Estes Fall 2024 Weekly Journals

Week 15

Monday                                                                                            October 14, 2024 

Today was another great day in PEP, as always. We started the day off by dancing, getting the positive vibe and energy flowing through the room. Then we prayed in – Hallelujah! Today of all the days was blessed and memorable because we took a “names test” for everyone in our Infinity ’24 class. We also set a class record for the most people passing this particular test in recorded history with 37 people. As a reward for all of our hard work and dedication, the individuals who didn’t pass the test didn’t have to do any homework, so that was definitely a win.

After the test, we watched a Nooma video. It’s a Christian-based film about a variety of topics from the Bible. The videos are very informative and provide a healthy outlook on current cultural circumstances. We enjoyed the first half of class very much.

After we returned from lunch, we danced again before immediately jumping into graduation practice, where we focused on coordinating how we will walk the stage during the ceremony. We messed up once, but we should have it down by Friday. Everyone has to synchronize, but it’s all fun.

After that, we completed another BetterMan module led by David F., our class mentor/teacher, who gave another great sermon. We broke up into groups and spoke on individual views on the subject David F. lectured on, which touched on topics such as how to properly raise a child and the relationships you have with them and your wife. We also touched on trauma that we carry from our childhoods. At the end, one person from each group had to give a two-minute speech summarizing what their group had discussed. Then last but not least, we closed out the day with prayer.

Even though our semester is coming to an end, we realize that while this opportunity has definitely been a challenge, the growth in our class is undeniable. Our character has developed without a doubt – as always, the proof is always in the performance, and we performed with excellence. We are all looking forward to the progression that comes from PEP, with only four days left before we graduate to become Servant-Leaders for the next class. We all agree this has been the best experience any of us has ever encountered in a prison setting – it’s the PEP Revolution!

Joshua F. (aka “Lipton Ice-T”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                            October 15, 2024

Today was another great day in PEP. After we prayed in, we immediately jumped into the last part of Toastmasters Project #10. It has been eye opening in the progress we have been able to make in this short amount of time. At the beginning of class, a very select few were able to confidently approach the platform and deliver anything remotely resembling a speech. Now most of the class are showing what it means to be an eloquent speaker. Everyone who still needed to finish this requirement rement presented their speeches before we went to lunch. With the upcoming graduation looming, our collective nerves were showing as we prepare for the excitement of having our families coming and what will be happening throughout graduation day.

In the afternoon we didn’t have to come back to the classroom, so we were able to relax in the dorms. That didn’t mean that we were able to just do nothing though. Our business teams still wanted to polish their pitches and work out the remaining kinks. So that’s what we were able to do, and we held a few pitch panels to make sure that on Friday, we are confident with what we want to present. When we look back and see what it took to make all of this possible, it is humbling to know that we worked hard to get to where we are now. All of us are now brothers in something far bigger and better than what we may have been in before. Thank you PEP for this change that we all so desperately needed.

 Benjamin G. (aka “The Cowardly Lion”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                     October 16, 2024

It was a wonderful, “rollercoaster of emotion” kind of day in PEP. We started off with our dance that we do that gets everyone moving every time. We practiced our graduation walk, and the feeling of doing it is inexplicable. We had a very successful practice walk while having fun at the same time, so we were full of good energy while we settled down.

We were presented with a slideshow of a few PEP brothers who have already graduated – this is why it was a rollercoaster. PEP doesn’t just stop when we graduate; we really have to live it. Walking across the stage, there are two paths to head down afterwards. The first one being the “Fresh Start” Outlook that was given to us to show the world this isn’t just any program but a breath of fresh air breathed into our new life. This is the path that shows we can tear down these walls we’ve built over the years because we know we can – and will – do more! We also had a moment that felt heavy because we’ve seen pictures of a few brothers who are no longer with us. But the bonds we share with them are very much alive, and so are their memories. We took some time to understand the importance of this brotherhood.

There is no other place that allows us to come together like we do in our class. Both the wonderful staff we have and the care they show us have helped us grow. Having so much inspiration and all the PEP brothers backing us up and helping us strive to achieve our full potential is unmatched. We invite you all to experience just one event with us because you’ll be able to feel the energy we have simply by being ourselves. This alone will help break every stereotype that you’ve ever heard about us – just one day in our classroom for one event. We invite you to take a leap of faith and have this experience.

We finished out our day with one more practice run of our graduation walk before closing with a very special pray-out.

Ivan G. (aka “Scrap”)

 

Thursday                                                                                         October 17, 2024

Today was a high energy day because we graduate tomorrow! – and yet, the PEP journey is just beginning for us. Now we will become leaders and give back. Today was a “wild card” round for the teams that did not make it to the Business Plan Competition (BPC) the first round. They were given a chance to pitch their business plan ideas to a few executives and move on to the next round. Four of the eight teams made it: “Itz a Vibe,” “New Beginning Logistics,” “Splat” and “Key Ringer.” The high energy and creativity really showed.

From there, we moved on to the finals. Everybody has shown so much improvement and gave it their all, searching for a different perspective as everyone embraced a true “Fresh Start” Outlook. At the end of class, after we prayed out, we were able to mingle with the visitors, and it was a far different experience than anywhere else in TDCJ. It’s great to be part of a program that cares enough to help us wash off this old penitentiary mindset completely and be able to truly embrace something better. We know it’s one of the main reasons PEP works and why recidivism is so high without this program. If our minds are not renewed, it’s too easy to drift back to our old ways.

The people that come back and pour into us are crucial to our growth, and I don’t think they realize how much of a blessing they really are to us. Overall, today was a great experience.

