4-Star Chicagoan: Sweet Beginnings founder Brenda Palms Barber

CHICAGO -- Brenda Palms Barber founded Sweet Beginnings in North Lawndale to create job opportunities for former inmates. Through the program, employees are turned into beekeepers and gain work experience so they can learn necessary jobs skills, build a resume, and return as working members of society.

Since 2005, Brenda has employed close to 450 former inmates and only 4 percent of her workers return to prison, whereas the national number is 40 percent. Sweet Beginnings now sells honey and skincare products under the name of Bee Love in supermarkets, hotels and airports.

More on Sweet Beginnings and Bee Love products, www.beelovebuzz.com.