Estes Fall 2026 Weekly Journals

Week 8

Monday                                                                                             September 14, 2026

It is Monday, which means what we covered today has to do with Living in the Village and managing our personal finances. It was a good day. Today began with testing over two chapters of Living in the Village, and we all believe that we did well on our tests, thanks in large part to Chaplain Bruce T.

Bruce T. went over a few topics that covered how to manage and invest our money to be better prepared for retirement and life. We have all been preparing ourselves for the day we reenter society and resume responsibility for, among other things, the financial health of our families and the ability to pass financial literacy on to our children.

To say that Bruce T. did an amazing job covering the subject matter is a gross understatement. We are all more confident than ever in how to invest in our futures. He answered in great detail every question that has been on our minds in relation to investing and finance. We should have been exposed to this type of information some time ago, but we have been given the opportunity to learn it now.

We appreciate the effort that PEP staff and volunteers put into teaching us, especially in matters of personal finance.

 Rodolfo M. (aka “The Pen Sniffer”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                            September 15, 2026

Today is test day, and it began with most of us waking up early as they called us out for necessities and breakfast at 5 a.m. Soon after breakfast, we all began studying our Entrepreneurship textbook and flashcards. The conversations went back and forth, with questions and answers filling the dorm. As the information filled our minds, we took to the sky with higher education.

Entering the PEP classroom, we saw that the computers were already set up for us to take our tests. The blood began to flow, racing through our veins. Our nerves had some of us shaking at the knees. Some even began to have sweat running down their foreheads.

We all gathered for our pray-in, morning encouragement and quote of the day. The testing finally began, with every face focused on the laptop screen in front of them. Everyone had only one question on their minds: are we going to pass this test? It was a question we wouldn’t have an answer to until tomorrow.

As some of my PEP brothers began to complete their testing, they were instructed to sit quietly in another part of the classroom until the others also finished. Once we all finished, we were released back to the dorm to work on our 3x3x3s and pitch panels, which are always fun and entertaining. Congratulations to the ones who are already done, and I encourage those still working.

The second half of the day was scheduled for BetterMan, an integral part of the PEP curriculum. We talked about things that are confidential to the class. Once finished, we were released for the day. We focused again on the tasks we needed to complete while waiting for dinner, which we had around 5 p.m. Around 9 p.m., many began to wind down for the day and call it a night.

                                                  Khristian M. (aka “Cupcake”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                      September 16, 2026

This has been a fun Wednesday. We normally go to class around 8 a.m., pray in together and then review the quote of the day. We go around the room to see how the quote might mean something different to each of us.

That is always followed by dancing to get everyone’s energy levels up and everyone awake and ready for the day. However, the person they pick to start the dancing for the day is random. The DJ posts a “first to dance” group on the screen. Those selected can be anyone in a specific row or wearing a particular type of shoe. Regardless, it is a fun way to start every day.

Today was different in terms of the course curriculum. It was Clubhouse. This has quickly become one of my favorite parts of PEP as a whole. I greatly thank the executives who came in today to pour into us.

Afterward, we spoke about some of our talents and hobbies, which included things like poetry, music, motorcycles and basketball. A classmate explained his passion for driving a truck by painting a picture with his words. He explained how it feels to have your truck ready to go, the load strapped down in the back and nothing but open road in front of you. That is his passion, and it is beautiful.

Thank you, PEP and volunteers, for giving us the tools to pursue our dreams.

 Rodney P. (aka “Nibbles Maplestick”)

 

Thursday                                                                                           September 17, 2026

Today was a great day. The energy was high, and everyone was in a good mood. Today was Entrepreneurship day, meaning we reviewed the next two chapters. The first half of the day covered human resources. To me, this was a very interesting subject. It described all of the ins and outs pertaining to human resources. The best part was everyone engaging and asking questions. Once we completed this chapter, we broke for lunch.

When we returned from lunch, we had to do more dancing. Then, we began learning the second chapter for the week. This chapter covered topics like exit plans, harvest plans and turnarounds. This was yet another great subject. Our Impact Volunteer opened the session with some poems that he had written himself. I feel that this helped set the mood for class. It was amazing, and he also offered us some jokes that related to the subject material at hand.

The way our volunteer taught with ease helped make sense of what we were learning. It all ended with great energy, and overall, the message was clear. It felt great for the simple reason that it all made sense.

I thank our speaker for clarifying everything for our class. It was one of the best sessions that we have had.

Benigno R. (aka “Chubby Chihuahua”)

 

Friday                                                                                                September 18, 2026

What a productive and relaxing Friday for the brotherhood here at PEP. We started the day at 5 a.m., when Juan M. initiated our first workout of the day, which lasted until 6:45 a.m. After our workout, we conducted Bible Study from 9 to 10 a.m. Juan M. broke down some of our questions about what an authentic man looks like.

We had lunch from 10 to 11 a.m. After lunch, we headed back to our living quarters and prepared for Toastmasters, which went from 1 to 2 p.m. Everyone delivered successful speeches, and we wrapped up Project #7. Feeling that we had already accomplished something great with the first part of our day, Joseph A. initiated a second workout. This workout lasted from 3 to 5 p.m.

We had a prayer circle, and Joseph A. led with a powerful prayer, covering every one of our families. After this, we had dinner and watched a movie in our pod. We finally finished the day with a third workout. This one was rec in the gym.

To wind down for sleep, we read through a couple of books. One was a book that we recently picked up to help develop our leadership skills. One example from the book that is helping us develop these skills is something called extreme ownership, a principle based on the belief that leaders must acknowledge mistakes, admit failure, take ownership of both and develop a plan for success from them.

Through a new understanding of many areas afforded to us by PEP, we see what being authentic looks like. We understand what bringing this into fruition will look like for us if we apply these new principles to our daily lives.

All in all, it was another great day here at PEP and a great start to a hard-earned weekend.

Joe R. (aka “Sour Skittles”)

Week 7

Monday                                                                                              September 7, 2026

It is Labor Day. We did not have the usual Living in the Village class, but we have plenty to keep us busy. Our entrepreneurship test on Chapter 8 is tomorrow. This chapter is about Business and Financial Analysis, and there are a lot of formulas and mathematical formulas we need to remember.

We are also studying the Economics of One Unit (EOUs). These formulas will allow us to break down business financial health, which will be useful as we continue to work toward becoming entrepreneurs.

As all of the current class studied, our Servant-Leaders were floating around offering assistance when we had questions or got into a bind. We also worked with each other, helping one another to make sure we were getting the correct answers.

This EOU assignment has been difficult, but working with the Servant-Leaders, we have grasped the information. We will see how well we do tomorrow, but our confidence is high. We have put in the effort, helped, and been helped by our brothers. Soon it will be time for some football, and we’ll relax a little before it is time for bed. The fellowship we have with one another is awesome. It was an incredible Labor Day.

Alfred L. (aka “The Butler from Scary Movie”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                             September 8, 2026

We were given our packets to learn EOUs last Tuesday. It is a workbook full of various math problems to figure out. We spent the week learning how to work our way down to the net profit of each problem. Last Thursday, we had an executive come in and teach us Chapter 8 from the Entrepreneurship workbook.

We spent the entire three-day weekend working problems and studying over our EOU packets. This included business and financial analysis for our test today. Many of us woke up this morning with a cup of coffee and dedicated our last few remaining hours to continued studying with last minute preparations for today’s test.