Devon G.  (aka “Cinnamon Stick”)

 

Friday                                                                                               October 18, 2024

We did it! We are officially the graduating class of PEP at the Estes Unit 2024, otherwise known as INFINITY ’24!

Today was a full day of emotions. We had a lot of laughs, and we shed a lot of tears. We started the day in the cafeteria eating breakfast with some of the volunteers. We had pastries and REAL fruit! But that was just the beginning of the festivities. After taking pictures with some of the PEP staff and volunteers, we moved to the PEP classroom to start the Business Plan Competition (BPC). Of course, Dog-Gone Glamorous put on a great show, but honestly, every team performed with excellence, and everyone seemed determined to bring home that first place trophy!

Next, we ate lunch in the gym – oh, and it wasn’t the normal beans, carrots and whatever for chow. Nope! PEP blessed us graduates with Chick-fil-A sandwiches and potato chips, not to mention yummy Chick-fil-A sauce! After our incredible lunch, we went back to finish the BPC. It was definitely nerve-wracking, but our hard work and determination paid off in the final leg of this emotional rollercoaster of a race. Honestly, we could see it in each other’s eyes how proud we all were of each other! We can honestly say it didn’t matter who won 1st, 2nd, or 3rd because in our eyes, we were all winners!

Then it was time to get dressed in our caps and gowns. Wow! Looking around at us, it was quite a sight! We went from “hardened criminals” to “college-bound graduates” in a matter of months! Today was a day we all could hold our heads up high and be proud of ourselves for such an accomplishment. After the ceremony and walking the stage, we spent the rest of the day with our families. Thank you, PEP, for the life-changing experience.

Roger H. (aka “Ace Ventura”)

 

Expression

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

– Thomas Palmer

 

This week could be summed up as the well-known cliché above. We wrapped up the curriculum by finishing Toastmasters Project #10, an inspirational speech. The common theme was about failing at some point in life, something we all could identify with. The big difference between “failing” and “falling” is merely whether we decide to get back up or not. Each and every speech had a moment where an individual got back up, dusted off and strived to both learn and improve. This theme continued when entrepreneurs came through and discussed their personal failures in life that they learned from that fueled their success. Even Thomas Edison was no exception. He was asked why he kept going after failing a thousand times while creating the light bulb. He simply responded, “I didn’t fail, I merely found 1,000 things that didn’t work.” It was part of the process.

It was a perfect message for all of us at this point in the program. We just came to the end of the program and have become Servant-Leaders now. Some are wondering what we can do next – can we become like the entrepreneurs we spoke with? Some are even asking, “What if I fail?” We were given the answers to these questions this week, just when we needed them. God provides when we need things the most. It was undeniable how much this theme reared up in our program, personal conversations, and even the event and graduation.

In summary, it is never too late to make a change and conquer whatever life throws our way, regardless of past failures.

 Preston H. (aka “The Mask”)

 

Week 14

Week 14 

 

Monday                                                                                            October 7, 2024   

Today in PEP was great! We did not get started till after lunch today, so we had a little extra rest. When we got to the PEP room, we were all doing Toastmasters Project #10. This is an inspirational speech to motivate an audience to improve personally, emotionally, professionally or spiritually and relies heavily on emotional appeal. It brings the audience together in a mood of fellowship and shared desire, builds the audience’s enthusiasm and then proposes a change and appeals to the audience to adopt the plan. Also, this speech was eight to ten minutes long (a lot longer than the rest of our speeches). We had to meet all of the objectives to pass this speech’s requirements. The objectives were challenging, so it is awesome to see us knock these speeches out of the park. With that being said, we gave it our best and all of us did exceptionally well.  

It is awesome to see the amount of confidence we have when we get up there to speak, and it shows that we are learning and using the tools PEP gives us. It is not easy to get up in front of 70 people and speak with confidence. Then at the end of the day, we all received two assignments. One was to choose our favorite of PEP’s 10 Driving Values and explain why. The second assignment was to assign awards to our fellow classmates – a pretty fun and simple task, as we chose which guy best fit the category listed. For instance, we were asking “Who is Mr. Confidence?” and we chose which guy we feel shows this quality the most.  

Overall, it was a great day, and we cannot wait for tomorrow!                                      

Christopher C. (aka “Big Snacks”) 

 

Tuesday                                                                                            October 8, 2024 

We all have room for improvement, right? This is part of what PEP is all about: improving and helping each other grow and become successful men in the world upon release. Today, we started class by continuing to work through Project #10 in our “Competent Communication” manual in Toastmasters. It is truly amazing to see how each brother has come so far since we started. It is not easy getting in front of a class full of people and speaking on a microphone, but after 10 times, it becomes almost second nature. Then we took a test over the 10 Driving Values that form PEP’s foundation and which we now live by and will continue to do so upon release as well.  

Transitioning into the second half of class, we completed module nine in BetterMan which is personally one of my favorite classes. After we finished with that, we did a practice run of our graduation walk order, because graduation is right around the corner for us now. This has been an amazing journey and something that will never be forgotten. This program has helped save my life.  

We completed class and came back to the pod for a good workout. After that we went to dinner, followed by a pod meeting to introduce our new pod coach. It is always nice to see the turning of the page for new leaders to step up because we all have different leadership styles, so it’s cool to see what the next man brings to the table for us. It is great because men become greater men in here and we are honored to be a part of this transformation.      

Alexander C.  (aka “Mr. Crocker”) 

 

Wednesday                                                                                     October 9, 2024 

Today was a great day in PEP – it just keeps getting better as time goes on. We are all very proud of ourselves and have come a long way from standing in front of the room, sweating and stumbling over words, to giving flawless eight to ten-minute speeches. Today, each team went in front of the class to pitch the team’s business plan with the microphone. Now, we don’t usually use a microphone, so using it meant we could hear everything, which made it feel like we were listening to these pitches for the very first time. It was awesome and made a big difference.  

