OUR PROGRAMS
A 90-day 'earn and learn' transitional employment program offering training, career mentorship, and paid jobs through Sweet Beginnings, beelove, and other job host sites.
Empowered Now is our transformational transitional jobs program, designed to provide meaningful, short-term, full-time employment to individuals facing significant barriers to the workforce — particularly citizens returning from incarceration.
GET STARTED
The first step in Empowered Now is to fill out the NLEN Interest Form to tell us a little about yourself.
Program features
Empowered Now is more than a job-training program. It’s a structured bridge from training to stable employment. After graduating from U-Turn Permitted, you’ll be placed into one of NLEN’s social enterprise programs: Sweet Beginnings, featuring hands-on roles in beekeeping; beelove® honey, where you’ll learn to hand-craft natural skincare products; and beelove cafe, where you’ll serve customers in a vibrant, community-driven setting.
As a program graduate you’ll have the opportunity to work at one of our social impact businesses:
With work centered on beekeeping at our apiaries (bee farms) across Chicagoland, Sweet Beginnings provides rewarding, hands-on work at the intersection of nature and commerce.
Fueled by honey harvested from our Sweet Beginnings apiaries, beelove® is our line of honey and skincare products handmade by NLEN graduates.
Located on NLEN’s campus, our award-winning café employs Empowered Now graduates in fulfilling customer-facing positions.
EMPOWERED NOW
As a graduate of Empowered Now, you will always have access to NLEN’s services such as resume building, interview preparation, and effective job search strategies. Join us to gain the confidence and tools you need as you start your new career journey.
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.
“When you have people that believe in you and have your back and show you that, it gives you peace. It makes you want to do better.”
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.
Ready to take the first step?
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