We are separated into two different groups every Tuesday for our testing. The first group always goes at 7:30 a.m., with the second group going in around 10:30 a.m. We were lucky, because our pod was in the second group to test.

When we got to our PEP classroom this morning, we selected our individual laptops. Before beginning our test, we prayed in. Then, we were instructed to log into our laptops before starting the one-hour timer that signals the start of testing.

Usually, there are two chapters to test over, but today we tested over only one chapter. In addition to testing over EOUs, we took the entire hour to test on the remainder of the chapter. Upon completion, we moved into the peer review portion of test day. This is where we are given 30 minutes to anonymously check over the answers submitted by two of our classmates.

Whenever we are finished with this final portion of test day, we move to the other side of the room to wait while everyone completes the task, or time runs out. Finally, we were released to eat lunch.

After lunch, we completed team recordings. The CEOs and CFOs were required to return to the classroom. COOs and CMOs were blessed to have the rest of the day off, having already completed their portion of the video recording. As a COO, this meant that my day was concluded.

                                                  Dylan M. (aka “Chris Farley”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                       September 9, 2026

Today was a pretty big day for us here at the Prison Entrepreneurship Program, and I feel privileged to provide a journal on today’s events. It started as usual: we showed up this morning and got everyone up and looking alive by dancing a little, followed by praying in. Next, we shared some praise reports, which are filled out by those in the current class for other classmates to let them know we see their hard work and improvement. After that, we broke into our business groups and went over our pitches while we were called up by group to take photos.

Right before lunch, we were sat back down to receive the long-awaited news that we were about to receive the dreaded “3x3x3” assignment. They handed us our special paper and gave us our instructions. This will be what separates the men from the boys! Then we were released for lunch. I am pretty sure after lunch everyone hurried back to start on our 3x3x3’s, which are due in one week. After a couple hours of writing, we were called to the second half of class, where we had our first day of Clubhouse.

Clubhouse is where a few executives join us and get a little more personal and vulnerable. It was a real eye opener, and we should all look forward to it every week. I would expand more on what we talked about at Clubhouse, but the rule is “what is said at Clubhouse, stays at Clubhouse.” After we prayed out and were released, we had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with the executives. That was our day, another day down and one day closer to graduation!

Anthony L. (aka “Swifty”)

 

Thursday                                                                                           September 10, 2026

What a wonderful and blessed Thursday for Entrepreneurship day. I want to give all the glory to God for allowing us to see another day and coming together as brothers for a positive, productive day in class. Thursday is one of my favorite days of the week because we have executives come to speak to us about different things – everything from daily life issues to dealing with a business.

When we first arrive in the classroom, we get our badges and find our seats. We all come together as brothers while someone volunteers to pray over us for the day and asks God for His blessing. After that, we all get to dance, have fun and do a little chatting with each other before class starts.

Every day, we have a quote for the day, followed by standing up to tell the class what the quote means to us. Today’s quote was, “Riches begin in the form of a thought … and faith removes all limitations.” To most of us, it meant thought does not matter without a strong action behind it. We all got to have a strong positive faith to trust and believe in God to guide us in the right direction because He will never fail us.

Next, we did praise reports on our brothers on what a good and fantastic job they are doing in this program. Shortly after that, executive volunteer Mike B. came to speak with us about how to build a business and the legal issues that come with a new business. This was very important to us because we learned a lot from him today. He was a great speaker, full of fun and joy, and he kept us laughing throughout his speech.

For the second half of class, this nice and wonderful executive Michele G. came and spoke to us. She also spoke on building a business and establishing operations. She gave us good information about business and discussed steps on how to operate a business. When she finished speaking with us, we prayed out like we always do at the end of class. Finally, we all came back to the pod, getting together in different groups to work on our resumes and other homework for the rest of the day.  

Howard L. (aka “Madea”)

 

Friday                                                                                                September 11, 2026

It’s Friday morning and the entire class is ready to head to the PEP room. We all love to go and find out what we will be talking about, especially today because today we have BetterMan. We always enjoy watching some inspiring and motivational videos.

After class, we still had to work on completing our 3x3x3 assignment, a written challenge with the intent of sharpening our will to succeed. All of us have been waiting for this since the moment we first heard about it. As soon as we all got back to our pods, we wasted no time and began to work on it immediately. Before beginning though, everyone at the table where I was seated decided to say a prayer first, so we did.

It’s always a good feeling to have positive brothers surrounding you. It helps you manage all of this one day at a time. Here at PEP, we are all given a heavy homework load to keep us busy, and today was no different. We have plenty of assignments to teach us time management, and now we know exactly what was meant when we were told that it would feel like “drinking water from a firehose.”

I must admit, when we began writing and interpreting the information that we were covering in our 3x3x3 (information such as business vocabulary, AP Style and personal finance), we realized that there was actually a lot of highly useful information. It truly does have a lot of interesting things to learn about, and everyone seated at my table agreed.

That evening, when we were all in line for dinner, everyone was comparing amongst themselves where they were at with their writing assignment. Another shared sentiment is that we are all happy to finally be getting this challenge out of the way and are eager to be on the other side of it.

Ernesto M. (aka “Thumb-Thumb”)

 

Expressions

“In about the same degree as you are helpful, you will be happy.”

– Karl Reiland

This is a quote that I just recently read. It stuck with me and still resonates loudly. This, simply put, means that we are always at our happiest when we are at our most giving. When we pour into others, we find true purpose and peace.

The reason that is important to me is for the very reason that this program offers the opportunity to be able to give to others as a Servant-Leader: to be able to find happiness in purpose as we give back to the classes that come behind us.

Like many of you, I have sought happiness in many places (most of which were the wrong places). Already I have found hope in this quote, knowing that there is yet another place to search for the sincerest form of happiness and purpose. I ask myself if that is why PEP is structured the way that it is in order to help us not only discover our truest self, but our truest purpose and the truest sense of happiness.

I am excited to be part of a program that pours into us while also allowing us to pour into others. But I am most excited to find that true happiness and help shape PEP’s future by shaping the direction and the future of the lives of those I hope to have an impact on.

I emphatically enjoy this quote, and I wholeheartedly hope that it will resonate with others just as it has reverberated in me.

 Dakota M. (aka “Snowball”)

Week 6

Monday                                                                                               August 31, 2026 

Today was the first day of a new, blessed week at PEP. We began our day by turning in our homework that we completed over the weekend. Then, we danced to wake ourselves up and get our energy flowing.

Following the morning dance, we prayed in and took our weekly Living in the Village test. This week’s test covered Chapters 5 and 6, with the material focusing on estate planning and credit reports.

As always, after we completed our testing, we moved to the back of the room so that the Servant-Leaders could arrange the chairs in the usual classroom setting. Next, we covered two new personal finance chapters taught by Bruce T. It is a highly informative course that covers everyday financial knowledge, with the newest chapters covering debt and investing.

Finally, we took a break from learning, allowing time for different teams to begin filming their respective business introduction videos. Once completed and edited, these videos are sent to a panel of executive volunteers for review. The executives provide feedback on different aspects of our pitches, and the end goal is to use this feedback to improve our pitches before the next pitch day.

All in all, we stay very busy, and the program is constantly challenging us in many ways. This continues to provide us with opportunities for growth while also aiding us in our transformation through character development.

I am very grateful for this program and its opportunities.

 Rodney H. (aka “Sweet Magician”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                              September 1, 2026

What an amazing Tuesday for learning and execution. We took our quizzes over Chapters 6 and 7 out of our Entrepreneurship textbook. Before that, however, the energy of champions was bestowed upon the entire class. The Servant-Leaders were all in one accord.

