OUR MISSION
The North Lawndale Employment Network’s mission is to improve the earnings potential of the North Lawndale community through innovative employment initiatives that lead to economic advancement and an improved quality of life.
1,200+
returning citizens hired through fair-chance employment pathways
2,300
residents served
3out of4
increase net worth, income, and FICA score
<10%
recidivism
Success stories
Hear from our graduates on how our programs are helping to rebuild lives
When given a fair chance, incredible things can happen. These are just a few of the people whose lives NLEN has touched.
From leaving incarceration to becoming the lead production manager at Sweet Beginnings in just 4 years.
Its long-term relationship with NLEN provides steady employment.
A graduate of U-Turn Permitted seeks, lands, and thrives in her dream job — at NLEN.
After 30 years of incarceration, a former pro baseball pitcher finds a new purpose at Sweet Beginnings.
Award Winning Impact
Beekeeping has deep roots in Black history, connecting generations through agriculture, economic opportunity, environmental stewardship, and community leadership. From the Lady Beekeepers Club at Tuskegee Institute to NLEN’s work in North Lawndale today, bees offer a powerful model for collective responsibility, resilience, and care for the whole.
NLEN in the media
Mar 31, 2026
— CBS News Chicago
Discover
Buzzing for NLEN: A Honey & Beer Tasting Event
Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026
Time: 6:00–9:00 PM
Location: Goose Island Barrel House
Join the North Lawndale Employment Network Associate Board for an evening of craft beer, honey tasting, food, live music, and community impact! Connect with friends and fellow supporters while raising a glass to opportunities that change lives.
Your ticket purchases and donations support NLEN and Sweet Beginnings, LLC, our social impact business, as we use the power of beekeeping, honey, and fair chance hiring to break barriers to employment across Chicago.
Reserve your spot, bring a friend, and make your evening count!
The Power of Social Enterprises to Reduce Recidivism
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Location: City Club of Chicago
Join North Lawndale Employment Network at the City Club of Chicago as we release an update to our landmark 2002 report, Drugs, Crimes, and Consequences, commissioned by NLEN and conducted by the Great Cities Institute at UIC.
Twenty-four years after the original study revealed the deep impact of the criminal legal system on North Lawndale, this new research examines generational shifts, persistent barriers, and the role of social enterprise and workforce investment in creating pathways to opportunity.
Join NLEN Founding President & CEO Brenda Palms and cross-sector leaders as we turn updated evidence into conversation, action, and investment for the future.
Join us in the civic arena as we turn data into actionable investment:
Made with hope and power - beelove® hive-to-jar products provide training and employment for people returning from incarceration, connecting them to opportunities and jobs that are truly transformative.
In honor of Honeybee Month, learn how Black beekeeping history, collective leadership, and environmental stewardship continue to shape NLEN’s work today.
Your investment makes it possible for individuals with barriers to employment to move forward on their pathway to self-sufficiency and brighter futures.
$25
Provides a transit card for job seekers attending our programs or traveling to job interviews
$75
Provides new tools, uniforms, sturdy shoes, or tech equipment to job seekers starting work
$150
Provides mental health support, job training certifications, or professional support services to individuals seeking a new beginning
Sign up today to receive program info and emails from NLEN.
Site by UNLABELED
