We believe that without accountability, neither our participants nor the executives with whom we work will be changed by the program. We will do everything in our power to help the participants succeed in life, but we provide only opportunities and tools; participants must want to change. Consequently, PEP only commits time and resources to those who demonstrate a desire to help themselves. PEP enforces a “no wiggle room” accountability program with participants.

PEP volunteers and employees will likewise be held to a high standard of accountability, being required to take ownership of their initiatives and follow through with their commitments.

Accountability

My favorite Driving Value is accountability. The reason this value is my favorite is because it is a value that really means the most in my life. When I get comfortable, that doesn’t line up with who I am or where I want to be in life. I will strive to hold myself and the people I surround myself with accountable. I will do this because the people I surround myself with in the future deserve to have the best version of who I truly am. (James L.)

My favorite of the 10 Driving Values has to be accountability because I really understand what this word means now. I never knew what the meaning of being accountable for my family, myself, my actions, and my decisions and owning them meant. I was quick to blame others for my shortcomings and faults. I never admitted to myself that it was my doing until I was introduced to PEP. This program has helped me see my faults and where I was weak. Being held accountable for things I do wrong is a hard pill to swallow. But honestly, this action has helped my character development. Don’t get me wrong, I have not yet perfected it, but every day I am working on becoming a better me so that I can become a better father to my kids and a better husband to my wife. (Brandon S.)

I choose accountability as my favorite value because before coming to PEP, I thought I knew what that word meant. I now know that I did not apply it to my everyday life like I should have. I would say I ran from accountability, mainly because I never knew I was running from it. I now can accept the wrong choices I’ve made as I learn to stand on this value. I think about things before I do them now. (Tevin A.)

I picked accountability because if you have accountability, you will notice the wrongs – even in gray areas – and correct them. Having accountability is also having integrity, because saying what is right, even when it’s not what you want to hear, is important. I needed accountability in my life the most to put myself in alignment. (Garry A.)

Accountability is my favorite Driving Value because accountability is about bringing out the best in yourself. When you hold yourself accountable, you reflect on the character within yourself by showing you’re not going to blame everyone else for your actions. When you have achieved full accountability, you tend to make smarter choices and decisions, as well as hold yourself to a higher standard. (Chase C.)

I believe that when you are able to hold yourself accountable, that is a true turning point in your life, providing a platform for learning, self-discovery and a fresh start. Once you master holding yourself accountable, then and only then will you be able to hold those around you accountable. People are so busy focusing on themselves, which is why it is good to get out of your comfort zone to help others, as it will build true character. (Shawn M.)

I’ve chosen accountability because I feel it’s an important, everyday rule in life. It is one of the first steps to becoming a better individual. Accountability is owning up to your mistakes and conquering them while holding yourself to a higher standard. This is a must to use every day to achieve your full potential. This will serve not only to better yourself but also to show others what it means to be truly accountable. (Charles G.)

We are dedicated to pursuing excellence in every area, despite the difficulties which arise from setting high standards. We seek to work with and learn from the best of the best. We are dedicated to developing excellence in leadership throughout our organization—leadership of projects, ideas and the promotion of our 10 Driving Values. PEP is committed to working with people and organizations who share our values and mission.

Excellence

I’ll start by saying that excellence is my favorite Driving Value. It’s a never-ending goal for me. There’s always room for improvement in my life. Learning from others is the way to go. I will always seek to improve my character so in return I might help others. (Lee M.)

My favorite Driving Value is excellence because it’s what this program requires. The cultivation of the process and manners taught within the program reforms our minds and purifying us to be the men that we need to be. Gradually we are all acquiring better qualities as we continue in this program. Excellence requires submitting to those who know more and learning humility. (Adrian C.)

My favorite Driving Value is excellence. In this program, I have met people who are the best at what they do, not because of the skills they possess but because of their core values. Being around people with excellence inspires me because I want to be a man that my kids can look up to. (Floyd C.)

We place an emphasis on execution—the ability to get things done. We expect to deliver outstanding and timely results. Big thoughts don’t matter if they are not turned into action. Self-discipline is a core element of our organization’s culture. We sweat the small stuff. We hire people with a strong track record of successful execution.