We did our usual dance ritual, and it was great. Our DJs absolutely know how to create positive energy, unlocking our full potential. It does not matter who you are, nobody is safe from having to cut a rug during this ritual. From the moment you walk in, you are overwhelmed with love and fun.

After that, we conducted the most important part of the day: our pray-in. We prayed for God to guide us throughout our day.

Even the lieutenant on duty came and helped us complete our count properly. We all displayed the maximum amount of execution and excellence that we had to offer.

PEP’s In-Prison management did an amazing job with everything today. We were supposed to continue our Toastmasters presentations but began learning a new subject instead. This subject was very math-oriented, and math has never been my favorite subject. However, thanks to our amazing pod tutors, who all pour into us outside regular class hours, we have been able to grasp the math-focused fundamentals.

We are all looking forward to graduation. It is an amazing feeling because my peers and I are all eager to see our families and have them be a part of this amazing transition.

We had a spectacular day, and it felt great to be one month closer to our end goal of graduation.

                                                Kentrell J. (aka “Sassy Snake”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                        September 2, 2026

The current class is blessed to have most Wednesdays off due to Servant-Leader meetings in the morning and Clubhouse in the afternoon. This Wednesday was such an amazing day.

Recreation time just happened to be this morning, where we were able to go to the gym and play basketball or lift weights. We have a great group of guys who exercise with each other daily. For others of us, the allure of having the day off and being able to sleep in was too great to pass up.

Everyone started to wake up around 10 a.m. We had lunch shortly after that. Even though we had the day off from the classroom, we still had homework. This week, we have been studying the “Economics of One Unit” (EOUs). Really, this means much more than simply a bunch of math. It is actually teaching us how to identify the different things that apply to our businesses and calculate a prediction of what we expect to make. In other words, we are learning how to make a financial forecast for our businesses.

After lunch, we had several study groups sitting around working on the workbook we were given. This work was so hard that we were glad to have the day off. Luckily for us, we have some great Servant-Leaders who are very helpful and assist us understanding this math.

Monday through Friday in our pod is, and always will be, burpee time. Our workout crew gets together for an hour of cardio. After dinner, we all relaxed for the rest of the evening by either playing board games or watching movies. A day off is always a blessing, especially when you are trying to figure out complicated math.

 Thomas J. (aka “Ed Bass-Master”)

 

Thursday                                                                                             September 3, 2026

Today had a bit of a slow start for us as a class. Everyone seemed to have low energy, but that didn’t last long. We are always able to rely on our Servant-Leaders to amp it up and get us started with some all-inclusive dancing.

This was followed by a little bit of controversy, as the current class noticed a mistake made by the Servant-Leaders. This meant that we were able to hold them accountable, which is a rarity but also an opportunity to really witness their leadership roles and Servant-Leader mentality on display.

We gave them a spin on the “Wheel of Doom.” This is a spinner on a board that lands on a consequence. The lucky consequence was “boot camp,” a physical fitness routine dictated by a volunteer from our class. We had the Servant-Leaders do some push-ups, burpees and jumping jacks.

Next, we prayed in, giving us another boost of positive energy to fuel our day. During this time, our volunteer presenter for the day walked in. We gave him a warm welcome.

He was there to go over Chapter 8’s business and financial analysis. He took his time to thoroughly explain the concepts, highlight key terms, break down the diagrams and go over any questions we had.

Once we finished, we cheered and applauded our volunteer instructor for the day. We show our gratitude and express our appreciation for our volunteers and their commitment to our program.

We then broke for lunch. When we returned for the second half of the day, we danced again to crank the energy back up in preparation for Toastmasters. We then took turns presenting our five- to seven-minute speeches. This week’s speech focused on using body language to help convey our message.

We concluded our class with our pray-out, thanking God for the opportunity to be in such an amazing program.

Matthew K. (aka “Fake Drake”)

 

Friday                                                                                                  September 4, 2026

Well, we made it to another Friday. All in all, it was another great day in class. We started it off by walking in, putting our cups in the cabinet, grabbing our name badges and finding our seats.

Before jumping into BetterMan for the day, we headed to the back of the room to dance our way back to our seats. This enabled us to shake off any nerves that we might have had. We all enjoy this part because it allows us to act goofy but also come together as a brotherhood.

After that, we had one of our fellow brothers pray us in. Then, we jumped into our lessons for the day, which were BetterMan and Toastmasters. BetterMan really hit home for a lot of us today because it covered fatherhood and what that means to each of us.

We also wrote some things that we want our children to say about us 20 years from now. Again, a lot of brothers were very vulnerable and opened up. In this environment, that can be really hard to do, but it is all part of the program, and that is what we are all here for: to become better men and grow through character development.

We broke up into our individual groups, where we talked about whether we had our fathers in our lives growing up or whether they were absent. After our 30 minutes of group time were up, we all sat back down, and one person from each of the groups came up and gave a brief summary of what their group talked about.

We then broke for lunch but had to come right back for Toastmasters. It is pretty cool because we get to see our brothers open up and talk about topics that are near and dear to them. We also get to see their progress with public speaking.

After everyone was done with their speeches, we prayed out for the day and headed back to our own pods. Once we got back to our pods, we began working on all the assignments that are due on Tuesday.

I must admit, we are all excited to have this three-day weekend to get caught up on our work. All in all, it was another great day here at PEP. Big shout-out to all of my PEP brothers. Keep on shining.

Russell K. (aka “Strawberry Shortcake”)

 

Expressions

“Education is the key to success.”

– Booker T. Washington

After coming to prison, I have learned that your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values. And your values become your destiny.

If I want to influence what other people think about me, I can start by laying the foundation that will take me from where I am to where I want to go. If someone has no knowledge about where they want to go, there is no telling where they will end up.

Sadly, many of us don’t consider how earlier decisions influence current situations. A lot of people don’t have an understanding about how today’s decisions will impact their future. If a person wants a better future, they can choose to learn how to build a stronger mindset with values that create their success, both inside and outside of prison.

A person can succeed by training the mind on how to think differently. When a person develops better critical thinking skills, they learn how to think in ways that can improve the outcome of their lives. Once a person can identify values, they can begin to make better choices that lead to success.

A person without the right knowledge and education is poorly prepared for life’s challenges. Not every person thinks that education is the key to success, however. Every person has their own definition of what success looks like to them.

If a lot of people had the right knowledge and education about success, they would have a much better chance at becoming successful. Successful people think about problems and how to find or create solutions to them. Developing plans that could lead to a successful outcome are built on the values that reflect commitment to success.

Regardless of the struggles that confine a person who lacks knowledge and education, they can still make decisions that will influence a better future of success for themselves.

 Jhunrae L. (aka “Ashtray”)

Week 5

Monday                                                                                                August 24, 2026

Today was such a good day for the Class of Fall ’26. As the day started, many of us were studying early this morning for the upcoming test. While we waited to be called out for class, we quizzed each other to help sharpen our fellow classmates’ skills. We went to class feeling both happy and a little nervous. We prayed before getting the day started. We usually start the day with dancing to help raise our energy, increase our focus and get our blood pumping.

Afterwards, we all turned our chairs toward the Peer Educators as we got ready to begin our test on Living in the Village. Once we finished testing, we turned in our tests and headed to the chow hall for lunch.

After a two-hour lunch break in our respective pods, we were called back into the classroom to continue with our day.

