Chicago Neighborhood Development Award
(2012)
Sweet Beginnings
Established in 2004, Sweet Beginnings, LLC is NLEN’s social impact business, headquartered on our North Lawndale campus. The business has hired more than 1,000 people with criminal records, and has received national recognition for all of the good it’s doing in our community — and beyond.
SOCIAL IMPACT BUSINESS
A Chicago-based enterprise rooted in opportunity
Sweet Beginnings, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NLEN that provides paid transitional employment to individuals returning from incarceration and those facing barriers to employment. Through the production and sales of beelove®—a line of all-natural honey and skincare products—Sweet Beginnings creates real opportunities for individuals rebuilding their lives.
Participants gain meaningful job experience while contributing to a sustainable business rooted in care — for people, community, and the environment.
At Sweet Beginnings, team members:
- Care for urban apiaries (bee farms) across Chicagoland, including North Lawndale, O’Hare Airport, and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County
- Harvest honey and produce beelove® skin and body care products
- Learn product development, packaging, inventory management, and quality control
- Gain hands-on experience in retail, including order fulfillment and customer service
- Develop essential workplace skills such as punctuality, professionalism, teamwork, and communication
- Prepare for long-term employment through consistent mentorship and coaching
Sweet Beginnings isn’t just work. It’s the first step in a lifelong transformation.
SWEET BEGINNINGS IMPACT
Since 2004, Sweet Beginnings has opened doors for hundreds of individuals seeking a fair chance.
Illinois Governor’s Sustainability Award
(2014)
Impact 100 Chicago Award
(2015)
1000+
returning citizens hired since 2006
1,150
clients served
3out of4
of alumni increase net worth, income, and FICA score
<10%
recidivism within 3 years
Featured in
and national media outlets
SWEET BEGINNINGS MISSION
A mission that delivers on three fronts
As a social enterprise business of NLEN, Sweet Beginnings has a triple-bottom line: people, product, and planet. Sweet Beginnings creates transitional job opportunities while producing high-quality, natural skincare products under the beelove® brand. Its impact is measured in more than profits. It’s measured in lives changed, jobs created, and community renewal.
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Social Impact
To provide people facing significant barriers to employment - primarily those with histories of criminal convictions - with viable opportunities to establish a work history, learn productive work habits, and become productive members of society.
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Economic Revitalization
To contribute to the economic revitalization of the North Lawndale neighborhood through a social enterprise that is sustainable for the long-term and generates jobs.
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Quality Product
To produce and sell high-quality honey and honey-based personal care and relaxation products
OUR MISSION IN ACTION
Good for you, good for the community.
Our social impact businesses:
Sweet Beginnings
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.
beelove®
Fueled by honey harvested from our Sweet Beginnings apiaries, beelove® is our line of honey and skincare products handmade by NLEN graduates.
beelove® café
Located on NLEN’s campus, our award-winning café employs Empowered Now graduates in fulfilling customer-facing positions.
Making life sweeter for our community
Watch this inspiring feature on Sweet Beginnings, presented by American Express Business.
There's power in honey.
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.
Our fine retail partners.
Our distribution partners.
‘We do it for the love.’
Get to know the community behind beelove® café’s growing menu of feel-good offerings.
GIVE BACK
Support Sweet Beginnings
You have the power to make Sweet Beginnings even more successful. From maintaining our apiaries and production facilities to supporting our transitional workers on every step of their journey, we’re grateful for your support.
Make a donation Make a donation to NLEN to expand transitional employment across Chicago. 
Partner with us Reach out to carry beelove® products at your retail or distribution outlet. 
Sponsor our cause Become a sponsor of Sweet Beginnings Tea, our annual fundraiser celebrating the community. 
Buy beelove®
products There’s power in honey. beelove® hive-to-jar products provide training and employment for people returning from incarceration.