Execution

My favorite Driving Value would have to be execution. The reason I say that is because it’s the value that I would most like to have. Although I have received praise reports for execution, I believe that I still have a lot more to achieve. To me, it is very commendable to be a person who executes his tasks on time. I believe that with this value, a person can reach any goals that he has. (Joshua C.)

My favorite Driving Value would have to be “Execution” because it’s better to always get things done on time. Whether in business or in life, if you don’t discipline yourself and execute the task at hand, you’re already failing. If you put off the task at hand, then you are just procrastinating. The more you do this, the less likely you are to be successful and the less you will meet your goals. It’s also good to keep your stress levels down as much as possible. The sooner you finish, the more time you’ll have for yourself. (Eduardo R.)

Execution is the Driving Value that means the most to me because execution is worship. In all my endeavors, I will perform as if my life depends on it. I shall grab that moment and embrace it. I will dominate with relentless execution. There will be long nights, but in the midst of my darkest hours, I’ll be locked in and focused. Execution is worship – be blessed. (Royshun M.)

Execution is the Driving Values that I can relate to the most. In order for any of the other Driving Values to work, you would have to execute them to a “T.” For example, if you have a blueprint to build a deck in your backyard, and you don’t execute the build to the blueprint, something is bound to end up wrong. I have always taken pride in everything that I do, so it only feels right that execution is what gives me the most pride. (Fidel J.)

PEP believes that every inmate is a human being in need of a true second chance (which for many may actually be a legitimate first chance). We will treat every inmate with respect, regardless of background or personal history. We strive to equip human beings to achieve their full potential. We believe that people can change, dignity can be restored and, as a result, society will reap bountifully.

“Fresh Start” Outlook

“Fresh Start” Outlook is the Driving Value I chose for many reasons. I was skeptical of starting a new beginning because of all the past mistakes I’ve made in my past. I have come to realize that I can’t change the past, but I can change my future for the better if I put the time and dedication into taking one step at a time with a fresh start and a new beginning. Be open-minded and open-hearted to change, otherwise the only one blocking your blessing is yourself. (Homero G.)

“Fresh Start” Outlook to me is having a clean slate in life when starting over. This includes seeing different ways to live life and carry yourself. To live life with a clear mindset moving forward as I start living life as a better requires living out this Driving Value daily. I will stand on all 10 toes and look at life full of positivity, blessing others and having a second chance to become a better version of myself so that I can reach my full potential. (Kyle A.)

I love the Driving Value “Fresh Start” Outlook because “we strive to equip human beings to achieve their full potential.” I love this Driving Value because it allows me to see things in a positive manner. Also, it allows me to help others live a more positive lifestyle and see them grow. I enjoy helping others see their own potential when they don’t see it on their own. (Carlos W.)

“Fresh Start” Outlook is the Driving Value I chose, as this value is important to me for many reasons. But first, I had to learn to forgive myself and give myself a second chance. This allows me to look ahead at the future and truly believe that change is possible. I can stop looking back at my past and give myself a true Fresh Start. Also, I can start treating everyone else how they need to be treated. (Charles L.)

My favorite and the best of the 10 Driving Values is “Fresh Start” Outlook. I say this because I have a strong belief that anyone can change, grow and be rehabilitated over time, and that is something we all need: a second (or third) chance, and I believe that is the epitome of what a “Fresh Start” Outlook is: understanding and accepting that everyone needs an opportunity. We all deserve the chance to change for the better and not stop our growth. (Andrew M.)

Work is an important part of life and it should be fun and rewarding. We seek to create a work environment that encourages laughter, imagination, fellowship and creativity. We regularly celebrate positive results and recognize those involved in the success.

Fun

“Work is an important part of life, and it should be fun and rewarding.” I believe that you should enjoy what you do. Being interested in the task can be motivational and inspire you to do your best. It also helps you push others to enjoy the work that must be completed. Fun is an emotion fueled by happiness, adding interest to the reality of every endeavor. (Jerrek S.)

I chose fun because of my life purpose. The work which I want to do consists of having fun. I’m not going to need an alarm clock to wake up. I’m not just going to be content doing anything other than what I love to do. I won’t settle for something unless I can love and have fun while working. (Marlon S.)

I picked fun because even when going through difficult times, I want to have fun. I want to bring joy, not only to my own life but to those around me. I think that is how you get through difficult times in life. Fun is not defined by monetary standards. You could do just about anything with your family to have fun. I want to bring that joy into people’s lives by showing them what fun really encompasses. (Xaviere S.)