We moved into Toastmasters for the second half of class. We listened as each class member presented a Toastmasters speech to the rest of the class. This is very helpful because it teaches us how to express ourselves effectively in front of an audience. It was such a good experience listening to each classmate share their knowledge, experiences and life stories.

At this point in our class cycle, we are embracing what it means to come together as a community and share love for each other as a group. This is truly a life-changing experience of character development at its best here at PEP.

We ended the day with our daily pray-out. It really was a good day for the Class of Fall ’26.

Eleazar F. (aka “Becky G”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                                August 25, 2026

Tensions were high this morning because we had tests on Chapters 5 and 11 out of our Entrepreneurship textbook first thing. The seconds ticked by in our heads as we waited with unwavering, laser-focused intensity. We prepared the only way we know how: we danced!

We came together to loosen up a bit and bond like a line of shields in the vanguard of an army, supporting our brothers. This let each of us know that we stand together, not alone. We have each other, we work together and we are here to help each other out, not count each other out.

We then gave thanks to our heavenly Father for the grace we do not deserve and the gift of another day to draw breath. More importantly, we gave thanks for the Holy Spirit letting us know we are made worthy and will achieve victory if we lean on Him.

Then, we breathed the cool classroom air deep into our lungs as we lined up across from each other like a uniformed battalion facing our fears. We took a final glance at the brothers to our left and right. We raised our shields, inhaled deeply and stared ahead with laser focus on the battlefield. We live by faith, not by sight. Knowing and having confidence that God and our fellow brothers protected us, we took the leap of faith to accomplish the task at hand.

                                                  Raymundo G. (aka “Blanket”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                          August 26, 2026

Sometimes the middle of the week almost feels as if the weekend is not approaching fast enough, but we know that we are halfway there. Nevertheless, today was most certainly another blessing. Without a doubt, God is with PEP.

This morning was a day for a Servant-Leader meeting, followed by Clubhouse for the recently graduated class. From my understanding, this is a class where executives continue to come in and pour into our new Servant-Leader brothers.

You could say that today was in our favor, as it was also commissary day for our pod. The question of the morning was, “When are we going to commissary?”

The reply was, “Whenever they let us.”

All jokes aside, our class is a very productive group. Many of us were exercising first thing this morning. Others had Bibles open, with literally every table in the dayroom occupied by those reading or studying.

The anointing and fellowship here are real. For example, as soon as “Operation Commissary” was complete, everyone who was able pitched in and generously donated commissary items to those who, for whatever reason, are unable to purchase them. Praise God that He is here and working among us.

One of the things we do every week inside our pods is hold pitch panels. This is where the current class is able to stand in front of the pod and present their pitches. We construct these pitches for the businesses and teams we are assigned to. We memorize the pitches to present as part of a competition for the best presentation and most viable business idea. I can’t speak for others, but in our pod, the pitch panel was very successful in performance, delivery and execution.

We may not have prayed out in class today, but we still made sure to end our day with a prayer in our pod. The brotherhood here is real. Today was an amazing day filled with laughter, generosity, fellowship and growth. There is no better way to end a day.

Christian G. (aka “New Girl in Class”)

 

Thursday                                                                                              August 27, 2026

Today was such a terrific Thursday! Upon entering the classroom, the first thing we do is grab our name badges and turn in our homework. Then, we greet each other and wait for everyone to arrive. Once everyone has made their way into the classroom, it is time to dance.

A random group of classmates is called to start our daily dance session. Today, the first group selected was the group wearing gray socks. After everyone danced, we found our way back to our seats to get our day started.

As with every other day, before we can officially begin, we must pray in. Once we officially begin, we usually start with the quote of the day. Today’s quote was “How can you claim to control your mind when you continue to do things to impress others?” This quote proved to be powerful and sparked a discussion that enabled people to open up about what it meant to them. Many of us took turns giving our points of view because we all interpreted it differently.

Today was a very productive day for us. We were fortunate enough to have two executive volunteers who took time out of their day to come in and teach the course material to us. They taught us Chapters 6 and 7 from the Entrepreneurship textbook. Our first volunteer covered Chapter 6, and the second covered Chapter 7. They showed us how to analyze cash flow, interpret other financial statements and break the information down in a way that was easy to understand. They also took the time to answer our questions after teaching.

Once the teaching, questions and discussions about the chapters were finished for the day, we closed out with the daily pray-out. This signified the end of another wonderful day in PEP.

Johnathan G. (aka “California Raisin”)

 

Friday                                                                                                    August 28, 2026

This Friday, we ended class with a bang! We addressed past personal issues that have prevented us from moving forward productively with our lives. But I have gotten ahead of myself. Allow me to start from the beginning.

Just like every other day, we all came in, grabbed our name badges, turned in whatever homework we had due and found our way to our seats.

We let loose with some dancing, and our blood was flowing after a few songs. Then, we prayed in and took our seats as the Servant-Leaders prepared the room for Toastmasters. We still had a few PEP brothers who had not yet had the opportunity to present their speeches. Our next speech will focus on our body language. We are all getting much better at public speaking. It is new for most of us, so you can see the nervousness and anxiety on several faces. But as a whole, we have gotten far more comfortable delivering our speeches in front of the class.

After we were done with that, we jumped into more character development with BetterMan. Mike H. gave us our lecture on Session 3 about unpacking and addressing our past. It was very heartfelt. Many of us were choked up as we thought about the trauma we have caused by leaving our families out there to fend for themselves.

For next Friday’s session, we have been asked to prepare three separate letters: one to apologize to someone we have hurt, one to seek forgiveness from ourselves and the final one to forgive someone who has hurt us. It is truly a blessing to have Mike H. teaching us BetterMan.

After that, we prayed out to end the week.

Juan G. (aka “Latina Barbie”)

 

Expressions

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”

– Ecclesiastes 3:1

Within the first 10 minutes of arriving at the Sanders Estes unit, I was greeted with applause and cheering. Confetti littered the floors, and everyone was smiling and happy.

I wondered what all of this was about. I thought everyone was celebrating my arrival. Soon after, I learned that it was actually graduation day for Blessed ’26, the previous PEP class.

After unpacking and making up my new bunk, it was time to absorb the scenery and mentally process everything. I had never met people so happy and friendly before, not just in prison but in the world.

At that moment, I knew that I had made a great choice. By completing the PEP application, I had taken the first step of a life-changing journey.

I know that every applicant has their own reason for wanting to participate in the program. Many are seeking financial assistance through loans, some might be looking to “get rich quick,” and still others may simply just want to be at a unit that houses us in air conditioning.

My reason was simple: character development. It was time for a change. It was time for the transformation required for me to become the person I was always meant to be. During my incarceration in TDCJ, I have always given my best effort toward self-improvement. However, I was still in desperate need of help with my personal and social development.

I remain committed to self-improvement and to applying PEP’s 10 Driving Values in order to restore human potential within me. I am currently undergoing the process of developing my character, and I feel that I have made significant progress – progress that many wouldn’t believe possible if they don’t see it for themselves. To hear my mother say, “I am proud of you son, keep up the good work” motivates me to continue to strive to be better every day.

Although my family is in California, which is too far for visits, they can still hear the change in my voice over the telephone. Thank you, PEP. Thank you for believing in me and for giving me the opportunity to become part of a life-changing experience.

