for Jobs) assist client at the job with business attire for a job interview – December 8, 2021; Photo Credit: Kimberly P. Mitchell/Detroit Free Press
According to the press release, JFJ has received national acclaim, being featured on prestigious platforms such as NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s The View, and NASDAQ. The National Association for Business Resources has also recognized the organization as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for from 2018 to 2021, further solidifying its reputation and credibility.
The 25th anniversary will commemorate the organization’s remarkable achievement in how far it has come since its formation. The organization has changed the lives of many Detroiters to achieve economic independence, and RHOA and fashion guru Bailey will be part of this special event.
Alison Vaughn, founder and CEO of JFJ, expressed her excitement about having the Real Housewives of Atlanta star as the keynote speaker for the event.
“We are thrilled to introduce Cynthia Bailey, a distinguished model, entrepreneur, and a prominent figure known from The Real Housewives of Atlanta, as our keynote speaker. Through her journey on the BRAVO television franchise, Bailey has built an incredible brand, driven by her successful business ventures and collaboration with Weight Watchers.
At this event, she will share invaluable insights from her remarkable journey, stressing the importance of entrepreneurship and a dedication to health and wellness.” Vaughn shared in the press release.
Meet Alison Vaughn, CEO and Founder of Jackets for Job Inc.; Courtesy of Model D
Previous keynote speakers for Jacket for Jobs, Inc. have included a diverse range of influential figures such as Star Jones (attorney, author, TV personality), Veronica Webb (supermodel), Loni Love (The Real TV talk show host), Alfred Edmonds (senior vice president of Black Enterprise), and Kim Fields (actress and producer). This year’s event promises to be just as inspiring and engaging.
ABOUT KEYNOTE SPEAKER, CYNTHIA BAILEY
Cynthia Bailey is one of the most recognizable faces in the modeling industry, making an impact from her competing in pageants in her home state of Alabama, which expanded to major cities like New York City, Paris, and Milan. Bailey’s talent in competing and winning several beauty pageants skyrocketed her career, signing a five-year contract with Wilhelmina Models and gaining recognition on the magazine cover for ESSENCE Magazine.
The 58-year-old was also photographed by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair magazine and worked with brands like Maybelline and Macy’s.
Bailey’s impact has led her to acting roles in New York Undercover, How High 2, Games People Play, The Stepmother, and Without You I’m Nothing, including her role as Sheniquah Watkins in the 80s/90s hit sitcom The Cosby Show. She is a prominent face as a reality TV star, with her most notable role in Bravo’s Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Other reality TV shows, such as Real Housewives Ultimate Trip, Married to Medicine, Below Deck, and 1st Look, also featured her.
Bailey has made a successful career for herself in modeling, TV, and film and as a businesswoman. She owns the Bailey Agency School of Fashion and is the founder of a charitable foundation called the Be Better Foundation. Last year, the 58-year-old launched her podcast, HUMBLEBRAG.
In a press release, Bailey expressed her honor to serve as the keynote speaker and partner with JFJ.
“It is a profound honor to partner with Jackets for Jobs as they celebrate 25 years of empowering individuals through confidence, dignity, and opportunity. When people present themselves with pride, they feel empowered and can access extraordinary opportunities. I am proud to support an organization that has transformed the lives of over 40,000 job seekers, demonstrating that by uplifting one another, we move forward together,” Bailey stated.
Cynthia shared with Alabama.com News during her modeling search visit in Birmingham in 2012 that she was inspired by her grandmother, Mae Frankie Ford, the first female Black entrepreneur in her life, who worked in a sewing factory, sold hotdogs and hamburgers, cleaned houses, and volunteered to care for an older woman.
LIST OF HONOREES
Jackets for Jobs will honor Dennis Archer Jr., Esq. (businessman and civic leader) and Karen Hume (retired District Manager of TJ Maxx). Both individuals demonstrated their unwavering dedication and support in the Detroit community in economic development and advancing the mission of Jackets for Jobs.
L-R: 2025 honorees: Businessman and Civic Leader, Dennis Archer Jr, Esq; Courtesy of Beautiful + Machine Magazine; and TJ Maxx District Manager (Farmington Hill, MI) Karen Hume; Courtesy of LINKEDIN
JFJ will also acknowledge DTE Energy, a Detroit-based energy company, for its long-standing committed partnership in providing a clothing drive for its clientele (job seekers), which began 22 years ago at the event.
A fashion show, presented by Michigan Fashion Week, will also be incorporated at the event.
Readers interested in attending the event can purchase tickets by visiting the website at www.Jacketsforjobs.org.
