Brandon Chrostowski demonstrates a cooking technique at Edwins

Early in October, I took a trip to Cleveland to learn about Edwins Leadership and Restaurant Institute and its founder, Brandon Chrostowski. Edwins is the “teaching hospital” of restaurants. It teaches people with zero hospitality experience the basics of restaurant business through a free six month course. The one requirement to get into the program? Jail time. Chrostowski was inspired to start Edwins after his own brush with the law and a new beginning as a chef and entrepreneur. He discusses all this in an interview about the culinary world and Edwins. I also dive a little more into the history of Edwins and my experience with the restaurant in an panying essay.

Have Christians in the United States been good stewards of creation? John A. Baden of the Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment wrestles with this question in his review of Mark Stoll’s Inherit the Holy Mountain: Religion and the Rise of American Environmentalism.

On October 12, Angus Deaton was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his research on consumption, poverty and welfare. Victor Claar discusses Deaton and the implications his work has on the global foreign aid industry in his essay “There is no such thing as ‘the poor.’”

The Double-Edged Sword unpacks a beatitude. The world wants to distract us with entertainment and fun, but Christians are called to take a hard look at the injustices in the world and mourn them.

Ray Nothstine reviews Russell Moore’s latest book, Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel. Today’s culture seems either indifferent or, in some cases, openly hostile to Christianity, and Moore offers a guide on how to engage in this environment.

In spring 2015, Instituto Acton Argentina became a subsidiary of the Acton Institute and officially changed its name to Instituto Acton. In the FAQ, Kris Mauren discusses what this relationship means and describes some of the programs Instituto Acton offers.

His stirring speeches prompted young men to join the Union army on the spot, and he almost single-handedly founded Temple University. In the Liberal Tradition tells the story of soldier, pastor and orator Russell H. Conwell.

Closing the issue, Father Sirico reflects on the institute’s past, present and future in his last R&L column for 2015.

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