Mike G. (aka “The Blackberry”)

Week 4

Monday                                                                                               August 17, 2026 

Today was a great start of the week with the brotherhood. Upon entering the classroom, we turned in our assigned work in the designated area. We exchanged formal greetings and blessings as we gathered our badges and found our seats. Many of the brothers danced to music, as dancing is part of our tradition in PEP. Some guys were pulled for solo dances due to their limited group participation. After our daily routine, we prayed together. This was followed by a Living in the Village presentation. Chaplain Bruce T. led the presentation, which emphasized different types of insurance. He elaborated specifically on life and health insurance.  

Following the phenomenal insurance presentation, the Business Plan Team taught us how to create our marketing strategy and identify our market, competition and differentiation. It’s another step in developing our successful business plans. We were tasked with an assignment that will assist us in drafting our plans.  

Finally, we had a chance to meet with our Business Plan Competition teams. At this time, we focused on the intro videos we will create. During this meeting, our teams were able to collaborate and find common ground. This time allowed the groups to focus on what is expected of us for our upcoming deadlines. While collaborating, we also took group photos throughout the classroom to ease the stress. After coming to a stopping point, we prayed out. Today was an awesome way to start the week. 

Keith D. (aka “Natasha”) 

 

Tuesday                                                                                              August 18, 2026 

Today was a wonderful Tuesday. First, we woke up and went to breakfast. We had scrambled eggs and biscuits. Once we came back, we had a study group for the test. We sat around the table with flash cards and tested each other so the material would be fresh in our minds. After that, we sat around drinking coffee waiting to go to class. 

Once we got to the classroom, there was good music playing to wake us up. Next, we all came together and prayed like we do every morning. Then, we sat down and got ready to take our test. Once the test began, we had one hour to complete it. When we finished, we sat quietly and waited for everyone else to finish before heading to lunch. After that, we took a break and got ready to go back to class for Toastmasters. 

Finally, we got back to class, and there was more music. This time, we danced to get the blood flowing. We began our Toastmasters speeches, we all got a chance to talk about something we know and love. The purpose of this is to lose our fear of public speaking and get out of our comfort zones. Once we were done, we talked for a little while before praying out. 

At the dorm, we got ready to practice our pitches for the next event. Later, we held another study group and got ready for the next test. Finally, it was time to call it a night. There couldn’t have been a better day than this. 

Antonio D. (aka “Nu Nu”) 

 

Wednesday                                                                                         August 19, 2026  

As we walked into the classroom, we turned in our homework to the homework box. We waited for the seating chart to show us where we were assigned to sit for the day. After that, we took our seats and prepared for the day. A group of classmates went to the back of the room to open up with a few dance moves, and a few even had solo dance-offs. 

Lights, camera, action and media were today’s topics as we got into groups with our business teams. We huddled in our groups of four in front of the class. The Media Team snapped a few pictures, and we enjoyed a few laughs. With the cameras rolling, we each introduced ourselves, our position within the company and our hometown. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, there were a couple of tongue-twisting moments, and our nerves were at an all-time high, with palms sweating and lips being bitten. To some, the moment may not have seemed too intense, but for others, it proved difficult. We had to produce a short film, and as each group took its turn, the excitement continued to build. 

Smiling in front of the camera was one of the more challenging moments. We were just thinking and praying that everyone in our group had a nice smile. Some people’s smiles are their weakness. The pain feels real, but all in all, Wednesday was a wonderful and different day for us. 

As we closed out the day, we discussed a few things coming up on the agenda for the next few days. A PEP brother was called on to pray us out, which is when we all come together as one, put our arms around our brothers and pray for them and all of our families. That is how we end every day. We put up our name badges, shook hands and left, waiting for the next day in PEP. 

Devonta D. (aka “Fried Chicken Sandwich”) 

 

Thursday                                                                                            August 20, 2026 

The Lord proves his grace and mercy every day. Today was a great day for us. While in prison, we never would have imagined the types of things we are learning and overcoming.  

We were blessed with a lecture on Entrepreneurship by Cindy V., who put a lot of things into perspective for us. Then, we listened to a lecture from Carl B., who is a marketing genius and is also from the same city as my family. We learned a few tricks of the trade as far as marketing goes. We were excited and surprised to learn how Tide laundry detergent for adults is the same as Dreft laundry detergent for babies. The only difference is the testing behind the two products. The mothers of our children and even our parents would definitely be surprised at this revelation.  

As a team, we see improvement in each other in all aspects of life. This is not limited to entrepreneurship. It also includes our character development and becoming better men in every way. We have been noticing changes in our conversations and improvements in our communication skills as a whole. I must admit, it is a blessing to see.  

Overall, it has been a great week. We have learned a lot, and we still have so far to go in our development. There are many roadblocks in life, but there are also many roads in life, and that is what this program is teaching us. We now have hope for our futures when we get to reenter the world and a brotherhood to share and experience it with.  

Brandon D. (aka “Black Licorice”) 

 

Friday                                                                                                  August 21, 2026 

We had a very positive and productive Friday in PEP. We are bonding as a brotherhood and learning to work together incredibly well as a team. 

When we first walk into class, we start our day off by boosting our energy and morale through dancing and having some fun. We follow that with a prayer together to start our day off the right way, and we give thanks to God for His grace and protection. 

After that, we all presented our third Toastmaster’s speech in front of the rest of the class, which has been helping everyone to be more comfortable and at ease when speaking to a crowd. Each and every participant dove deep within himself and opened up by offering some truly heartfelt topics of discussion. 

Following the presentations, we had a guest speaker and fellow PEP brother, Jeremy J., who spoke to us about reentry requirements and the transitional housing options available to us through PEP. He also discussed the Entrepreneurship School that is available to us online upon release to further our education in entrepreneurship. 

Finally, we watched an inspiring video from Motiversity by motivational speaker Marcus “Elevation” Taylor. The video was about letting go and freeing yourself from your past with courage and strength. Forgiving others and yourself is crucial to breaking free from the shackles of harboring resentment. We need to leave the past in the past because carrying the baggage takes up space in our hearts and minds and prevents us from dealing with problems we encounter in the here and now. 

The video was very inspiring and delivered a powerful message that we all felt deeply. Again, today was such a positive and productive day, and it was the perfect way to end another excellent week here at PEP. 

Stephen D. (aka “Lovely Rooster”) 

 

Expressions 

“The moment you allow failure to become an option in your mind,  

you have already failed.”  

– Bruce Lee 

As I began my morning, it wasn’t hard for me to feel gratitude toward God. Between the welcoming culture of Estes and the air conditioning blowing cold, I knew my prayers had been answered. It had been a long journey through the unforgiving heat and the hostile environments of the penitentiary system. 

Nevertheless, God gave purpose to my pain. He used the trials and tribulations, and all of the wilderness seasons of my life leading up until now, to give me tangible evidence of the power of His grace working throughout my life. He is also equipping and preparing me with the mentality needed to succeed through the extensively rigorous process of graduating from PEP. 

Even though I tried to block my own blessings in the beginning, and I wasn’t receptive to the character development aspect offered and implemented by the program, I am truly glad that I let my guard down. I slowly began to allow the teaching in the classroom, in conjunction with the fellowship of my classmates, to begin to transform my perception of my current reality. This is inevitably shaping a new future and breaking any current stereotypes and will prevent me from becoming just another statistic. Being an analytically-minded person, I understand the challenges stacked against me. When staring adversity in the face, it may seem impossible, but with God on my side, failure will never be an option in my mind.    

