Every human being, regardless of their past, has the right to a fair and equal future. We can’t rely on government to ensure that.
After five years in a Georgia state prison, David was a free man. But his freedom was limited because he had no car, no cell phone, no income and, he quickly learned, an even bigger problem: no way of proving who he was.
If he was going to work at just about any job, he needed identification, but the process for getting it had changed while he was incarcerated. He had never heard of a Real ID and didn't know what documents he needed or where his birth certificate was. Some documents had to come from the prison in Georgia, even though he was moving back home to Illinois. Getting to the agencies that could help was difficult without a car. And then there was the most basic problem of all: “I didn't have a cell phone, or the right ID to get a cell phone. How am I going to call these people?”
I know something about this. Before becoming a chef and restaurateur, I had been in and out of jail myself. I believe that every human being, regardless of their past, has the right to a fair and equal future, so thirteen years ago I founded EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute in Cleveland as a prison-to-kitchen reentry program which has now become the national standard for social enterprise.
At EDWINS, we train men and women affected by the criminal justice system for six months in our restaurant, bakery, butcher shop, and oyster bar. But getting a job is only part of starting over. We also provide free housing, childcare, and other support services. We don't turn people away when they need help, even when it strains our resources.
And right now, we have seen more need than ever. There are over seventy people living in our housing and we literally don't have room for one more, but an additional twenty-five spots are needed when our next class starts. Four students in our most recent class enrolled while homeless. We are seeing the highest rates of food insecurity in our program's history, and enrollment in our Family Center went from four children to ten in just one month.
The demand is growing in other ways. We are the largest educator in prisons across the USA with over 70,000 graduates. Last year, we created 4,283 personalized life plans for people preparing to return home from prison. So far this year, we've created 7,643 and we're on pace for about 14,000.
At the same time, our program costs are up 19 percent over the past year. Foundation giving to EDWINS is down 55 percent, while individual giving is up over 100 percent.
This shift in giving is happening as nonprofits across the country deal with growing need and uncertainty over funding. Although we do not receive government funding, one-third of nonprofits reported some type of government funding disruption in early 2025, according to the Urban Institute, while two-thirds expected demand for their services to increase.
But while federal funding may be failing, according to Giving USA, Americans are still incredibly generous. Individuals gave about $394 billion to charity in 2025, far more than foundations or corporations. At EDWINS, we've seen firsthand how important those individuals can be.
We have been blessed with the support of individuals who are no less than heroic, many of whom don't just write a check. They donate legal services and medical care. They teach and mentor our students, making connections and opening doors. They see in our students something to believe in and find a way to help.
For our donors and for you, that doesn't have to mean writing a big check. Give what you can. Volunteer. Donate your professional skills. Make an introduction. And if you own a business, think about what your business can do beyond donating.
I believe deeply in private enterprise; that's the founding principle of EDWINS. A restaurant can train someone, employ them, sell something customers actually want, and generate revenue that helps keep the enterprise going. We opened two new enterprises this year, raising our restaurant sales 17 percent and net profit 14 percent. We work hard to generate our own revenue rather than simply asking people for money.
But the cost of rebuilding a life is more than just restaurant income can cover. Someone has to help pay for housing when a student has nowhere to sleep, childcare so a parent can make it to class, and the basic needs that make the difference between succeeding and falling back.
The men and women we train and employ are not defined by their past mistakes. They deserve a second chance, when many of them were denied a first chance.
I think of Julie, twenty-three, whose life began with sexual abuse and later included addiction and incarceration. She and her two-year-old daughter have thrived at EDWINS. With childcare available, she has been able to focus on her education and has already become a leader in her class.
I think also of Joseph, thirty-four, whose struggles with addiction and homelessness led to incarceration and made him believe his lifelong dream of having a home of his own was hopelessly out of reach. He has now graduated from EDWINS, has work lined up, and is getting closer to having a place he can call home.
There are people like David, Julie, and Joseph in communities across the country, just in need of a second chance, a renewed opportunity to achieve their dreams and fulfill their potential.
Government can't do everything. Foundations can't do everything. Businesses and nonprofits can't do it alone, either. Civil society has always been an important part of the answer, and today we need it more than ever.
Whatever cause you care about, don't assume somebody else is taking care of it. Give money if you can, give your time, use what you know how to do, or open a door for someone who can help.
Find your cause and show up for it.
Brandon E. Chrostowski is the founder of EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute in Cleveland, a nationally acclaimed program that provides formerly incarcerated adults with comprehensive training in the culinary and hospitality industries, along with housing, legal support, medical care, job placement, literacy programs, and a network for long-term success. A 2025 James Beard Impact Award winner, 2023 James Beard Outstanding Restauranteur Award finalist, CNN Hero, Richard Cornuelle recipient and IFMA Silver Plate honoree, Chrostowski established EDWINS to create real pathways to opportunity and dignity for individuals returning from prison.