During the second half of class, we had a Servant-Leader meeting. Now, this was my first one, and it was way better than expected. I don’t know why we have such low expectations of things, but PEP keeps over-delivering, time and time again. Our topic was consistency. Maybe that’s why we will quit doubting what we expect from PEP.  

At the end of our meeting, we did this thing call a pray-out. It’s when one of our brothers is about to be released from TDCJ, and several of us have the chance to make a video for him for when he goes home and needs some encouragement, especially whenever he might be going through a rough time in the free world. One of our fellow classmates, James F., made it. Congratulations James F. and thank you PEP. 

Andrew D. (aka “The Monopoly Man”) 

 

Thursday                                                                                         October 10, 2024 

It is always an exceptional day being a part of PEP. Mornings are always brightened by the men’s ambitions for the new day, which brings with it new vibes throughout the community. Each man holds a significant role in the program so that the structure remains strong and stable, and it is in this structure that unity has taken place within the hearts and minds of the men. Today started with a great pray-in, honoring God for his mercy and grace that has been given to us all. This led to our morning “back of the room” dance-off to get the blood pumping. It is activities such as these that help men break out of their comfort zones. We enjoy it, especially for those who have no dancing bones in their body – it’s absolutely hilarious to watch. We have seen confidence and improvement rise in the men because of such bold actions as these. It is difficult enough to stand in front of a group of individuals and present a speech, but to dance your heart out takes it to a whole new level.  

Finishing the morning laughter, we moved onto the business for the day, with today’s topic being “interdependence.” This word means being mutually dependent on one another. We began by giving feedback on our own interpretation of the subject. It ranged from a wide variety of subjects and positions. At the end of the discussion, it was evident we all agreed that to become well-built men, we must remember that we are stronger together than we are apart.  

Our next agenda for the day was to design miniature T-shirts for the teddy bears that will be given to the children at Infinity 2024’s graduation. It is simply amazing what this program offers in the restoration of families, and it is truly heaven sent. A huge shout goes to the PEP Family Liaison Laura S. for all the hard work and effort she invests into the program. We are truly blessed! 

Daniel F. (aka “Holey Moley”) 

 

Friday                                                                                               October 11, 2024 

We began with a prayer to start the class on Friday, and what a fine prayer it was. Toastmasters was on the agenda for today, as we are finishing up Project #10. But first, we were called to practice our graduation walk. We all lined up in an orderly fashion around the room and proceeded to march to our assigned seating. Next, PEP leaders Chip S. and Adam W. will present a great speech to the class. After that, we will rise according to our assigned row and be called one by one to receive our much-appreciated diplomas. There will be another speech given by the class of Infinity 2024’s valedictorian. There is even a special treat of Chick-fil-A being served on graduation day – we are really appreciative of everything PEP has done for us.  

After we rehearsed the graduation walk, we moved on to Toastmasters. We began with a very inspirational speech given by Jeffery L., who spoke on making the most of life and having a vision for the future. Next, we had Caleb S., and his speech was about his religious experiences throughout his life and where he is today in his walk. He also spoke about coming to America and his struggles with that. Everyone did a great job.  

Next week is our last walk as the “current class,” because after that we will be Servant-Leaders! Thank you for reading this and have a great day!      

James F.  (aka “Rob Schneider”) 

 

Expressions 

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”  

-John Quincy Adams 

As a leader, be who you really are! 

When I enter a room, I bring Jeff the husband, Jeff the father, Jeff the prayer warrior, Jeff the athlete, Jeff the railroader, Jeff the sports fan … because frankly, I don’t know which Jeff will be the one that will connect and allow me the opportunity to take ownership the relationship in a proprietary way. Our authenticity is our distinct competitive advantage, and it is at the heart of powerful, impactful, influential leadership. It is imperative that we bring our authentic self to the table because when we do that as a leader, we motivate and inspire others to be their authentic selves.  

At the end of the day, we cannot lead if other people will not follow. In order to make that happen, we must build trust. How do we build trust? We simply deliver, over and over and over again. Think about those we trust – what do they do? They deliver! As a team leader, we must engage our team members to understand what they value. When we can grasp what they value, we can set ourselves up to deliver over and over and over again. Leadership demands that we answer the call for more than ourselves. Anytime we are in an environment where we can be who we really are, we always outperform even our own expectations.  

 Jeffery L. (aka “The Weatherman”) 

 

Week 13

Week 13 

 

Monday                                                                                           September 30, 2024  

Today was a great day in PEP. We are blessed to be here and part of this great program. Today, our morning started with prayer, followed by two guest speakers, who are ex-offenders still connected with PEP. They were telling us about their experiences before and after PEP. They were also talking about what they learned and accomplished, giving us a little insight into their own businesses. They explained their own struggles coming out from prison into the free world. They also talked about their dedication to being successful, their hard work and mindset. They brought us a lot of insights, motivation and hope of how anything is still possible. We were all excited and asked tons of questions.  

During the second half of class, we started Toastmasters Project #10, our final Toastmasters project. We had some great Toastmasters, and our topic was on “Inspiration.” This was our longest speech to deliver: 8-10 minutes. Everyone had a great time. We had some funny stories, with others more emotional ones, but everyone was confident and did a great job. There was a great sense of accomplishment. Every one of us broke our old cycles and fears of speaking in front of people, compared to when we first started this program. PEP has done a lot for us, including helping us break our old barriers and habits. It made us change our ways of life and ways of thinking, and we are truly thankful for this blessing God allowed us to have. 

