North Lawndale Employment Network

Founded in 1999, the North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN) provides employment services and transitional jobs to North Lawndale residents, many of whom face significant employment barriers.  In 2004, NLEN launched Sweet Beginnings, a social enterprise that produces and sells all-natural skin care products featuring its own urban honey and provides full-time transitional jobs to formerly incarcerated individuals and others NLEN clients.  In 2016, NLEN served a total of 2,200 people, of which 347 found employment.