My favorite Driving Value is fun. I believe fun is the best one because it’s all about attitude. You can accomplish anything if you have the right attitude. Attitude will carry you farther in life than anything else in life. I love to have fun. (Ronny S.)

My favorite Driving Value is fun. I like when the people around me are having fun. I usually work very hard, so afterwards I want to be able to have some fun. Having fun keeps people motivated to do their best and keep moving forward. Having fun is very important to me. (Kristopher C.)

We embrace a pioneering spirit and are constantly in the pursuit of innovation and improvement in our efforts to help others. We expect dramatic change. We are committed to seeing beyond the current perception, and even the current reality, to break stereotypes and shape new futures.

Innovation

Innovation is my favorite out of the 10 Driving Values. Having the curiosity to take old belief systems and thought patterns and dissolve them in order to spawn new beliefs has been a superpower. Doing this has caused me to grow exponentially, and I’m still catching up with myself. Innovation has helped me take a step back and trust God’s will and process. The only constant in life is change, so to stay at the forefront of reality, we must innovate. (Ahmon S.)

My favorite Driving Value is Innovation. The reason for this is simple: I love to take an idea or a way to do something and make it my own. It gives me an opportunity to use my creativity to connect with new people. Having the ability to handle old situations with our new perception, I can see new ways of doing things and changing behavior patterns in ways that will benefit ourselves and our community. (David C.)

My favorite Driving Value today is innovation – “today” because I believe in being dedicated and pursuing all 10 Driving Values and committing them to aspects of my life on a daily basis. Being innovative means having an open mind and a heart open to change. Change and diversity should be welcomed in order to embrace the future. Being able to decide and make the distinction between innovation and ignorance plays an integral part in the success of our own futures and the future of society. (Chad F.)

Innovation is my favorite Driving Value because of the sheer fact that someone can take their situation – even a bad one – and turn it around into a good one is life-altering. All you have to do is try something that you have yet to do. That’s the real definition of change. (Traylon P.)

We model and require complete honesty and integrity in all our relationships and endeavors. Integrity means more than simply the absence of deception; it means we are completely forthright in all our dealings. We say what needs to be said, not simply what people want to hear. We are truthful with ourselves, listening attentively to feedback from others as they speak into our lives, correct us and reveal to us our blind spots.

Integrity

For me, integrity has to be my favorite Driving Value because at the heart of integrity is honesty. I personally believe honesty is essential for a person to make it in the world because you have to be honest with yourself in order to tell someone the truth. That is what integrity is. Integrity can take you places in this world that you once thought were impossible. (Mathew L.)

Integrity is a value that I do my best to live by every day. Being honest and doing what is right when no one is looking is the definition of integrity. Being a trustworthy man and always keeping my word to build relationships is an important way to be a successful person and a productive member of society. I strive to be a better person each and every day. I build on this value by holding myself to a certain standard and want the best people around me that won’t let me falter. (Timothy M.)

I chose integrity because it ties into my years of service in the Army. The PEP and Army definitions are different, but they carry similar messages. Doing what is right, even when no one is looking, is not easy. It ties into being honest and trustworthy. These are characteristics that I look for in any person that I associate with. I can’t ask anyone to be that way around me if I’m not leading by example. (Rance T.)

My favorite value is integrity because it is important to tell the truth. Most people won’t tell the truth because they are scared of the other person’s reaction. PEP has this value because they want to teach us to do the right thing. Of all the different values, integrity sticks out to me because this is what I want to teach my family. (Pedro G.)

Integrity is moral excellence, honesty, wholeness and soundness. The reason integrity is my favorite value is because I will tell you the truth no matter who you are. I was told a bunch of lies as a child and didn’t understand why. There was an issue with telling the truth. Don’t get my hopes up and then let me down – I would rather have you give me the ugly truth instead of a beautiful lie. (Devin P.)

My favorite Driving Value would have to be integrity. I strive for full completeness in all aspects of my life – it brings complete joy, comfort and satisfaction to my soul. I can honestly say that it hasn’t been easy for me to get to this point. I have developed a lot of my character because of the integrity in my life. I am an honest person, and I think that many people see my integrity and respect me for it. I am a direct person and say what needs to be said. (Carlos W.)

