Bees Give Ex-Convicts A Second Chance

Program Teaches Former Prisoners How To Make Honey — And A New Life

(CBS)  You might wonder how a tiny bee can be at the heart of an urban renewal story. But then, some bees are doing more than just making honey — they are giving people like Gerald Whitehead and Tony Smith a second chance.

"I've been in and out of prison since the time I hit 17 years old," Whitehead told CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers.

"I'm 31 and I was incarcerated for 14½ years," Smith said.

That's a story you hear here a lot in North Lawndale, a Chicago neighborhood of 45,000 where nearly 6 in 10 adults have a criminal record. One in four is unemployed.

When Brenda Palms-Barber came here to start a jobs bank, she knew finding work for people with a record — and no real job skills — would take some inspiration. She never imagined it would take some insects, too.

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Only On The Web: More with Brenda Palms-Barber of the North Lawndale Employment Network.

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"One friend of mine, just by chance, said, 'you know my husband's a beekeeper,' and I thought, 'What do you need to do or to know in order to be a beekeeper?'" said Palms-Barber of the North Lawndale Employment Network. "She goes, 'well, actually, it's a profession that's passed on by word of mouth.'"

Which makes it easy for anyone to learn. Now former armed robbers and gang leaders tend hives and harvest honey. They mix and package Bee Line, a product line that's been an experiment in just about every way.

"When we took the honey to farmers' markets, people clamored around our table. And then they discovered who was behind producing the honey and they loved it even more," Palms-Barber said.

The skin care line, including body polisher and exfoliant, is available online as well as on the shelves of a local Whole Foods grocery.

So far 27 men have gone through the three-month program and found long-term jobs. Whitehead says the bees have taught him a invaluable lesson.

"In order for them to survive, they have to do this work," Whitehead said. "If they don't do this work, they can't survive. If I don't do a job, I can't survive."

Barber hopes to expand her workforce from eight to 100 in the coming year, providing one "new beginning" at a time — and proving something sweet can come out of people and a place with a bittersweet past.

[cpowell23]

It's really good honey too. I was buying it at a local Farmer's Market last year and was disappointed they didn't take a booth this year. I found it at a store, though.

[mswolfestock]

This is a very powerful story, full of hope. Offering hope and opportunities to ex-cons is the best way to keep them from returning to crime. Prisons should be required to work with the "outside" to make sure that ex-cons have some opportunities waiting for them. This particular story about bee-keeping is great because farmers are complaining that the honeybee population is declining, and without bees to pollinate all the crops, we'll all be without food. (Scientists have no idea why honeybees are disappearing, either.) This is a win - win situation, very inspiring. Please publish more stories like this - the more good we hear about, the easier it is for us to be motivated to do more good for each other.

[noaanhc]

Nice story,hope thse guys can make a positve contribution to society in the future.

My best to all of them