Ramon C. (aka “Baby Shark”) 

 

Tuesday                                                                                            October 1, 2024 

Today, we had the BetterMan course. This is a course that really gives us spiritual eyes to see ourselves as God sees us. As we get closer to Him, He reveals to us how to be a Godly man – in our marriages, friendships, fatherly duties and even our work relationships. In getting to know our identities, we begin to have a ripple effect on all of our relationships. This has a positive impact on us and those around us as well as our communities as a whole. So many of us had found a false sense of identity due to lack of proper guidance. We took on these false identities and created chaos simply because chaos was truly leading us. With these new-found principles and guidance found and taught in BetterMan, we can clearly be led by our Father and courageously lead those we love.  

Today, we spoke about what it looks like to be a life-giving husband. Society will tell you to choose based on the outer appearance. However, God says the heart is what He is searching for. If this is true, then why do we continue to rebel? Well, after today, we now know that we have a lot to offer if we will simply humble ourselves before God and become a man that is an emotional connector, which will make our wives feel loved. Second, we learned how to be a spiritual initiator, which in turn makes our wives feel protected. Lastly, we learned that it is necessary to be a financial liberator so she feels free. A husband can be a difference maker when it comes to a wife’s life balance. You know what they say: “Happy wife, happy life!” 

Rocky C.  (aka “The Baked Potato”) 

 

Wednesday                                                                                     October 2, 2024 

PEP always has a lot to offer – from the actual entrepreneurship curriculum to BetterMan classes to Toastmasters, we are always challenged in one way or another. It could be an educational challenge or a character-building exercise, but it is always a rewarding experience. We do a lot of exercises that pull us away from our “prison mentality” and out of our shells. We really enjoy how this program prepares us to be always one step closer to our re-entry back to society. This is more than a “program” to us; it is conditioning us and preparing us for the free world and an opportunity to have some fun while being incarcerated. At the same time, we are being educated on very valuable information which we can take into the business world and start our lives or businesses in the right direction.  

Today during the first half of class we practiced our graduation walk in the beginning of class. We had five birthdays to announce today, so we sang the birthday guys “Happy Birthday” and showed some love to our fellow PEP brothers. After the graduation practice and birthday announcements, we had the opportunity to watch some feedback on workshop videos we put together for the executives. They provided us with much- needed and valuable critiques on areas of improvement we were recommended to work on or include in our business plan pitches.  

During the second half of class, we held Clubhouse, which gives us the opportunity to speak with visiting executives and have an open discussion with them. Today we discussed the differences and relationship between fitting in and belonging. 

Jefferson C. (aka “Captain Whack Sparrow”) 

 

Thursday                                                                                         October 3, 2024 

It was amazing today, even though we didn’t have class due to our In-Prison Management attending a PEP staff retreat Thursday through Saturday. So, we continued to grow and do our PEP assignments in the dorm. Today, we had a team meeting in the dorm, which we hold every Thursday. Team meetings are where the whole dorm comes together and breaks up into groups. Everybody has a group that includes either a Team Leader or Accountability Leader. In our groups, we have had table discussions where we talk about certain topics, so this week’s topic was on “selflessness,” alongside the supporting cast of self-discipline, understanding, mentorship, effective communication and effective listening. Every week it’s a different topic. We learned that selflessness is giving other people our time. Time is our most precious commodity, but once we become Servant-Leaders and mentors, time no longer belongs to us. Instead, it belongs to those we are chosen to lead. Once we have turned our eyes inward and discovered who we are as individuals, there comes a time when we have to look around and start applying all the things that we have learned by teaching others. To be selfless means to put others ahead of yourself. Leadership and mentorship are not for everyone because they requires true courage and discipline. It is easy to issue orders and make demands, but it is difficult when working to consider the emotions and wellbeing of those around you – but in the end, the results between the two approaches are like night and day.  

To be truly effective in anything that you are doing in your life having to do with business, family, friends and even yourself, a selfless attitude is a must. Work and nurture this with everything that you have, and the results will be astounding. Deep down inside each one of us is a desire to change and become better men. In order to achieve this, we need to be accountable to ourselves and others. Thank you for reading. 

Devin C. (aka “Fat Albert”) 

 

Friday                                                                                               October 4, 2024 

Today was another great day for PEP. We who had homework for failing the True North test had to turn that homework in at 8:00 am to our new pod coach, Antonio S. There was no class today because our leader Adam W. had a meeting at PEP’s corporate office to discuss plans for our upcoming graduation. Most of the brothers took advantage of this day to catch up on some extra sleep. Some of us went to the education department to get qualified for grants to go to college. We all went to lunch around 11:00 am., when we enjoyed beef links, beans, bread, mustard and mixed vegetables.  

We came back to the dorm and started our pitch panels for the upcoming Business Plan Competition (BPC). Derrick D. started as the CEO of Key Ringer, an app that helps find lost keys. Next was Paul C., the CMO of Miranda’s Transition Windows. Then we had Rocky C., CEO of Comb and Razor, a mobile barber shop. Next was Jefferson C., the CMO of It’s a Vibe, a mobile message truck. Then we had James F., the CFO of Quality Custom Cabinets. Next was Joshua F., COO of Paw Way to Heaven. Next to present was Benjamin G., the COO of New Beginnings Logistics, followed by Bryan G., the CMO of This Side of the Fence Logistics. We had every member of our current class in our dorm practice their pitches for us and then we went our separate ways – some to play games (dominos or chess), while others watched TV or went back to studying.  

It was a late night, so a lot of us got together to make a big meal out of our commissary. We all ate good and went to sleep because the day was over.  

