Brandon Chrostowski was my guest this episode. Brandon is the founder of EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute and is on a mission to change the face of re-entry in the United States. The idea was born from "a break" that Brandon received early in life and has grown into a six-month program conducted at EDWINS restaurant in Cleveland as well as in prison. His approach is simple: arm those re-entering society from prison and jail sentences with a skill set and a smile. The program provides training in culinary arts and the hospitality industry. Students in the program are not only equipped with basic culinary skills, they also receive help with the following: finding employment, free housing, basic medical care, clothing, job coaching, literacy programs and more.
This program has earned Brandon national recognition as a CNN Hero, a guest on the Steve Harvey Show and being featured in the Oscar Nominated documentary "Knife Skills".
In this episode Brandon and I sat down at EDWINS Restaurant in Shaker Heights, Ohio and talked about:
- How he found himself and discovered the mission of his life
- The break he was given by a judge that changed his life
- How he became obsessed with French Cuisine and working in the kitchen
- The Oscar nominated short documentary "Knife Skills" featuring himself and EDWINS students and staff
- How not having a television is a conscious choice for mental clarity.
- His experience running for Mayor of the City of Cleveland
- Some of the most important conversations he's ever had
Listen on
iTunes,
Soundcloud, at
Authentic Audio or below.
Learn more about Brandon and EDWINS
here.
This episode brought to you by:
Cleveland Scene Magazine
All original music & audio production
Ken Wendt D.M.A
Booking & Coordinator
Cori Birce