Mason D. (aka “Brittany Spears”) 

Week 3

Monday                                                                                               August 10, 2026 

Monday was a great day to be in PEP. We began the day with some dancing. They called the front three rows to go first. It is something that wakes everyone up and gets them ready for the day. We followed that by talking about the quote of the day and praying-in. 

After that, we listened to a couple of brothers give their Toastmaster’s speeches. They both did a wonderful job. Both spoke about the hardships they have overcome and were an inspiration to us. Next, we found out who was going to be the CEO of their Business Pitch Competition teams based on their performance at the Big Idea Pitch event. It was super exciting for everyone to see who the 15 people were going to be. We then picked people to be on the various pitch teams and everyone was thrilled with the results. 

We then did a team exercise to get to know each other better. Each team was given hard noodles, yarn and tape and were instructed to build the tallest tower we could. It was a challenging exercise that tested our teamwork skills and helped us get to know each other better. Next, were able to assign roles to our new team members for the next pitch event.  

All in all, today as a great day. We especially enjoyed finding out who was going to be CEO. We really look forward to helping our teams create an amazing pitch and being competitive. 

Justin C. (aka “Mr. Tiny”) 

Tuesday                                                                                              August 11, 2026 

Today was a great day. We woke up around 6:00a.m. to study for our entrepreneurship test which consisted of Chapters 1 and 2. This is no regular test by any means. Today, our tests consisted of three parts. Part one has ten multiple choice questions about entrepreneurship that are worth five points each. Part two is open response questions asking what we would do in certain scenarios as business owners. These questions can be worth up to fifteen points depending on how well you answer them. Last but not least was part three. This is a peer review where we explain why we either agree or disagree with our classmates’ answers from part two. As you can imagine, it was very stressful because we were limited to only one and a half hours to complete these two tests. Many of us were very nervous.  

After completing our tests, we transitioned into Toastmasters. This is a class in which we work on our speaking skills. It helps us to become comfortable speaking in front of an audience. Another benefit is that we receive feedback at the end of our speech to help pinpoint what exactly we need to work on. Upon completing Toastmasters Project 1, we prayed-out and returned back to our dorms to relax for a bit as well as study for the entrepreneurship test covering Chapters 3 and 4. Overall, it was an awesome day today in PEP, and we are all looking forward to returning back to class tomorrow. 

Bryan C. (aka “Churro”) 

Wednesday                                                                                         August 12, 2026 

Today is Wednesday, and it is half way through the week. We were all very excited to go to class and learn. At 7:45 a.m., they called us down to the classroom to begin. As always, we started our classroom experience by dancing and filling the classroom with an energy that we can all learn and grow in. After that, our brother prayed to start us off, and we went over our daily quote. 

The quote of the day was “It’s better to be prepared and not have an opportunity, then to have an opportunity and not be prepared.” In PEP fashion, we had some brothers stand up and offer their explanation of what that quote meant to them, and how we can apply it into our daily lives inside of these walls and on the outside. To me personally, that quote means to always stay ready, so we don’t have to get ready. That is something we should always strive try to do. 

Next, we started our Better Man course by going over our first session. After finishing our first session, we sat in a circle with a handful of brothers and talked about what that lesson meant to us. We discussed what our struggles have been in the past, what struggles we may be currently facing and how to move past it.  

By the end of our first lesson, we learned from each other and grew. PEP truly is a brotherhood that wants and demands the best from us in every way possible. You can tell that everyone on the inside and outside of this program truly cares about us. In PEP fashion, we ended the day by praying out. Another day has been completed towards our graduation. 

Eduardo C. (aka “Tabasco Sauce”) 

Thursday                                                                                             August 13, 2026 

We were in the classroom today by 7:45a.m. I guess the emcees and servant leaders could tell we weren’t fully awake yet because they had us start our day with some dancing to help get the blood flowing and the energy moving. PEP is all about working hard but having fun while doing so. 

After the dancing, we all took turns expounding on the “quote of the day.” We all agreed that it is important to find your purpose in life. 

Once the morning count was conducted, one of our Impact Champions came to teach us out of the Entrepreneurship book. We knew it was time for business and time to focus. Today, we went over Chapter 3 and 4. We learned that it is best to open a business in a field that we enjoy and know about. This enables us to do something that we are passionate about. 

While we were in class, the media team was busy taking pictures and videos to post online so that our families are able to follow along with what we do. Servant leaders are milling about, ensuring our compliance with PEP rules and regulations to facilitate our growth. For those seriously failing to meet the specific requirements, homework can be issued to lovingly help correct this behavior. Everything is to enable us to reach our full potential, providing us the best launch into society and into success. It is not just business as usual. It’s character development. 

Jerry C. (aka “Cute Bubbles”) 

Friday                                                                                                  August 14, 2026 

This Friday was pretty cool. We were able to take some silly pictures for our kids’ birthday cards. We can only imagine how much the kids will laugh, seeing their daddies dressed in funny costumes. 

We also got to work on our guest list for graduation. That was a hard list to make for some, because they have so many family members they want to share this accomplishment with. Even just beginning to prepare for graduation was exciting. We are all working hard to meet the objectives and complete the program. It is important to us to receive our certificates and wear that cap and gown in front of our families. 

In addition to this graduation day preparation, Laura S., our family liaison, came in and explained to us about how our loved ones are able to follow along as we progress through the program. It was all pretty awesome. 

For being Friday, today was a pretty laidback day. It was well warranted after having had our first Entrepreneurship test this week. Many were worried about what their first grades would reflect, but once our GPAs were posted, we realized we had all done much better than we originally thought. Which is good because we all studied very hard. 

This program really pushes us to do and be the best. Not only as students, but as men. We all look forward to the day when we are able to practice what we have learned by applying these lessons to every day life. By taking action in the world and showing our loved ones that we are, in fact, changed men. 

Eusebio C. (aka “Adorably Shy”) 

 

Expressions 

“Empathy grounds and centers me.” – Satya Nadella 

This quote connects directly to the purpose of my business plan because empathy is the foundation of the business itself. Technology is often marketed through speed, innovation and convenience, but those benefits are not experienced equally. Many older adults feel frustrated, embarrassed or excluded when devices and essential services change faster than they can comfortably learn them. 

I designed my business to meet that challenge with patience rather than pressure. Helping a senior use a smartphone, attend a telehealth appointment, organize passwords, identify a possible scam or communicate with family is more than technical support. It is an opportunity to preserve independence, confidence, dignity and connection. Empathy allows our company to understand that the real problem is not simply a malfunctioning device. The deeper problem is the fear of being left behind or becoming dependent on others.  

Nadella’s words also influence how my company should grow. Success cannot be measured only by appointments, memberships, contracts or revenue. It should also be measured by whether clients feel respected, safer and more capable after each interaction. Employees must therefore be selected and trained for communication, patience, integrity and cultural sensitivity as carefully as they are trained for technical knowledge. 

This quote reminds me that the strongest businesses solve problems by first understanding people. Businesses can generate sustainable revenue while serving an important special need. By combining technology with human-centered assistance, the company can create meaningful impact for seniors, relief for their families and value for community partners throughout DFW. Ultimately, its innovation will not be the technology it teaches, but the trust and independence it restores to every client.  

DeAris D. (aka “Hello Kitty”) 

Week 2

Monday                                                                                                 August 3, 2026

Marvelous Mondays appear to be the class’s favorite since they get us ready for the week to come. We started our day and week off by grabbing our name badges immediately after entering the classroom. Then, we turn in any homework from over the weekend. Following that, we locate our seats. Next is dance time. We let go and get loose. Everyone has a chance to show off their dance moves down the center aisle, surrounded on both sides by loving brothers.