Vincent C. (aka “Louis Armstrong”) 

 

Expressions 

Every man has a particular train of thought into which his mind falls, when at leisure, from the impressions and ideas which occasionally excite it; and if one train of thinking be more desirable than another, it is surely that which regards the phenomena of nature with a constant reference to a supreme intelligent author.”  

– Francis Bacon 

Much like the great pillars of the Temple, Joachim and Boaz, the justice and mercy of God create equilibrium or balance, and with this a sense of harmony. With this simplification of such a broad and far-reaching concept by the great thinker A. Pike comes an understanding that a single and perfect wisdom (God) presides over all. Through this experience, time of loss and time of gain, becoming a true man of sorrow, I’ve come to understand it as a blessing and path of divine architecture to wash ourselves of the understandings of old and to rise in new life and purpose.  

Life in the modern world has skewed lines between the understood dualities of light and dark, good and evil and even the basic concept of right and wrong, but even more ominous is that it is seemingly by design as well. The blueprints for such, littered with our own fingerprints and making us culprits (or at the very least complicit) in our own demise. As time has passed for us in this season of redemption, I’ve watched men embrace their imperfection and lack of understanding of themselves and of the world through a universal feeling amongst them. It was this feeling that brought them here. It was this feeling that said to them that something was not right with them, and that brought them to share this experience with one another in the here and now. It was this feeling that said, “Here is your crossroads, your crux – will you choose the path to the left or the right?” This phenomenon is clearly “The Supreme Intelligent Author” spoken of by Bacon. In my own imperfect resurrection of sorts, things of this nature provide moments of clarity as the sense of equilibrium becomes even more apparent. 

In closing, what I’ve witnessed in this winking of an eye has been an evolution of men into an understanding of dormant value, and it has beauty and value that only God could invoke through that “universal feeling.” My only hope in this is that its observance and appreciation was and is just as universal among its benefactors. 

Thad C. (aka “Crash Bandicoot”) 

 

Week 12

Week 12

 

Monday                                                                                            September 23, 2024

Today in PEP we took our last test on Living in the Village. We have come to realize that our class is getting close to graduation. We only have about 20 days until graduation, and we are all feeling pretty proud of ourselves. After we finished the test, we moved on to Project #9 in Toastmasters.

Toastmasters is one of our favorite things to do. Not only do we enjoy getting up there and speaking to the class but also hearing the speeches from all our fellow brothers. They are all so interesting and informative. Some of the things they talked about were mind blowing! For example, today one of the guys chose to talk about the power of active listening. His presentation was so well put together it left me saying “wow!” The points he made were very strong, and he made sure we understood both the meaning of it and how it helps you connect with people. He said that as humans, we are all social creatures and that at the end of the day, we all want to be appreciated and heard.

At the end of class, one of our Servant-Leaders talked about PEP’s 10 Driving Values which is the core on which this organization stands. He was on point and explained how much they can help if applied to our lives. We have all studied the values, and we will be tested on these pretty soon. Accountability is the most important value to us because it is important to anyone who wants to be successful.

Thank you for reading this and God bless all!

Britton A. (aka “Bubba Gump”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                           September 24, 2024

During our morning class session, we joined in on one of our professional settings called Toastmasters. Thanks to the objectives in Project #9, our task was to persuade listeners to adopt our individual viewpoint or idea and motivate them to act. Listening to our fellow classmates today, we heard a lot of great ideas and pretty much understood the logic behind the viewpoints they shared. Our class’s growth and development with speaking professionally in a public setting is remarkable. There were times when we used to freeze up or forget the point we were trying to convey due to nervousness. Now we communicate confidently and smoothly, reaching our objectives with modified word choice. Congratulations to our fellow Toastmasters of the Sanders Estes Fall Class of 2024, and sincere appreciation to the lead Toastmasters for their leadership and dedication.

Moving along to our second half of class, due to our upcoming event we presented and voted on each team’s business pitch. It was very enjoyable to witness the growth and development of this phase as well. Learning to work together as a team combined with public speaking was once a challenge. However, we’ve overcome that struggle too.

Today was fun but very professional as we embraced our the challenge with due diligence and honor. Our class has strived for growth and character development, and we displayed its fruit today. It was a wonderful day, and another day closer to completing our mission to graduate to our next phase in this program.

Thank you for this privilege to share my perception of today’s course.

Derrick B. Jr.  (aka “Day Day”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                     September 25, 2024

We began our morning with Ronald H. praying us in. After our pray-in, every class member was given the microphone and shared what his expectations are upon release, and it was inspiring to hear. We have all grown so much since class began, and PEP has clearly impacted our lives and propelled us toward a bright future and a desire to strive for success.

Next on the agenda, we transitioned over to BetterMan. This week’s topic of discussion was “a real man courageously follows God’s Word.” The topic broke down the spiritual seasons of a man’s life, as well as the necessity for us to seek to be around other men of faith and diligently seek God’s Word. After David F. facilitated the class, we broke into groups and discussed what we had learned. After our group time, we broke for lunch.

For the second half of class, we held Clubhouse for our Infinity ’24 class. Today’s discussion topic presented at Clubhouse was trust. The volunteers were very engaging and brought up a lot of good points about trust and what trust actually means. We learned that trust is when you believe that someone will act in a certain way in a certain situation, and that trust can take on different forms depending on the circumstances. We also learned that the key elements of trust are reliability, integrity and vulnerability. It was a great character-building exercise. Once Clubhouse ended, we prayed out. But before we left, we were shown the graphic design that will represent Infinity ’24 class on the wall. The design was fantastic, and everyone seemed to like it. Overall, it was a great day, as always.

