Producing Sweetness: NLEN celebrates 20 years of Sweet Beginnings
Attendees at the annual 2020 Sweet Beginnings Tea Reception chat with one another while gathered around a table with different raffle prizes on Feb 28. (Photo by Mariah McBride)
CHICAGO - The North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN) exceeded their $400,000 fundraising goal - surpassing last year’s total - at their annual fundraising event, Sweet Beginnings Tea, last month. NLEN, a non-profit, which primarily focuses on serving North Lawndale’s unemployed residents, hosts the yearly event to raise money for their job training programs, initiatives, and company.
What made this year’s tea unique compared to years past is NLEN also celebrated the 20th anniversary of their Limited Liability Company (LLC), Sweet Beginnings. Over the last two decades, through Sweet Beginnings, NLEN has offered transitional jobs to previously incarcerated men and women returning to the workforce. These full-time jobs are eco-friendly and are in the sales and production of Beelove products, which are all-natural skin care products containing Sweet Beginnings’ very own urban honey. Attendees at the tea were able to sample and purchase Beelove products from Sweet Beginning workers to help support the LLC.
Beelove chapstick and lotion on display for attendees to sample and purchase at the 2020 Sweet Beginnings Reception on Feb. 28 (Photo by Mariah McBride).
Besides the chance to test the Beelove products, attendees of the Sweet Beginnings Tea were also able to hear the stories of those who have produced Beelove during a panel. The Panel featured Nityananda Bell, Deniece Rogers, Everett Dean, and Vonkisha Adams, Kelvin Greenwood. The five panelists have either participated in NLEN job training programs or Sweet Beginnings. They were able to share their stories of how NLEN and Sweet beginnings have impacted their lives throughout the years.
Later in a surprise moment, NLEN took the celebration a step further by honoring the Sweet Beginnings’ chief executive officer and NLEN’s executive director, Brenda Palms Barber, for her 20 years of leadership with Sweet Beginnings. During the emotional tribute, tears flowed down the cheeks of Barber’s face as she listened to some of her co-workers, colleagues, and her daughter share how she is a great maternal figure that works tirelessly to help others. Although she was honored, for Barber, the sweetest part of the night was celebrating the North Lawndale community and the workers within it.
A tearful Brenda Palms Barber (right) accepts an award for twenty years of leadership with Sweet Beginnings at Four Season Hotel Chicago on Feb. 28th. (Photo by Mariah McBride)
“And so when you can get together and be able to lift them [Sweet Beginnings workers] up, and then also lift up our community of North Lawndale, a place often known for all of the ills that poverty brings, rather than celebrating, as I love to say, the sweet and the good in this community. You know, there's just no better, there's just no better feeling,” she ended.
NLEN honored two other individuals besides Barber. During the tea, “Orange is the New Black'' actress Alysia Reiner received the Voice of the Voiceless award for her work advocating for incarcerated men and women. Later in the evening, during the reception Ald. Micheal Scott (24th Ward) presented Meghan Harte, the executive director of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Chicago, with the 2020 Creating a Community That Works partner award.
Awardee Meghan Harte (in the middle) poses with other guests at the Sweet Tea Reception after receiving the 2020 Creating a Community That Works partner award Feb 28th. (Photo by Mariah McBride)
Harte said she would have preferred to be an attendee of the tea rather than an awardee, but her perspective changed after a conversation with Barber. After the conversation, Harte realized accepting the award celebrates the progress she has made under her tenure with LISC, a community development support organization that aims to connect neighborhoods to resources.
“[Barber] feels like there's real power now in the hands of organizations that weren’t there before. And so for that, I'll accept the recognition because it really means we're recognizing every community and every organization that we work with, ” Harte acknowledged.
After working as a vice president of the technology corporation AECOM for six years, then later as the deputy of staff to Mayor Rahm Emanuel for a little over three years, Harte realized that she wanted to have a direct impact with communities. She realizes how difficult it is for NLEN and other local organizations like them to help people in the community; consequently, what has connected her to the work at LISC for the last four years is the chance to elevate and advocate for leaders in the community.
“I always say that there's no shortage of good people and good ideas in Chicago's communities. It's just how do they get to a platform where they can be impactful? Sweet beginnings is exactly that,” the awardee said.
LISC has worked with NLEN’s for around 10 years, making the organization one of their longest partnerships. Barber said she was happy to give the humble Harte credit and celebrate her work because of the platform she gives leaders, especially leaders of color.
Barber said, “Her ability to say these are leaders that you need to hear from, these are black and brown leaders that you need, that you need to have a voice for. But Megan [Harte] is also just, she's a very humble spirit. So I also thought it was important that we lift [her up].”
Attendees perform line dances at the 2020 Sweet Beginnings Reception on Feb. 28. (Photo by Mariah McBride)
After an evening of food, speeches and raffles, the afterparty began. Attendees spent the rest of the night dancing and celebrating how far Sweet Beginnings has come over the years and the community that has developed from it.