Meet Our Team

Based at our North Lawndale campus, NLEN’s dedicated team works every day to help run our programs, drive our mission, and change lives for the better. Between our dedicated NLEN and Sweet Beginnings team members and fleet of consultants, we keep a busy hive.

NLEN Team Sweet Beginnings Team Consultants

NLEN Team

Darius Caffey
Director of Grants & Research Development
Ramonda Roberts
Senior Director of Grants Management & Accounting
Valeria Martinez
Director of Accounting
Shenee Buckner
Finance Administrative Assistant
Jose Wilson
Director of Facilitation & Org Learning
Vanessa Y. White, PhD
Director of Workforce Innovation and Solutions
Alicia Feistamel, MSW
Manager of Client Advancement
Latoya Grant
Resource Navigation Specialist
Louise Williams
Community Health Worker
Sadie Joseph
Manager of Wrap Around Services
Julian Simms
Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist
William Jones
Facilitator
Fred Schroeder
IT & Onboarding Manager
Kiecha Lacey
Manager of Customized Skills Training
Kaleb Taylor
Manager of Community Initiatives & Retention
Sharon Cleveland
Client Solutions Specialist
Catrina Cano
Client Solutions Specialist
Augustine Ifebi
Client Solutions Specialist
Harold Toliver
Associate Manager of Digital Equity

Sweet Beginnings Team

Michael Allenson
Sweet Beginnings LLC Director of Impact Sales & Partnerships
Charlotte Austin
Production Specialist
Quinn Albrecht
Operations Manager for Social Enterprises
Cristian Petre
Beekeeper

beelove® café Team

Tameka Bell
beelove® cafe Manager
Ingrid Betts-McAlpin
beelove® cafe Catering Administrator
Felicia Hoover
beelove® café Barista

Consultants

Jessica Butler
Strategic Initiative Consultant
Noah Temaner
Grantwriter Consultant
Pat Consentino
CPA Consultant
John Pfeiffer
Business Planning & Capital Campaign Consultant Partner
Open Door Advisors
Lindsay Anderson
President, Chief Creative Officer
Unlabeled, Inc.

CAREERS AT NLEN

Join the team creating a community that works.

At NLEN, we don’t just offer jobs — we build futures.

We’re a team of changemakers, mentors, and innovators working together to reduce unemployment, support returning citizens, and close the racial wealth gap — one job at a time.

If you’re passionate about social impact, equity, and economic empowerment, you’ll feel right at home here.

Browse open positions