Gary B. (aka “Yard Gnome”)

 

Thursday                                                                                         September 26, 2024

It’s always a great day in PEP. We didn’t have class today, so what we did in the dorm was as follows: first, we broke up into six groups to discuss a topic. We then had an opportunity to share how we understood the topic. For example, today we reviewed “tact,” and my understanding is that it’s the way you might approach someone. Things such as body language, tone and attitude, along with your choice of words, can change the whole dynamic of the conversation and affect the outcome.

After we went over that, next was our “360 report,” where we point out a few things someone in our group can improve on. The reason we point out these areas of needed growth is because we tell each other about the positive every day, but we never really take the time to address the negative in us. So, we use this time to go over that information, using the 10 Driving Values as our model. For example, we will say which Driving Value we see is a strength in someone, like Integrity, and one Driving Value the person is lacking in, like Fun. This means the person needs to improve on the Fun part by coming out of his shell a little bit and having a little bit of fun so that he’s not always so serious. From there, we point out a negative character trait, like isolation, because he spends most of his time in his cell – so we encourage him to get a little more involved in the dorm.

That is a little bit about our day here in PEP. Graduation is around the corner, but we are taking it all in, one day at a time.

Luis C. (aka “Rafiki”)

 

Friday                                                                                               September 27, 2024

Today was one of the greatest days we have ever had and shared as a group of brothers, thanks to PEP. We had an event with many executives from many different businesses where we could show all of what we have learned in PEP. We did this by coming together with our teammates and presenting our pitches. As a brotherhood, we realized and saw the change in ourselves, and it was very inspiring. After presenting our pitches, we got to have one-on-one conversations with the executives and received a lot of good feedback on our ideas. We also got some new views and ideas for our business ideas. It was very gracious of these executives to take time out of their busy schedules to share their time, advice and ideas to help us in our future endeavors.

Also, we had a fun pitch event activity to do with the executives where we had to come up with a business pitch about selling ice to Eskimos. It was a lot of fun watching how smart the executives are and how quickly they could come up with ideas. We’ve really enjoyed our time here in PEP and can’t wait to use what we have learned when we are released. We are changed men and cannot wait to show our families what kind of businessmen we have become – we know they will be proud of us.

A big “thank you!” to the PEP brotherhood and all the executives that came out to teach us. God bless you all.

Paul C. (aka “Sugar Baby”)

 

Expression

“There was a war inside me between the need to be fulfilled and the desire to be successful in my father’s eyes and in the eyes of society.”

– Randy Komisar

Many men have faced fighting an undeclared war within ourselves. Many times, I have run from reality but couldn’t outrun the consequences. Growing up without a father, I always sought to be successful in the eyes of my father. This was very hard because I wasn’t successful, at least from my perspective, so I quickly tied my identity to materialistic items. I believed that without these items, society wouldn’t accept who I was.

Many people say they’ve lost sight of themselves by chasing worldly desires. Why do we lose ourselves in these wars within ourselves? How do we measure success?  Are we the people that make up the society we look to be accepted by? The main thing to remember is to seek your heavenly Father’s acceptance because He is the one who brings you fulfillment and true happiness that comes with peace. But peace is only appreciated when we have been through the misery that comes from chasing success.

I too have done this – and the ones who I truly cared for didn’t recognize the person I became. The minute it takes to change all that is when you fully surrender yourself to your Lord and Savior: that is when the war is over (or just beginning)!

I invite you to take a leap of faith that many men and women have taken before me. Walking with Christ will make your path straighter and easier to follow.

Ivan G. (aka “Scrap”)

 

Week 11

Monday                                                                                            September 16, 2024

PEP is not just a program. It is a revolution we are all so proud to be a part of because the movement transforms lives, restores families and rebuilds communities. Today was another great Monday, and one of the most important parts of the class is when Bruce T. comes to teach us financial literacy through a book called Living in The Village. It’s written by Ryan C. Mack, and he is very well known. Bruce T. goes over a few chapters with us each week, and then we test over what he taught us the following week. Today, we took a test on two chapters on where the best place is to invest (the stock market, real estate, business, gold and oil etc.); we also learned about diversifying our assets and earnings, how to evaluate mutual funds, running certain analyses and the three major investment stages.

We also watched some Dave Ramsey videos about how to repair credit. Dave Ramsey talked about how it is unnecessary to hire someone to do this and often is a total scam! Instead, you open a bank account and pay toward any negative marks on your credit, which could be things like hospital bills or old phone bills. He also spoke about disputing charges. If you dispute a charge and they don’t respond within 30 days, then the negative mark will automatically be removed.

Also, today in the second half of class, we had a special visit from a fellow brother who graduated in 2015: Don D., who is a business owner, came to give the ultimate gift back by volunteering his time to hang out with us and coach us on our pitches. He explained how he received a loan through Entre Capital, and it was reassuring to hear a first-hand account of someone achieving their dreams through PEP. It was a great and enlightening experience.                               

Nickolaus S. (aka “B-Rad”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                           September 17, 2024

It was a great day as it always is in PEP, so let me fill you guys in on what we did today. We first finished up on the rest of the Toastmasters speeches that we had left for Project #8. The topic of the speech was about getting comfortable with visual aids. Everyone’s speeches were very inspirational, and everyone had a good time showing their pictures to the class. Having these visual aids such as pictures really helped the speakers execute their speeches. They got up there and talked about their families and jobs and what we do for fun out there in the world. It has been awesome to see how far these men have progressed in the business plan pitches as well.

Later in the second half of class, we watched a video called BetterMan, which is a very informational series about what it means to be a better father and person overall. It helps give us tools to use as we learn to be that man. We talked about the four qualities of having a good life, and then we split into small groups to discuss those qualities. After that, we all got in the front of the class and spoke about what we learned in those discussions. We also got to hear from our In-Prison Character Development Specialist David F., who had some very inspirational messages to share with the class. He helps us realize that success is possible because he has been exactly where we are in our lives now and sat in these same chairs. He graduated from PEP, was released and has started a new chapter in his life.

