Life & Work with Paula Coggins of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paula Coggins.

Hi Paula, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
We built OSPI the way many lasting community institutions are built, from lived experiences, a clear sense of purpose, and a willingness to start small while dreaming big. Our story really began when the three founders developed a love for crafting and sewing from family members and public-school sewing classes over 55 years ago. We graduated high school and went on to professional careers. Throughout the years, we continued to sew and craft and maintained close contact with each other, although we lived in different states. Finding ourselves back home in August 2020 during the height of the pandemic, our neighbors and ourselves were homebound. We needed an outlet for creativity.

In southeast Cleveland, Ohio’s Lee Harvard neighborhood, we saw both the beauty and the urgency of preserving the neighborhood that had shaped generations of African American families. We recognized that sewing and quilting are not just crafts, they are a cultural archive, a wellness practice, and a pathway to confidence and skill-building for people who rarely see themselves reflected in mainstream arts programming. With that conviction, we found Oh Sew Powerful, Inc. (OSPI) as a 501(c)(3) dedicated to creativity, belonging, and community-rooted learning, with nothing more than donated machines and supplies, scrap fabrics, and a vision for what could be possible. We packaged craft supplies, mailed them to program participants garnered through word-of-mouth, and on Saturday mornings, we assembled on Zoom for virtual group crafting sessions.

From those meager beginnings, OSPI has transformed from a grassroots idea into a recognized cultural and workforce-aligned arts organization. We have built partnerships, secured resources, upgraded equipment, and created a space where people of all ages gather, learn, and heal through creativity experiences. We have guided collaborative quilt projects and neighborhood-based sewing programming that honors heritage while building new skills. Along the way, we have expanded OSPI’s mission to include economic mobility and workforce development, ensuring that creativity and opportunity are intertwined. Today, we are proud to acknowledge that OSPI stands as a testament to our ability to lead with both imagination and discipline, a community anchor shaped by our commitment to culture, craft, and the power of people creating together.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been smooth, and in many ways the challenges have shaped OSPI into the resilient organization it is today. We launched in the middle of a global pandemic, with no physical space, no funding base, and a community that was isolated, grieving, and unsure of what the future held due to systemic inequities. Building a nonprofit during that moment meant navigating supply shortages, technology barriers, and the emotional weight our participants carried into every program session. As we grew, we faced the realities familiar to many emerging Black led arts organizations: limited access to capital, the need to prove our value in systems that often overlook community rooted creativity, and the ongoing work of strengthening our internal infrastructure while still delivering meaningful programs. Then two of the three founders left the nonprofit to resume their retirement lives! Yet each obstacle pushed OSPI to innovate, from mailing craft kits across the city to meeting in-person to cultivating relationships that led us to set up a quilting studio in a second location in northeast Cleveland’s St. Clair-Superior neighborhood. All the struggles ultimately clarified our mission and deepened our commitment to the people we serve.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work sits at the intersection of textile arts, community wellbeing, and nonprofit leadership. I grew up sewing and crafting, earning a bachelor’s degree in fashion design and merchandising, which grounded me in textile theory, garment construction, and the expressive power of fabric. Over the years, I layered that creative foundation with a master’s in accounting, work as a tax auditor and CPA, and deep experience as a small business consultant. Those skills shaped the way I build and lead, with discipline, strategy, and a commitment to long term sustainability.

When I returned to Cleveland, I brought all of that experience home and co-founded Oh Sew Powerful, Inc. in 2020, where I now serve as Executive Director. I am completing my Executive Master of Public Service Administration and Nonprofit Management degree this year. At OSPI, I specialize in community centered sewing and quilting programs, intergenerational engagement, and nurturing creativity in people who may not have had access to arts spaces before. I am known for blending heritage textile traditions with modern design, and for creating environments where participants feel seen, supported, and inspired.

What I am most proud of is the way OSPI has become a cultural anchor, a place where people of all ages gather to learn new techniques, share stories, and build confidence through making. I consider myself a Sewist first, someone who deeply loves textile design and the joy of learning alongside OSPI program participants. What sets me apart is the combination of artistic practice, professional rigor, and community devotion I bring to this work. I understand both the technical precision of sewing and the strategic complexity of nonprofit management, and I lead with equal parts of creativity and accountability. More than anything, I am proud of the relationships OSPI built through intergenerational connections, the moments of discovery, and the collective pride that comes from creating something beautiful together.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Starting out, my best advice is to trust the value of your lived experiences and the skills you have gathered across your life, even if they don’t seem connected at first. I grew up sewing and crafting, earned a fashion degree, built a career in accounting and auditing, became a CPA, consulted small businesses, and eventually returned home to start a nonprofit. Every one of those steps – creativity, discipline, technical training, community connection – ended up being essential. So never discount any part of your story. Use all of it. And start with what you have, not what you think you need. OSPI began with donated machines, scrap fabric, and a Zoom link. What mattered most was consistency, purpose, and a willingness to learn as we went.

I also wish I had known earlier that building something meaningful takes time, patience, and a lot of grace, for yourself and for others. You will make mistakes, you will outgrow old ideas, and you will have to strengthen your systems as you grow. That’s normal. Surround yourself with people who believe in your mission, stay open to learning new techniques and new ways of leading, and remember that community work is relational before it is operational. If you nurture your people, your programs will flourish. And most importantly, stay rooted in what brings you joy. For me, that’s textile design, intergenerational creativity, and watching people discover their own power through making. If you stay close to the heart of your work, the path forward becomes much clearer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ohsewpowerful.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oh_sew_powerful_inc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/OH-Sew-Powerful-Inc/100064683611469/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulacoggins/