North Lawndale Employment Network

Call Directions Website

North Lawndale Employment Network North Lawndale Employment Network
"Creating a community that works!"
(1)

Recidivism has cost Illinois taxpayers more than $1 billion over two decades to incarcerate residents of North Lawndale ...
10/20/2026

Recidivism has cost Illinois taxpayers more than $1 billion over two decades to incarcerate residents of North Lawndale alone.

That is a central finding of “Drugs, Crimes, & Consequences,” a new report from the Great Cities Institute commissioned by North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN).

Between 2005 and 2024, 31,203 North Lawndale residents were admitted to Illinois prisons, and the state recorded 28,715 recidivist admissions.

The report also shows what works. Each $1 invested in NLEN programs and social enterprises returns $5.60 in social and economic value. Participants in our social enterprise, Sweet Beginnings, return to prison at rates below 10%, compared with 77% statewide.

These numbers describe people we know: neighbors who came home, found work and stayed with it, and families who have them home again.

You can read the full report here: https://uofi.box.com/s/hgxx2l9eio564zo9sbsv00k5267e6t7w

🐝 Bee heard. Make your voice count!October 18 is the **last day to register ONLINE to vote in Illinois** before the Nove...
10/18/2026

🐝 Bee heard. Make your voice count!

October 18 is the **last day to register ONLINE to vote in Illinois** before the November 3 election. Complete your registration by **11:59 PM**!

NLEN and beelove café encourage you to take this important step toward making your voice heard. Your vote helps shape our communities.

✅ Register or update your registration: vote.illinois.gov
📣 Share this reminder with someone who needs it!

Miss the online deadline? In-person registration and voting remain available at designated locations through Election Day.

Two Graduates. New Opportunities. Bright Futures!We're celebrating Carlos Corbbins and Ayala Reed, two North Lawndale Em...
10/16/2026

Two Graduates. New Opportunities. Bright Futures!

We're celebrating Carlos Corbbins and Ayala Reed, two North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN) graduates who are continuing to take important steps toward their career goals!

Both completed NLEN programs in January 2026 and continued pursuing opportunities to build their skills.

Carlos, a U-Turn Permitted graduate, remained committed to pursuing a career in construction despite challenges finding consistent work. His determination led him to begin training with the 548 Foundation in July 2026.

Ayala, an Empowered Now graduate, continued seeking opportunities for professional growth and was also accepted into the 548 Foundation's July 2026 training cohort.

Now, both are building skills and preparing for their next steps toward employment.

At NLEN, we know that success isn't always immediate. It's built through determination, preparation, and the willingness to keep moving forward.

👏🏾 Help us congratulate Carlos and Ayala as they continue building their futures!

On Tuesday, Oct. 20, North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN) and the Great Cities Institute will release a new report o...
10/15/2026

On Tuesday, Oct. 20, North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN) and the Great Cities Institute will release a new report on recidivism in Illinois at the City Club of Chicago.

The report draws on more than 20 years of data from North Lawndale. It measures what Illinois spends when people return to prison and what community-based employment and social enterprise programs return to residents, families and neighborhoods. The data describe our neighbors: people coming home to North Lawndale and the families who wait for them.

North Lawndale Employment Network President and CEO Brenda Palms will present the findings with Teresa Córdova of the UIC Great Cities Institute, Rashawn Ray of the American Institutes for Research (AIR) Opportunity Fund, Maria Kim of Redefine Alliance and Damion Heron of JPMorganChase at “The Power of Social Enterprises to Reduce Recidivism.” Noon, Tuesday, Oct. 20 | Maggiano’s Banquets, 111 W. Grand Ave., Chicago

Event details: https://www.cityclub-chicago.org/event/2/5766/the-power-of-social-enterprises-to-reduce-recidivism

☀️ Interested in a career in solar? Your next step starts with information!Join North Lawndale Employment Network for an...
10/14/2026

☀️ Interested in a career in solar? Your next step starts with information!

Join North Lawndale Employment Network for an upcoming info session to learn more about solar career opportunities and how to get started.

📅 Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 1:00 PM
📅 Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 10:00 AM

Questions about attending? Contact:
📧 Kiecha Robinson: [email protected]
📧 Julian Sims: [email protected]

Share this with someone ready to explore a new career path!

Bee heard. Make your voice count! 🗳️North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN) and The Beelove Cafe are buzzing to the pol...
10/14/2026

Bee heard. Make your voice count! 🗳️

North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN) and The Beelove Cafe are buzzing to the polls, and encouraging you to get ready, too. Voting is an opportunity to help shape the decisions that affect our communities.

Register today or check that your registration is up to date!

✅ Register online: https://vote.illinois.gov
📅 Illinois online registration deadline: October 18, 2026
🗳️ Election Day: November 3, 2026

Already registered? Share this reminder with a friend and make your voting plan.

Chicago is hosting , and our own Brenda M. Palms is bringing NLEN’s mission to the conversation! 💛On October 12–14, lea...
10/05/2026

Chicago is hosting , and our own Brenda M. Palms is bringing NLEN’s mission to the conversation! 💛

On October 12–14, leaders from across the impact community will gather to explore how investment can drive meaningful change. Brenda, President and CEO of North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN) and Sweet Beginnings, will join the panel “A Solution That Scales: Building Pathways to Economic Power through Regional Ecosystems.”

Brenda champions the talent, potential, and dignity of people too often overlooked. Her leadership shows how fair chance hiring and social enterprise can open doors to employment and help people build brighter futures.

We’re proud to see her bring that vision, and the power of North Lawndale, to this gathering!

Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gicA5dcQ

From U-Turn Permitted Graduate to NLEN Team Member!Congratulations to Devonte Junious, who completed North Lawndale Empl...
10/02/2026

From U-Turn Permitted Graduate to NLEN Team Member!

Congratulations to Devonte Junious, who completed North Lawndale Employment Network’s U-Turn Permitted Program on August 21, 2026, and is now taking an exciting next step in his professional journey!

Devonte earned his bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Roosevelt University, but like many emerging professionals, he faced the challenge of gaining that first meaningful professional experience in his field.

He kept working toward his goal.

Devonte pursued freelance opportunities to sharpen his technical skills and continued working with his NLEN Career Coach to identify opportunities that aligned with his education and career goals.

That persistence helped lead to a new opportunity, joining the NLEN team and putting his IT skills to work in a professional environment! 🙌🏾

This experience brings Devonte another step closer to his long-term goal of establishing a career in the IT sector.

👏🏾 Congratulations and welcome to the team, Devonte!

Three graduates. Three journeys. One major milestone!Congratulations to the three newest graduates of North Lawndale Emp...
10/01/2026

Three graduates. Three journeys. One major milestone!

Congratulations to the three newest graduates of North Lawndale Employment Network’s Empowered Now program! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Throughout their journey, these cohort members showed commitment to their growth, developed skills to help prepare for future opportunities, and continued working toward their personal and professional goals.

Today, we celebrate how far they’ve come, and we’re excited about where they’re headed next. 🧡

Congratulations to our Empowered Now graduates! Your next chapter starts now.

Interested in starting your own journey with NLEN? Join us for an upcoming Information Session:
📅 Tuesday at 10:00 AM
📅 Thursday at 1:00 PM

Come learn more about Empowered Now and how NLEN can support your next steps.

Congratulations to our newest U-Turn Permitted milestone graduates!Today, we're celebrating another group of participant...
09/30/2026

Congratulations to our newest U-Turn Permitted milestone graduates!

Today, we're celebrating another group of participants who committed themselves to moving forward and creating new opportunities for their futures.

Throughout their time in U-Turn Permitted, our graduates worked to develop new skills, prepare for employment, build confidence, and take meaningful steps toward their personal and professional goals.

Every milestone matters, and we're proud of what this group has accomplished.

Congratulations, graduates! This is your moment, but it's only the beginning.

Want to be part of an upcoming UTP cohort?

Join us for an Information Session:
📍 Tuesday at 10:00 AM
📍 Thursday at 1:00 PM

Come learn more about U-Turn Permitted and the opportunities available through NLEN.

Address

1111 S. Homan Avenue
Chicago, IL
60624

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+17736381825

Website

, ,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when North Lawndale Employment Network posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share