Brandon Edwin Chrostowski
The Cleveland Browns are proud to nominate Brandon Edwin Chrostowski for the 2023 Inspire Change Changemaker Award for his work in founding EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute. The 501(c)(3) organization offers formerly incarcerated adults a foundation in the culinary and hospitality industries and a support network necessary for long-term success. While in the program, students receive comprehensive training, hands-on work experience, and various essential services at the Second Chance Life Skills Center, including free housing, legal assistance, basic medical care, clothing, job coaching, and literacy programs. The Institute graduates 75 students a year, with a 95% employment rate in dining establishments across the country and less than 1% recidivism.
Chrostowski was given a second chance in life when he was released from jail at 18 years old when faced with a 10-year prison sentence. Instead of prison, he was sentenced to a year of probation and soon found himself working with Detroit-area chef George Kalergis, who served as a culinary teacher and mentor. After attending The Culinary Institute of America in New York, Chrostowski was inspired to help others soon to be released from incarceration. He founded EDWINS in 2007, began teaching at Grafton Correctional Institute in 2011, and opened EDWINS Restaurant in Shaker Heights in November 2013. Since then, the EDWINS family has grown to include a fine French restaurant, butcher shop, bakery, and EDWINS Too – a culinary incubator, community kitchen, event, and makers' space.
EDWINS has received three stars from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, has been regarded by The New York Times as "High-Stakes Haut Cuisine", and has been named a Silver Spoon recipient for Best French restaurant from Cleveland Magazine. Chrostowski has been featured in Cleveland Magazine, Scene Magazine, Belt Magazine, Forbes, and The Call & Post. He serves on the advisory committee for Slow Food's northern Ohio chapter, the employment committee for Cuyahoga County's office of re-entry, and the advisory committee for employment at the Department of Youth Services. He has been awarded the Movers and Shakers award, the Whitney Young Jr. Award from the Urban League, Crain's Magazine's 40 under 40 award, as well as a nomination for E&Y entrepreneur of the year. He received the Medical Mutual Pillar award, recognizing the outstanding director of the year, as well as the Cornuelle Award from the Manhattan Institute, which recognizes the creative energy of the non-profit sector by highlighting new ideas led by social innovators.