Posted on Apr 5, 2026
NLEN Grows Its Leadership Team — And Its Next Chapter Begins
Three accomplished professionals join NLEN — bringing operational strength, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to North Lawndale.
Growth at NLEN has never been about getting bigger for its own sake. It has always been about getting better — better equipped to serve the people who walk through our doors, better positioned to fight for the systems change North Lawndale deserves, and better able to sustain this work over the long haul.
That is the spirit behind the three new leaders joining NLEN’s team.
Pelin Deniz joins as Chief Operating Officer, bringing deep expertise in organizational operations and systems design. Pelin will lead our business administration and operational departments and oversee our social enterprises — Sweet Beginnings and beelove café®. She combines operational discipline with a genuine equity lens, and that combination will make everything NLEN does work better.
Lina Jean Fritz joins as Chief of Strategy, Innovation & External Relations. Lina’s background in workforce development, program strategy, and cross-sector collaboration is exactly what this moment calls for. She will lead organizational strategy and growth initiatives, manage external partnerships, and ensure that NLEN’s mission and resources are always aligned. Her ability to see the big picture — and to translate it into action — will shape how NLEN grows for years to come.
Vincent B. Gómez joins as Executive Administrator. Vincent brings a leadership background rooted in equity, inclusion, and environmental justice, and has spent years building relationships between communities and institutions across Chicago. He will deepen NLEN’s capacity to serve and strengthen the executive team’s ability to move with purpose.
“Our work continues to grow in impact and complexity,” said NLEN President and CEO Brenda M. Palms. “Each of these professionals brings a unique set of skills and a shared commitment to advancing our mission. Their leadership will help guide NLEN into its next chapter as we expand services, deepen partnerships, and continue driving lasting economic change for individuals and families across North Lawndale and beyond.”
For the community this work was built for — returning citizens, working families, young adults on the West Side who are forging their own paths — these additions are a promise. NLEN is not standing still. We are building forward.
Welcome, Pelin. Welcome, Lina. Welcome, Vincent.