Showing our graceful and loving God our sincere gratitude, we reach out to brothers on each side of us to unite as one, as we pray for God’s guiding hand through our day. In typical tradition, we flow right into the “quote of the day” and what we gleam from it. The quote today was “quitting is guaranteed failure.” Which means that if you quit, then all you can expect is failure. It’s not about the fall. It’s about the getting back up.

Class began with Bruce T. teaching a course on “Living in the Village”. Leading into the rest of the day, we went and had lunch. Today was a little different, because once we finished in the cafeteria, we had to return right back to class. We expected a super busy afternoon, but it ended up being an easy day. We were able to release from class a little earlier than usual.

All in all, today was a great day. We were able to rest up and prepare for tomorrow.

 Christopher Barnes (aka “Miley Cyrus”)

Tuesday                                                                                                 August 4, 2026

Energy, energy, energy! We started the day off doing a dance off with our pods. Dancing helps us to come alive, since we have to be in the PEP classroom by 8 a.m. With the music on and everyone feeling the energy, it helps us get active.

We usually have an assignment to turn in, which is required prior to our morning pray-in. If we fail to complete the homework and have it turned in on time, there are consequences. More homework. That instills timeliness and execution.

The program is pretty intense, but if we put our minds to it, we can get through this and successfully finish together. There are rules to follow, such as remaining respectful and quiet during specific activities, appropriate language only, and several more. If we fail to follow the rules, as with anything else in PEP and life, again, there will be repercussions.

After that, we said a prayer. The PEP brothers put up a quote, which we discussed, and agreed that we should all apply in our lives upon reentry. The quote of the day said, “the most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight but has no vision.”

To end the classwork portion of our day, some of the brothers recited their Toast Master’s speech. We are all required to meet predetermined objectives that help us grow as an effective communicator. This requires us delivering a series of speeches in front of our fellow classmates. It can be pretty nerve-racking, but when you get a couple of minutes into delivering it, you start to fall into your comfort zone.

Last, but definitely not least, we ended the day with a prayer by another of our PEP brothers. Go PEP!

                           Nicholas Benavidez (aka “Chihuahua from Taco Bell”)

Wednesday                                                                                           August 5, 2026

This morning was time for servant leaders involved in the upcoming event on Friday to gather and discuss the stages of event planning and event operations. The afternoon is still dedicated to Clubhouse for the previous class of graduates. This means that current class was able to dedicate some much-needed time to practicing for the coming event and to put some time into studying the next two chapters of Living in the Village. We spent time delivering our pitches to each other, as we perfected the art of delivery and public speaking.

It was great being able to have a bit of time to decompress and invest into event day preparation for our pitches. The servant leaders who remained behind this morning were all more than happy to help us catch up on any homework and to listen to our pitches. A day of no class doesn’t mean a day of no work. It means time to buckle down and focus on what is lacking or needing attention.

We ended the day by delivering our pitches in our pods, in front of our fellow brothers in a final moment of practice. This helped reassure our readiness and to work out any kinks or presentation issues in our pitches. It was a great day and we all stand eager to get to the event day.

Tacoby B (aka “Wacky Waving Inflatable Tube Man”)

Thursday                                                                                              August 6, 2026

Today was such a great and fun day. We had an executive come in today and pour into us. Thanks be to God for having people like him who are willing to come into prison to teach us. He went over Chapters 1 and 2 of our “Entrepreneurship” book. He proved kindness to us by answering any and all questions that any of us presented to him. I was able to learn several differences between small and large businesses. We even learned about the fundamentals of acquiring start-up or operating capital through loans. By the completion of the presentation, I had a more comprehensive understanding of what it takes to make my idea successful. For example, I understand how to make a budget work. But even in the event of budget failure, I know how to make adjustments.

Today was a blessing. Thank you, God, and thank you PEP. I can only hope that executives continue to come and pour into us, sharing with us the important topics we need to know. I seriously look forward to applying the knowledge they’re teaching us into my own business one day. I am gaining confidence in my ability to eventually open and run a successful business in the future. Again, thank you to each executive who comes and supports us. God bless you all.

Jose Blanco (aka “Chunky Monkey”)

Friday                                                                                                    August 7, 2026

Words alone cannot express how great Friday was. It was a change of pace, as we were given an opportunity to step outside of the comfort zone we have grown so accustomed to. We showed the hard work and dedication that we, as a class, have strived to make priority in our daily lives.

However, the day would not have been able to begin without some event day dancing to hype us up and get us moving. After a bit of fun, we prayed in. Then, we introduced ourselves and our fun names to break out of any shyness we may have still been feeling. We were able to give our pitches and meet executives. We showed them the progress and change that even one month has enabled in us. The executives who were present also introduced themselves and owned their own fun names. This showed us that not only are we all human, but that people have such a high level of compassion and commitment for those of us working towards creating better versions of ourselves.

The day ended with three of us being able to present our testimonies to all in attendance, to speak about the impact that PEP has had in facilitating our change as individuals and growing as a brotherhood. For an event to be so exciting, especially while being incarcerated, and to be so focused on giving us a second chance at life by being able to return to society as someone able to build something of ourselves, is something worth being extremely grateful for. We now have a foundation to grow from so that we can avoid coming back to prison in the future. All I can say is what an amazing first event!

Jermaine B. (aka “Gina from Martin”)

 

Expressions

“Do it right the first time, so you won’t have to do it again.” – Contractor’s Saying

Today’s quote of the day is my favorite quote. It is the quote about execution, one of the Ten Driving Values at the very core of the program. It is a constant reminder that by putting forth the effort to complete my assignments correctly the first time, it prevents me from having to start over again. I had one of my coworkers say this quote to me at a job site when we were laying tarp to install gravel around trees. He spent an hour showing me how to do this specific task. I had completed one of the steps wrong which forced me to take it all down and start over again. I try to apply this quote to my best advantage in my daily assignment. It is one of the lessons I learned and value the most.

If it was not for the job in landscaping, I don’t think I would have ever heard that quote. I am very appreciative that God gave me the opportunity to work in the landscaping business alongside leaders that taught me things I did not know. I have learned a lot of valuable lessons that I can apply to my day to day life. Working with coworkers that have experience has also helped me a lot. They guided me, showed me right from wrong, and to always strive to push myself to my full potential. They told me to never settle for less. They also constantly encouraged me to do things the right way and to stay calm in how I go about certain situations. Also, I have learned to own up to my mistakes and recognize when I am wrong.

Alvaro Capetilo (aka “Ariana Grande”)

Week 1

Monday                                                                                                  July 27, 2026

There could not have been a better way to start a Monday morning than with a friendly dance-off between L-Pod and H-Pod. We just started class, but it is evident that the brotherhood and friendly competition was already beginning. The dance-off set the tone for Darrian P. to bring up and dance with the lectern – we learned that this is a Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP) tradition when preparing to welcome in an executive or volunteer. Chaplain Bruce T. then danced down the aisle with great form and energy before jumping into our first Living in the Village lesson. We covered Chapters 1 and 2, first learning what the “worth” of something really means, as well as the difference between being proactive and reactive with our money.

Our next set of speakers were members of the Business Plan Team. Charles L. and David P. broke down our next assignment, which revolves around our Product Service Offering as well as the guidelines to follow. Soon after, we jumped into yet another PEP tradition: fun names! The brotherhood came together in good spirits to have an awesome time as we attempted to break down the tough exteriors we have all formed over the years.

