Recipe for Change

Recipe for Change Reducing recidivism through culinary and fine arts programming at 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 receive an introduction to healthy food, good nutrition, and the art of quality cooking through live cooking demonstrations in a small onsite kitchen. It has since expanded to support both men and women, and now includes a structured curriculum where students earn culinary certificates, a rigorous pizza internship opport

unity, a music production program, and an art studio. Research shows that post-incarceration employment is a significant factor to reducing recidivism rates. Our culinary programs focus on equipping students with tools and skills that will both increase the number of employment opportunities available to our students and the likelihood of employment upon reentry. Our programs also 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.

04/13/2026

We hope you’ve had a SWEET start to your week, Happy Monday! Check out these Cream Puffs made in our Women’s culinary program ✨😋

Happy Friday, Wishing you an amazing weekend! ☀️If you’d like to further support our programs at Cook County Jail, consi...
02/27/2026

Happy Friday, Wishing you an amazing weekend! ☀️

If you’d like to further support our programs at Cook County Jail, consider making a donation on our website, Recipeforchangeproject.org

⭐️Recipe For Change is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

02/26/2026

Let her cook! 🎶 So proud of our ladies; the student who made these has grown so much in their baking skills since they’ve been in the program. These brownies came out PERFECT and they melt in your mouth 😍

01/30/2026

The good life can begin inside, even as we strive for more.

01/30/2026

A fun post to kick off the weekend ✨🕺

A proud student and their work. Happy to see students trying new things! 👏😋🍰Through Recipe For Change, this particular s...
01/30/2026

A proud student and their work. Happy to see students trying new things! 👏😋🍰

Through Recipe For Change, this particular student has been working hard to improve their baking skills. Excited to see what else they make in our program.

01/23/2026

A criminal record can make it way harder to get hired — stigma, strict licensing laws, and gaps in work history all stack the odds against people. When legal jobs aren’t accessible, instability follows.

That’s where Recipe for Change (RFC) comes in 👇
We’re a Chicago-based nonprofit working inside Cook County Jail, teaching culinary skills, job readiness, fine arts, and mentorship — 5 days a week. Our goal? Equip students with real tools for life after release and help break the cycle of recidivism.

⭐️ How you can help ⭐️
⭐️ Like, share, comment & follow
⭐️ Donate via the link in our bio (one-time or monthly!) www.recipeforchangeproject.org
⭐️ Stream student-made music on SoundCloud & YouTube 🎶
⭐️ Share job leads or community resources for students post-release

Change starts with opportunity.

12/25/2025

Happy Holidays ✨ We’re grateful for a team that believes in our students and the power of showing up—day after day.

Sending love to our students and their families this holiday season.

Thank you to everyone who supported our Giving Tuesday campaign — because of you, we raised $1,700 this year. Your gener...
12/05/2025

Thank you to everyone who supported our Giving Tuesday campaign — because of you, we raised $1,700 this year. Your generosity helps our students keep learning, growing, and building real opportunities for their futures.

If you didn’t get a chance to give on Tuesday, no worries — we accept donations all year round. Every contribution, big or small, makes a meaningful impact on the lives of the men and women in our programs.

Donate anytime → link in bio or www.recipeforchangeproject.org

12/03/2025

Part 3 of our interview closes with one of the most important questions:
“What are your plans after you reenter society?”

In this clip, he shares the goals he’s working toward — goals supported by the skills, confidence, and structure he’s gained in our culinary program.

Your support helps make these futures possible.

This is our final Giving Tuesday post of the night. If you’d like to make a last-minute donation or help by sharing our message, we’d be greatly appreciate it.

Thank you for supporting real change.

www.recipeforchangeproject.org

Address

Great Lakes, IL

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Recipe for Change posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Recipe for Change:

Shortcuts

Share

Category