Chicago, IL (Oct. 3, 2007) - Social Venture Network (SVN), the country's leading network of socially responsible business leaders, has awarded Sweet Beginnings, LLC with an Innovation Award.  Through its Imagine What's Next: Ideas that Will Change the Way the World Does Business contest, SVN has selected ten winners and given five honorable mentions to leaders of emerging enterprises.  All have demonstrated both innovation and progress by harnessing the power of business to effect positive social change.

 

    Sweet Beginningsis a wholly owned subsidiary of the North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN), a non-profit organization based in Chicago's North Lawndale community.  It assists ex-offenders and chronically unemployed residents to secure and retain employment while developing a career path.  By cultivating bees and generating honey from its own apiary located in one of Chicago's most underprivleged urban neighborhoods, Sweet Beginnings' employees produce natural honey and honey-based personal care products that are sold under the Beeline label.  Beeline products can now be found at two Chicago area Whole Foods stores, 3300 N. Ashland and Roosevelt and Canal, and six boutiques, one located in Texas.

 

    Brenda Palms Barber, CEO, is also being honored for her leadership.  Through the Innovation Awards, SVN will recognize and support the next generation of socially responsible business and nonprofit leaders who are creating positive social change in the business sector.  SVN is a member organization comprised of over 430 CEOs, investors and nonprofit leaders committed to creating a more just and sustainable world.  Winners receive a one-year membership to Social Venture Network, recognition at the invitation-only SVN Fall 2007 Conference and partnership with SVN mentors who will provide advice and connections through 2008.

 

    "SVN has been at the heart of the sustainable business conversation for decades, our members and their businesses continually challenge the socially responsible business platform by taking things to the next level.  In keeping this momentum going, we are thrilled to announce the winners of our Imagine What's Next contest," said Deborah Nelson, executive director of Social Venture Network.

 

    Ms. Palms Barber is pleased to have Sweet Beginnings acknowledged nationally for the important work it is doing in Chicago.  "SVN has recognized Sweet Beginnings for promoting environmentally sustainable business practices while helping to create green collar jobs for people at all income levels, but especially for people of color," she noted.  "We look forward to helping other communities replicate this model across the country." 

 

 

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