Our Mission
Recipe for Change provides culinary instruction, job skills training, fine arts enrichment, and mentorship to detainees at Cook County Jail. We strive to empower our students and equip them with the tools necessary to gain employment upon reentry thereby reducing recidivism.
The Problem
The United States of America has a mass incarceration problem. Over the last few decades, the number of people being held in jails and prisons around the country has increased significantly, and Chicago, IL, is no exception to the overall US trend. While recent bond reform in Illinois has helped to decrease pre-trial jail populations, the number of incarcerated individuals continues to be high. Once people are released, the number of opportunities available can be low, and according to IllinoisPolicy.org, nearly 50% recidivate, or reenter the criminal justice system, within three years. While this is a daunting problem, Recipe for Change helps be part of the solution through offering programming to detainees while in the correctional facility.
What We Do
Recipe for Change is a Chicago-based nonprofit working with detainees incarcerated in Cook County Jail. Recipe for Change was founded by Chef Bruno Abate in 2014. The program began as an opportunity for male detainees of Cook County Jail to learn about healthy food, good nutrition, and the art of quality cooking through live cooking demonstrations in a small onsite kitchen as an enrichment correctional program. Over the years, with the support of the Recipe for Change community and in partnership with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, we have grown into a full workforce development program and so much more.
We now support men and women in the jail and offer culinary and fine arts programs. Our culinary program includes formal culinary and sanitation instruction, ServSafe certification, and an internship experience. Our fine arts programs include a music production program and an art studio.
Our programs provide a creative outlet for our students whether it be through food, art, or music. We believe in the restorative power of creativity and the positive effects it can have on mental health. Jail is a trying place on people physically and mentally. Our team is committed to fostering an environment that is built around community, positivity, and collaboration in order to support our students and help them be successful.
Who Do We Serve?
We work with men and women, ages 18 and up, from all around the Chicagoland area. Our students are pre-trial which means they haven’t yet been convicted of a crime. For some it’s their first time involved in the criminal justice system while others may have been incarcerated before. The one thing all of our students have in common is their desire to learn something new and improve their lives. We aim to create a judgement free environment and to treat all of our students with the dignity and respect they deserve. Our program allows our students to leave their cells each day, eat a nutritious and delicious meal, learn a skill, and focus on their future.
Check out our student spotlights to learn more about our student’s experiences in RFC and life after release!
Who Are Detainees?
We assist pre-trial detainees in Cook County Jail while they await their case resolutions. The terms detainee, inmate, and prisoner, though often used interchangeably by civilians, actually refer to distinct stages within the justice system. Detainees, unlike inmates, haven't been convicted of a crime. Inmates have been found guilty and sentenced to over a year of incarceration. The broader term "prisoner" encompasses anyone deprived of freedom against their will.
Our educational initiatives operate within a jail, focusing on those awaiting trial and not yet convicted of the alleged crime. While similar, jails and prisons differ. Prisons, typically managed at state or national levels, accommodate larger populations serving sentences exceeding a year. Jails, managed locally, are smaller and mainly house pre-trial individuals who can't post bail or aren't eligible for it.
A powerful piece, made by one of our art program students
Reentry Support
The United States has a mass incarceration problem. Research shows that post-incarceration reentry employment is a significant contributor to reducing recidivism rates. Our culinary programs focus on equipping students with tools and skills that will increase the number of employment opportunities available to our students, their likelihood of employment upon reentry, and help them demonstrate the confidence to be successful.
We are currently formalizing our post-incarceration reentry support through collaborations with community based organizations, partnerships with restaurants, and employment opportunities through the Recipe for Change food truck program.
