Who We Are

Mission. The Enterprising Kitchen (TEK), a nonprofit social enterprise, provides workforce development and support services to women who are working toward self-sufficiency and economic independence. Within the context of a business where we manufacture natural soaps and spa products, under the brand name Choices from The Enterprising Kitchen, women receive intensive workforce preparation and skills development including: paid employment, work and life skills training, individualized career planning, high school equivalency preparation, technology training, financial planning and a variety of other support services. Located in Chicago, our enterprise enables lower-income women who have been unemployed and underemployed to maximize their individual potential and move into sustainable employment after 6-12 months. The Enterprising Kitchen was founded in 1996 and in 2005 relocated to a larger, more efficient training and production facility located in Chicago's Ravenswood industrial corridor.

Natural Products. The Choices from The Enterprising Kitchen line of natural soaps and spa products consists of exclusive recipes created to provide a soothing, naturally cleansing and relaxing feeling for your body and your soul. TEK uses only the finest ingredients and purest essential oils to ensure the best experience and value for our customers. All products are manufactured in small batches onsite at the Chicago facility. Each product includes the mission statement on its label and is signed by the woman who packages it. Choices from The Enterprising Kitchen represent the renewed ability for women participants to make better choices on the road to self-sufficiency as well as the opportunity for TEK customers to choose to purchase these exceptional natural products, which directly support women. The Enterprising Kitchen is a member of the Fair Trade Federation. TEK products are sold in over 300 stores across the U.S., online and at TEK's Chicago facility.

Our Approach. The high quality of TEK products is a testament to the women participants in The Enterprising Kitchen's workforce development programs. Workforce preparation at TEK is experiential, utilizing the issues that arise in the day-to-day operations of the business as a basis for learning. TEK's nontraditional curriculum is designed to provide opportunities within a collaborative, creative and self-reflective context for women to experience and build upon their individual and collective strengths. Our unique approach emanates from the strength and potential of women seeking financially secure and economically independent lives for themselves and the families they are supporting.

Through TEK's social enterprise, participants have the opportunity to work in all aspects of this growing enterprise, including manufacturing, customer service, direct sales, assembly, production as well as shipping and receiving. This wide range of experience and opportunity helps women become more competitive in today's job market. Our enterprise enables women to maximize their individual potential and move into sustainable employment upon completion of 6 months of the training program.

Meet Our Staff

Lynne Cunningham - Executive Director
Fey Cruz - Director of Operations
Arzu Eren - Soap maker
Judy Brunnell - Accountant

Meet Our 2009 Board of Directors

Officers
President - Anne Chipman, HBN Brand Design
Vice President - Charlene Kittredge, Community Volunteer
Treasurer - Christina Romis, Fifth Third Bank
Secretary - Ana Maria L. Downs, Law Offices of Loretta M. Griffin

Erin Drury, Erin Drury Consulting
Jodi Gingiss, Community Builders, Inc
Randall Keller, Schawk, Inc.
Marguerite Lytle, Limelight Catering
Meghan Otis, Waveland Investments LLC
Mary K. Peterman, Community Volunteer
Jo Ann Quinif, Wallace R. Weitz Co.
Wendy Raymer, Harris Bank
Mary Smigielski, Sears Holding Company
Liz Tinkham, Accenture

Emeritus
Kris Clemons, Gerhardt & Clemons
Julie Lohrman, Grosvenor Capital Management LP