After that, we released for a lunch break and returned refreshed about 45 minutes later to resume class. Next on the docket was an introduction to Toastmasters, presented by Traylon P. and many others. Finally, we finished the day off with the issuance of a few more fun names, ending with a prayer to thank God for this opportunity to gather together and learn how to be better humans. Today was the perfect way to start both the week and the journey here at PEP!

Zachariah A (aka “Tangy Mayonnaise”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                                July 28, 2026

It was a God blessed Tuesday in PEP that was absolutely overflowing with good energy, fun, inspiring information and brotherly fellowship.

The day kicked off with God’s Word. The Holy Spirit inspired our pray-in and some electric, “raise the floor” dance moves! That was followed by the class sharing our thoughts on a quote about being impatient and intentional with positive, life-changing action in the pursuit of a better future. The resounding theme reflected the fact that the way, the truth and the life is through an all-abundant, living faith in Jesus.

Afterwards, we watched an inspiring and encouraging video about the PEP Family Program. Apparently, the Family Liaison staff, through amazing advocacy efforts, can help PEP men reach out to loved ones and start the step-by-step process of rebuilding bridges that were once thought to be irreparable. We were even given some paperwork to fill out so we can get the ball rolling in a positive, life-changing direction. PEP’s Family Program and benefit certainly sparks hope in the hearts and minds of men who deeply miss their precious loved ones. This is certainly cause to lean harder into the process, press forward and prayerfully strive toward that beautiful day of graceful reconciliation with our loved one’s sweet embrace.

Lastly, after a nice lunch break, we reconvened in the PEP classroom, got creative and had some fun designing our individual “Coat of Arms” projects. We personalized the projects with positive magazine graffiti that was meaningful, and we even added our favorite of PEP’s 10 Driving Values. The finished products were unique and thought-provoking, depicting our PEP trajectory and goal-oriented mindset. It was a worthwhile exercise that gave us a golden opportunity to fellowship and bond with one another as PEP family.

Yes, it was a very God blessed day! Thank you, Lord, for PEP and all that it entails! You are so very good to us. We love you, and we are grateful for your presence in our lives and dwelling in our hearts! All glory to you, Father! Amen.

Brian A (aka “The Homeless Guy from Superbad”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                           July 29, 2026

Today was a blessed and fun day. We all entered the PEP classroom looking presentable and ready to learn and have fun. The DJ was playing music as everybody found their name badges and seats. As we started class, we first prayed in together – what a brotherhood, and what a spiritual feeling. Next, we took turns going to the back of the room and showing off our dance moves. The music was loud, everybody was clapping along and all I could see were people glowing and smiling. It definitely was a “mood changer.”

After we all danced, we returned to our seats and went over the quote of the day. It was very inspiring, motivating and a definite eye opener. We followed up by volunteering to speak about how we can personally relate to the quote, or what we thought about it. We had extra time before starting class, so we started calling our fellow classmates to the front of the room individually and giving them their fun names. The purpose for having a fun name is to break the individual out of his shell and comfort zone, revealing their true self to us because that is the first step to helping somebody change. Plus, we had the extra fun and laughs out of this person and the audience as well.

After that, we continued with the “Wheel of Doom” for someone who accidently used a curse word. Even though it was accidental, PEP has standards and rules to follow, and if someone breaks the rules then the consequence is usually homework, but since we just started class, we have a grace period for the first two weeks. So, this person got the “Wheel of Doom,” which was not too bad. This is a tactic used to improve a person’s character. We continued and finished the class by learning more of the rules and going over financial literacy terminology we will be learning in the near future. Today was a great, productive and fun day in PEP.

Fouad A (aka “Bumdog Millionare”)

 

Thursday                                                                                              July 30, 2026

This Thursday started out like any other day at the Prison Entrepreneurship Program, with music and dancing to help wake up, get the blood flowing and our minds working. This was followed by a pray-in and then meeting our new Character Development Specialist, Mike H. Once introductions were made, we got our paperwork to setup family contacts and birthday cards for the kids. Once we finished, we presented our first Toastmasters speech as part of our Competent Communication training to help us improve our public speaking.

The first speech assignment is basically a four- to six-minute professional style speech about ourselves, starting from childhood and our upbringing, leading into what led us to prison and ending with our plans post-PEP graduation. We heard from people with a lot of tragedy, and some with a lot of emotion and hardship. Some of us are similar and some are different, but no matter what led us here, we all seem to have the same ideas and expectations for the end. We all are seeking to improve ourselves and become better fathers and role models when we rejoin our communities, bringing with us the knowledge and skills to better society and avoid ever coming back to prison.

Then we broke for lunch: chicken patty with gravy. We still had to give a few people their fun names, so we all had some fun with that after we finished up the Toastmasters speeches. Upon returning to the dorm after class, we got together in small groups and discussed situational awareness and shared our interpretation of the next of our 10 Driving Values in the PEP handbook, which are integrity and love. That pretty much sums up our day today.

 Matthew A (aka “Gandalf”)

 

Friday                                                                                                    July 31, 2026

Today was a fun day. It was full of laughter, but also everyone focused in when it was time to do so. We started the day off with dancing – some danced in groups, and there also were a couple of solo dances. We also gave some of our fellow participants their fun names. The fun names are a great way to get everyone to loosen up and get comfortable while also providing a good way to help us learn each other’s real names. While we are in class, we are required to give our full name as well as our fun name every time we have a question or have a statement that we would like to share. It is a fun way to bond and connect with everyone.

It was a fun time, but when it was time to get serious, everyone locked in and focused. We started to practice our business pitches for the upcoming event next Friday. The pitches are how we learn to sell a business idea and what to say to get investors to invest in our business idea. Everyone did well on their pitch. We learned from each other, and Adam W. gave us a lot of insight on what we could do better on as far as selling business ideas.

We finished out with a pray-out and had only a few more fun names to give out. Then we did another round of dances just for good measure. It was a blessing to be able to learn the things that we’ve learned, and we look forward to more days like it in PEP.

Ethan A (aka “Pinocchio”)

 

Expressions

“Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.”

– Oprah Winfrey

After being transferred to the Estes Unit, I was both excited and full of nervousness at the same time. I took in all the nice artwork that decorated the halls as we were being escorted through and even took in the clean smell of the unit itself.

I had been waiting to be transferred to PEP since October of 2025. Yet, as soon as I got here, all the other inmates on the unit, who were not part of this program, were giving off bad vibes about the program from their demeanor and facial expressions to the words they spoke about PEP.

Then the first day of class comes. From the emcees and facilitators to the Peer Educators, everyone who grabbed a mic spoke about the challenges we would be presented with as we delved deeper into this class. Instantly, me being me, I said to myself “challenge accepted,” and I decided to set aside my nervousness.

I firmly believe that God has His plan for each and every one of us. With that being said, I also believe that had I not come to prison, I would not have discovered who it was that God wanted me to be. He truly saved my life by sending me here and then allowing me to gain acceptance into this program. I am so excited to learn everything that PEP has to offer and how to apply it in my life.

I have to show love to my family by getting out and leading by example. I am excited to show my wife and children what a true man, father and husband looks like. I made a promise to myself a couple of years ago that I would only engage in activities and programs that would benefit my growth as a man. This includes those I surround myself with as well.

Thank you PEP for accepting me into this program and for believing in my ability to grow and progress.

Joseph A (aka “Nicole Scherzinger”)