OUR PROGRAMS

U-Turn Permitted

U-Turn Permitted is NLEN’s 10-day job readiness training program for job-seekers, regardless of any criminal legal involvement. Participants learn essential skills such as anger management, resume building, mock interviews, and other tools for succeeding in the workplace.

Making your U-Turn

In collaboration with professional staff, U-Turn Permitted trains you to advance in the working world. The primary purpose of U-Turn Permitted is to equip you with the skills to secure and retain employment and successfully reintegrate back into society or avoid incarceration. This program focuses not just on you, the worker, but you, the individual.

U-Turn Permitted participants must:

Be 18 years or older
Complete a drug screening
Attend an NLEN information session
Be willing to commit to a 10-day job readiness program

GET STARTED

Ready to make a
U-Turn?

The first step in making your U-Turn is to fill out the NLEN Interest Form to tell us a little about yourself.

Start your Interest Form

Program features

Turn your past into possibility.

The U-Turn Permitted program is NLEN’s intensive job readiness training program designed to empower individuals facing barriers to employment, particularly those returning from incarceration or who have a heightened risk of violence engagement.

Enroll today

Workplace Ethics & Etiquette

Resume writing and job application support
Interview prep and mock interviews
Perfecting a professional introduction

Digital Literacy

Workshops and coaching on computer skills, internet usage, and online safety
Computer labs and technology loan programs
Tech support for digital tools

Personal & Professional Development

Anger management and emotional intelligence training
Racial healing and conflict resolution workshops
Team-building activities

Legal & Re-Entry Support

Navigating the criminal legal system
Housing, transportation, and social services support

Financial Coaching

One-on-one financial coaching
Budgeting, credit, and asset-building strategies
Income support assistance

Post-Program Support Network

Check-ins from NLEN to keep moving in the right direction after graduation
Referrals to open employment opportunities with our employer partners
Membership into the U-Turn Permitted Alumni Fellowship

Steps on your U-Turn

View Student Journey

Information Session Offered Mondays at 10 a.m. and Thursdays at 12 p.m. Learn more >
Interest Form & Personal Assessment Can be completed directly after information session
U-Turn Permitted begins! Enroll with the next available training session
10-Day Job Readiness Training Learn digital and financial literacy, conflict resolution, build self confidence, and more
Milestone Graduation Ceremony Invite your friends, family, and supporters to celebrate your U-Turn!
Professional Headshot Complimentary at the time of your graduation

U-TURN PERMITTED

Life after the program

As a graduate of U-Turn Permitted, you will always have access to NLEN’s services — no matter where your journey takes you. As you advance professionally or enter times of employment transition, we’re here to help.

Upon graduation, you’re eligible for a number of opportunities, including:

A transitional position with Sweet Beginnings, NLEN’s social enterprise, or other employer partners
Unsubsidized job placement with major employers across the City of Chicago
Enrollment in Moving Forward, NLEN’s customized skills training program for transportation, distribution, and logistics
Enrollment in our WIOA Program, which provides dedicated support and training for in-demand employment certifications for emerging adults ages 18 to 24
Continued financial coaching through the Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) to improve credit, build savings, and plan for financial success
Membership in the U-Turn Permitted Alumni Fellowship for ongoing job leads and career support
Invitations to NLEN networking events, job fairs, and professional development workshops

Success stories