Overall, it was a great day. Thank you for reading this!

Michael T. (aka “Selena Gomez”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                     September 18, 2024

Today we attended a Clubhouse meeting, which is something we all look forward to. We get to talk to executives that dedicate their time to help us better ourselves. The topic of our conversation today was “Purpose.” Volunteers Melissa and Scott offered a lot of great feedback and insight on our purpose in life, including our spiritual life, our social life, our career, our physical health, our service to others, our family, our finances and our mental health.

Of those, some of the topics generated a lot of conversation. One of those was finding purpose through spirituality, which refers to faith, understanding and source of inspiration. The class felt that finding purpose through the relationships with family through spending quality time with them and enjoying general closeness are imperative to finding your purpose. Being of service to others was another important topic to the class; we consistently emphasized our desire to give back to the communities we came from. Lastly, the class felt that prioritizing mental health was another important part of finding purpose. We brought up a lot of good ways to prioritize our mental health, such as meditation, prayer and exercise.

It’s incredible to see how far we’ve come as a class in such a short time. We were already looking forward to next week’s Clubhouse, even as today’s Clubhouse meeting was coming to an end. This class has been the experience of a lifetime, and there’s still more to come.

Jordan W. (aka “Miley Cyrus”)

 

Thursday                                                                                         September 19, 2024

Today we kicked off a “mini-event” with a panel of distinguished guests from Bank of America by giving them a warm, “back of the room!” PEP welcome. This consisted of having all nine guests dance down the center aisle, making their way to their seats. These executives joined us today with enthusiastic anticipation ready to hear our business pitches, just as much as we were eager to deliver them. PEP’s Executive Relations Managers Mercury B. and Mike E. drove the event. They gave a moving presentation on PEP’s mission, values and objectives, accompanied by colorful charts that reflect the successes of this very program, including reducing recidivism; creating meaningful changes and transforming our lives; and restoring families by preparing us to reunite with our loved ones and our communities.

After Mercury B. and Mike E. gave that insightful presentation to us and the executives, we jumped right into the pitch panel. This experience was surreal, in that it closely resembled Shark Tank! After each pitch, we were given meaningful feedback from the executive panel – and I mean honest, raw “leave your mask at the door” feedback, because these guests want nothing more than to see us succeed.

At the close of the event, we were confronted with the task of naming our graduation class. The energy of the room could be compared to a thought raging with fever. As we yelled across each other to cast our votes, we elected representatives for each leading name to campaign for it. With passion like fire in the bones, we unanimously reached a decision: by popular demand, ESFL’24 is now called “Infinity”!

American democracy, along with a dash of free market enterprise, was on full display today within the walls of a small prison in North Texas, brought to us by PEP. Just when you thought this program couldn’t get any better …

Who are we? PEP!

Where do we live? Between the wings!

Where do we want to go? Home!

Tommy A. (aka “Happy Gilmore”)

 

Friday                                                                                               September 20, 2024

There was no class today, but you would not have been able to tell. If you were looking around the pods, you would see everyone working on something, whether it be Toastmaster Project #10, homework or polishing our business pitches for our next event. As a class of the Prison Entrepreneurship Program, we encourage each other to achieve so we can be the best that we can be. We strive to equip human beings to achieve their full potential – that is part of our “Fresh Start” Outlook, one of our 10 Driving Values. With that being said, we spent the entire morning and a good portion of the afternoon working on the classroom curriculum.

Since it is Friday and we have worked so hard throughout the week, we spent the second half of our day having some “Fun,” so we held a dominoes tournament – super exciting and lots of fun. Here in PEP, we also believe that work is an important part of life and should be fun and rewarding. The winner of our tournament got the bragging rights to call himself “The Domino Champion.” We try to maintain a balance between hard work and our personal lives. When it comes down to supporting each other to achieve that balance, that’s what we are here for.

As we move closer to our graduation, we are very proud of this path that we have taken through PEP. We also understand that graduation is not where it ends, but where our new journey will begin. 

Phillip A. (aka “Escaleto”)

 

Expressions

“For in much wisdom is much vexation,

and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.”  

– Ecclesiastes 1:18

All my life, I was told “knowledge is power.” I was also told that once you know something, nobody can take that away from you. Knowledge has always been a subject that has captivated my interest because there is such a vast expanse that fits under the umbrella of “knowledge.” I read once that if you tell me the last five books you read, I can figure out your profile. Now I am not saying that I agree with the statement, but it did make me think. After reading that, I became watchful of what books I put in my collection.

Wisdom is a thing that I search for daily. If one had to choose between having knowledge and wisdom or being ignorant, which would be chosen? Personally, I would rather have the knowledge and wisdom with the accompanying vexations of life instead of being “blissfully ignorant.” Since the choice was made for wisdom and knowledge, whatever comes with it, I am willing to bear the burden. I am a seeker of the truth, and I search for it with passion. This process began with self-reflection. There had to be an honest assessment of my strengths and weaknesses; that was the hardest part of my journey. Once I was able to address my weaknesses, I was able to work on them and turn them into strengths by figuring out whatever I was lacking and attempting to acquire it.

My mission is to be the best version of myself so I can be the person that is needed in my family and community. This quest for knowledge and wisdom has helped me learn that I will only be able to touch the tip of the iceberg. But with humility, I can acknowledge my shortcomings and strive to be the man that God intended. One can never know everything, and I know enough to realize how little I know.

