Our Heroes
Brenda Palms
2025 Education: Any educational institution or individual that has created or promoted specific programs or projects towards CAM’s mission.
Brenda M. Palms is a nationally recognized social innovator advancing equitable employment. As founding President and CEO of the North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN) and leader of Sweet Beginnings, LLC, she has spent over 25 years creating pathways to opportunity for individuals facing barriers to employment, particularly those returning from incarceration.
Under her leadership, NLEN has grown from a small startup into a nationally celebrated workforce development organization. She launched Sweet Beginnings, a social enterprise that provides transitional jobs through urban beekeeping and produces the Beelove line of honey-based products, now sold in major retailers. She also expanded this work with the Beelove café.
Brenda’s influence extends nationally, shaping inclusive hiring practices across sectors. A sought-after speaker on workforce development and economic equity, she has received honors from the MacArthur Foundation, Google, Citi Foundation, and Crain’s Chicago Business.
