When you walk into Edwins, you assume it is just an upscale dining location serving classic and contemporary French cuisine. But the restaurant also serves as a nonprofit rehabilitation center for those who have been incarcerated.41 Referred to as a “second chance life center” by founder and executive director Brandon Chrostowski, Edwins Leadership Institute and Restaurant helps formerly incarcerated individuals by providing them with employment, education, and on-the-job training in the food-service industry.

It is challenging for a released felon to become a productive member of society. A felony conviction greatly affects the ability to secure future employment. The problem is not that those individuals are unwilling to work, it is that their prison record precludes them from opportunities. And what happens to those who don’t find work. They often return to prison. An estimated two-thirds of released convicts return to prison within five years.

Chrostowski was given a break when he was mentored and attended culinary school while on probation. He had served some time in jail as a juvenile offender, and because of the support he received, he worked his way to success in the restaurant business. Chrostowski worked as a chef in New York City and Paris before moving to Cleveland, Ohio, and eventually launching Edwins.

The goal of the program is to help former felons successfully reenter society. The program not only teaches them skills in food prep, cooking, and restaurant operations, but also offers a full support program for the students, including bringing in other former felons to share inspiration. They provide the 40 or so students in the six-month program a variety of assistance such as help finding housing, transportation, counseling, and other needed support services to help with reentry. The program also hopes to have an impact on the community of Cleveland by providing future leaders for vulnerable neighborhoods.

The food for Edwins is locally sourced, and meals are priced in the $30–$40 range, creating a fine dining experience. Chrostowski notes they feel that they need to do better than competitors because restaurant patrons may be skeptical about the staff’s ability.

So far his efforts seem to be working. Not only have nearly 200 students moved through the program in five years, they have received favorable reviews in impressive food columns such as the New York Times. The restaurant and institute were also the subject of an Oscar-nominated documentary, Knife Skills. The name Edwins comes from “education wins,” and it looks like that is the case here. Recognized as a “CNN Hero” in 2016, Brandon Chrostowski has launched a winning venture that is offering a second chance to its students.