The Business of Hope

A few words and images by Professor Valerie Beck, to set the scene for our 3rd of 8 excursions on the Paris Chicago Safari:

One of the themes in the Kendall College course on American Business Exploration that I've created for our French study-abroad students is that networking, mentoring, and volunteering are crucial components of success in American business.

On Day 3, Wednesday, March 25, 2015, we explored The Business of Social Justice: Making a Difference. We visited and experienced businesses that have incorporated giving into their very missions and operations. They are in the business of hope, and any of us can infuse the important joy of helping others into our business, career, or life.



A visit to the North Lawndale neighborhood on the west side of Chicago

In the morning, we visited social enterprise Sweet Beginnings, founded by my dear friend Brenda Palms-Barber, whose work I'm honored to support. Sweet Beginnings is an award-winning organization that helps formerly incarcerated people learn job skills through beekeeping, and through packaging and selling honey and honey-based bath products.

Many Chicagoans or visitors never go to neighborhoods on the west side of Chicago, and students got to see that they could visit safely, and could see how poverty can leave a once stately neighborhood ravaged and almost deserted.

The national recidivism rate is 69%; in the Sweet Beginnings program it's 3%. This means that by going through the program, people re-enter society instead of re-entering prison. They gain job skills and jobs such as with the Chicago Transit Authority, and can lead productive lives with their families.

Students saw honey-based shower gel production

Assistant Managers Kelvin Greenwood and Maureen McGoorty talked about how the organization has grown through networking and volunteers.

Students toured the facility, saw production, and took home fresh urban honey, after asking questions about replication of the business model, international expansion possibilities, and more.

"Wave if you love Sweet Beginnings!"
Here we are with Sweet Beginnings Assistant Manager Kelvin Greenwood (back right), and Kendall College Business Dean Aurora Reinke who joined us on this excursion (back left)

Thank you to the Sweet Beginnings team for your fantastic hospitality. We believe in you!

Lunch: fresh food, chocolate, a flower show viewing, and hope

That afternoon, we had lunch at classic Chicago venue Marshall Field's / Macy's, where my dear friend Jonny Imerman joined us as guest speaker.

He explained his business, Imerman Angels, which matches cancer survivors like him, to cancer patients. His organization has helped thousands of people around the world, free of charge, with love and hope.

Jonny gave examples of how networking increases his organization's reach, such as by networking with hospitals, or networking by wearing a branded t-shirt.

Students asked questions and felt inspired by Jonny's warm spirit and encouraging words.

Floral art reminds us of the art of hope

Then I had a double surprise for the students, starting with a sampling of Smith and Donovan Chocolates, made in Chicago by a mother-daughter team who donate a portion of their proceeds to Children's Memorial Hospital.

Our second surprise was a viewing of the annual Marshall Field's / Macy's flower show, for another way to experience today's theme of hope: hope that no matter how long and dark the winter, the seasons come and turn as they must, and spring will always arrive. 

Onward and upward!