We are committed to service in love. PEP staff and leaders will be patient and kind, never envious or boastful or rude. We will not seek our own way nor be easily provoked; rather, we will bear all things and endure all things. We will rejoice in the truth and always seek out the best in others.

Love

I chose love because with it, we can achieve so much more. We will push harder and be better.  I say love because the world needs it. More people need to see love, because we see way too much hate in the world. When we lead with love, others will follow, and more people will want to do good and let go of hate. It starts with you and me showing what real love is. (Ozzy R.)

Growing up as a kid, I always saw something negative or bad going on. I refused to live that way. I always try to have a positive attitude towards other people. It feels good to help others do well and want to be better. Love is what keeps the world going, and love is what the world still needs more of. (Alastair R.)

According to the Beatles, “all you need is love, love is all you need!” Love is the expression willing the good in others. If we apply this meaning of love to all aspects in life, then the world would be heaven on earth. We are called to love thy neighbor as thyself, and love the Lord your God will all your heart … There is no commandment greater than these (Mark 12:29-30). For these reasons and for the glory of God’s kingdom, my favorite Driving Value is love. (Paul B.)

My favorite of all the Driving Values is love. Love is disarming as it comes deep from within our core.  Love is more than a word!  Love is an action. Love is an emotion, which is energy in motion. Love is altruistic, disregarding our egos and self-centeredness. Love flows like water, giving to life all its beauty – even the hardest stone will eventually give way to this flow. No value is greater than love, and love is the sum of all values. (James G.)

Love is the universal language, and we all speak it, see it and feel it. When we root our morals in love, people can’t help but want to be a part of it. Love proposes we overlook each other’s bad parts. Love never fails. (Ulises S.)

My favorite of the 10 Driving Values is love. I chose love because if we love others more, the world will be a better place. Love brings people together versus dividing us, and it is also the first two commandments. In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus said, “unto him thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  The second is unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” That being said, if we love others as ourselves, then we won’t even think of hurting anyone, but just love others well. (Joseph R.)

When I hear the word “love,” it makes me think of my mom. You can be married to a wonderful woman and still love your mom more. Why, you ask? Well, if you have a mom you should understand that to me, my mom was my first love. She’s the one who nourished me as a child and took care of me. (Other people have love for their grandmothers because they’re the ones who took care of them as children.) As a child, you get attached to those who protect you and care for you. As a grown man of 47, I see everything differently now – I don’t think I’m that old, and I still have my mom and dad. I also have a wife and two kids. They are adults now, and I was never with them as kids, so they respect me, but that’s about it. I’ve been in prison for 15 years, and since I came to know Jesus Christ, I’ve learned that he came to this world to die for my sins because of how much he loved us. I’ve studied the Bible for quite some time, and now I put Jesus Christ first above everything. He’s my first love and the most important for me. And that’s why my favorite value of the 10 Driving Values is love. (Severo G.)

Love is my favorite Driving Value. Everything we do, we get to do with love. Love is the greatest force in the universe, for God is love. Jesus gave us this commandment to love each other. We are one, so in order for us to evolve and survive as humans, we need to stop hate, which is the opposite of love. Love everyone as if your life depends on it. Love will always win. “Be the change you want to see in the world” – Ghandi. (Miguel C.)

I choose love because when you show love, it demonstrates who you really are. By showing love to someone, it means you care for that person and want to see them do good. Love is beautiful and can overcome anything. Let’s be honest: who doesn’t love to be loved? (Julio B.)

The 10 Driving Values are all important. That being said, my personal favorite is love. Love is important to me because it shows your heart’s posture and who you really are as a person. When you share and show love, it surrounds you in abundance. So be loving and I can assure you that you’ll positively impact someone else’s life. (Yordanys A.)

My favorite Driving Value is love. Growing up without my dad, it was hard to show love to others. Seeing my mom get up every day and love me through the ups and downs in life showed me that no matter what you are going through, you can always love others. Love “out values” everything. That’s why I choose love as my favorite. (Alvaris D.)

Personally, my favorite Driving Value is Love. The reason that “love” is my favorite is because it is an action that you have to be intentional about. Love comes with service, and if the goal is to become great servant leaders, then love has to be the driving value. Love is also something that you need to show yourself, because you can’t expect to show love to others if you can’t show yourself love. If we can learn to show genuine love in this environment, imagine how much more love we’ll be able to show our family members. (Bryan C.)

PEP believes that with leadership comes the overriding responsibility to be of service to others. We believe the contributions we make in the lives of others are far more important than our own accomplishments. We will lead by example with humility at the sacrifice of personal glory. PEP exists because of our desire to serve all those with whom we come in contact, especially our participants, executives, partners, donors, prison staff and the community at large.

Servant-Leader Mentality

Servant-Leader Mentality fundamentally inverts the traditional power dynamic by prioritizing holistic growth and well-being of the team over the leader’s own ego and/or authority. Rooted in empathy and active listening, this paradigm shift demands a conscious choice to uplift followers by removing obstacles and providing necessary resources. Consequently, authority is earned through influence and shared vision rather than position. (Darrian P.)

My favorite Driving Value out of them all is Servant-Leader Mentality. This value is very important when in my life. It is a value that can help me be a better father, son and husband. If you want to be a leader, you have to have the mentality to help those around you to be great leaders. This mentality of leading by example is key because what you do for others is more important than what you do for yourself. (Nathan L.)

What I’ve come to understand about Servant-Leader Mentality is that the name speaks for itself. Not only is the Servant-Leader the one that has to deal with everyone above and under him, he’s also the one that has to pick up the slack when someone falls short. A Servant-Leader Mentality is the ability to think beyond yourself and current situation. Servant-Leaders will sacrifice their own time to better serve others. Servant-Leader Mentality is not just for leaders either, but is instead a way for everyone to think and work with others in a positive way. (Darrell J.)

I like Servant-Leader Mentality because I’ve always been a leader – I was just leading people the wrong way. Now I know the right way to lead people, so if I see someone I know or a brother in PEP having trouble, I’m going to help him out. I will lead by example because I’ve got people looking up to me, like my nephews and “God brother.” I need to teach them how to be a good leader rather than a follower, because I don’t want them to follow in my footsteps. I want to be more like my uncle, which is why being a Servant-Leader means a lot to me. So I’m not only being a Servant-Leader for myself, but I’m doing it for everybody who’s around me. (Kevin C.)

Servant-Leader Mentality represents my approach to life as I lead by example. I believe when I’m given the opportunity to lead, I must lead with humility with God’s spirit being my internal compass. Someone I admire from a distance is Lebron James. His journey to becoming a Hall of Famer started with a $200,000,000 contract before touching an NBA court. Having a leadership mentality gave him the ability to stay focused on executing his passion without falling short of reaching his full potential. (Tyrone B.)

Servant-Leader Mentality is the Driving Value I resonate with because in order to lead others, you have to be humble, kind, and have a good internal discipline and structure in order to give someone else direction. People tend to listen to you and follow you when they see that you are fair and willing to go out of your way to help when needed. People have to be able to trust your word if you want them to respect your authority, which means that you have to do what you say you’re going to do. It is important to take time to always treat others like you would like to be treated in order to lead with authority and integrity. (Noe A.)

We are committed to the mentality of a steward: someone entrusted with another’s wealth or property and charged with the responsibility of managing it in the owner’s best interest. We will apply donors’ funds as promised. We are committed to being a lean organization, and as a staff, we are also committed to modest salary and expense levels. We use funds intelligently, efficiently and strategically to achieve maximum benefit for those we serve.

Wise Stewardship

Wise Stewardship is my favorite Driving Value. Without wise stewardship, there would be a lot of lost time. I believe that managing time is very important. If you do not know how to manage time wisely, why would anybody want to hire you? When I think about time, I think about money. If you are wasting your time, then you are wasting potential money. You cannot regain the time you’ve already lost, so using it wisely moving forward is extremely important. (Russell P.)

To whom much is given, much is expected. I believe this not only applies to finance but also with innate gifts and abilities, including the ability to steward your time wisely. Life is about using your talents and giftedness to better your own life and the lives of those you care about. This fact had eluded me my whole life, but I have finally realized how my gifts and talents aren’t only for me but for those that are around me as well. (Spencer L.)

My favorite Driving Value is Wise Stewardship. I believe great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks. We have to take advantage of every opportunity God gives us to become what he has called us to be. If we do not take advantage of this, then he will remove what he has given to us. This is why we have to be wise stewards of everything that is God-given. (Devonte M.)