 Bryan G. (aka “Fred Sandford”)

Week 10

Monday                                                                                          September 9, 2024    

It is always a wonderful day here in PEP, so let me tell you all about it! Today we went over Living in the Village, and we tested over the last two chapters of this book that has been our personal finance portion of the class. We’ve all enjoyed it and have had a wonderful instructor dedicated to helping us build a solid financial future, which will strengthen our families and communities.

After we tested, we transitioned over to Toastmasters. We started Project #8 from our Competent Communication manual. The objective was to use visual aids with our speeches. Only about half of us got the chance to present because of time restraints. But it is amazing to see how far we have come in this program.

Our confidence grows each and every day. We are all proud of each other for getting this far and continuing on, and we are all preparing for the Pitch Day event coming up this month. Everyone is excited, and this too is an amazing thing to be a part of. The creativity and execution that each group brings to the event will be an amazing thing to see. We are no longer the men we used to be, and each day here in PEP helps mold us into being great men. We have fun and grow together, and the experience has been priceless.

We finished up with class, went back to our dorms and held pitch panels to sharpen our pitches so we can execute them with excellence! Thank you, and God bless.                                

Isiah R. (aka “Cole from Martin”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                           September 10, 2024

It was an early start to the morning as we made our way to the PEP classroom. Today success filled the air and smiles were on everyone’s faces as we made it to our room. It is really an honor to be surrounded by all my PEP brothers. While we continued to find our seats, they called for all people with glasses and beards to file to the back of the room and dance to the front as usual. It was time to open our hearts to some dance moves and get loose. We then prayed in and started a productive day.

We will be tested over the chapters we have been studying out of Living in the Village today because some of us did not get to test yet. After all that, we went back to the dorm while we waited to go to lunch. Today was chicken day, which is everybody’s favorite day it seems like.

Transitioning over to the second half of class, we started Toastmasters. We are on Project #9. The speeches were very informative, and we learned quite a bit about everything from child support to an animal called an Otter. With the big Pitch Day event around the corner, we’ve received more pitch sheets to get signed so we can nail down our pitches when it comes time – everyone seems to be getting their pitches down with few if any mistakes.

We are all ready for the event and are striving to get to graduation so we can continue our journey forward.  

Billy R.  (aka “Mojo JoJo from Power Puff Girls”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                     September 11, 2024

Today we got a chance to sleep in because there was a Servant-Leader meeting this morning. We got to do a character assessment on everyone who is in PEP, from the current class to Servant-Leaders. Some of the men in the current class were chosen to be new team leaders, which was really cool to see. Those selected had to go to the Servant-Leader meeting this morning and get some training on how to be a team lead and what is expected. We are about three quarters of the way through with this class now and its moving fast. Those who did not attend were able to finish up last week’s “heart check” assignment.

The second half of class today, we had an event called Clubhouse. This is when a few executives come in and discuss a topic with us. The topics for today were passion, vision and talents. We talked about what we are good at, what we love, and what the world needs more of. A lot of us talked about what we covet the most and how passionate we are about it. Some of us have a lot in common, including how we plan to pursue these things when we are released. We also talked about our dreams and how we are going to find joy in what we do. The feedback from the executives was awesome to hear as they explained how they used their talents and passion to find a career that they love.

After class, we went back to our living quarters. Some did their daily workouts while others were busy studying. We all have put in a lot of work to get to where we are today, and this program has helped us in so many different ways. As graduation nears, you can feel the excitement in the air as we continue to strive toward the finish line in this part of our lives. The journey doesn’t stop there though; it’s just the beginning.      

Joe R. (aka “Shakira”)

 

Thursday                                                                                         September 12, 2024

This week was one of the hardest yet for the class because we had to complete our
“3-3-3” assignment, which consists of copying three sections from our study guide. These sections are the AP Stylebook, Business Vocabulary, and Personal Finance Terminology. Sometimes, what seems so simple in life is just a bump in the road. What this has taught us is to manage our time and not lose track of our goals. While the assignment is to be done individually, the men in this class consistently motivated one another.

Today we will finish this round of speeches; everyone seems confident, and the presentations have drastically improved. We are also working on our pitches because the next big event is coming soon. Learning to manage time and constantly working on self-improvement seems to be the nature of this program. From PEP’s 10 Driving Values to all the assignments in general, this class has a lot to offer and to learn from. This mentality, along with the spirit of being a better individual, is clearly visible through our PEP brothers.

Our time as students is progressively coming to an end. We are transitioning to becoming Servant-Leaders to help inspire the next class of brothers. These are our aspirations, and together we are achieving these goals and dreams one step at a time. We would like to thank all of the volunteers who take time out of their day to motivate and advise us. Without them, this program would not function.

Rafael S. (aka “Broke Curry”)

 

Friday                                                                                               September 13, 2024

After a very intense week, Friday finally came! Today we did not have class, so we took advantage of having the day off by getting some much-needed rest (especially our hands after that “3-3-3” heart check assignment – LOL!). We also held pitch panels in the dorms to get ready for our next pitch event. All of us did a great job delivering pitches today. Then we gave feedback to each other, and we strongly supported each other like we always do.

One of the things we like most about PEP is the fact that we mainly focus on our character and personal development throughout the program. For example, today we went to commissary in the morning, and those PEP brothers who were unable to get commissary were blessed with whatever they needed. This is what the PEP brotherhood is all about: showing love to our PEP brothers and being willing to help those in need.

Speaking of Love, that is the first of our 10 Driving Values, and we spent part of the day studying them like we do every other Friday. We combine the importance of learning with fun and exercise in the dorm. This is the way we practice and learn: we challenge each other to correctly define a Driving Value without reading any flash card or notes, along with using the correct pronunciation, punctuation, etc. Whoever omits any of these requirements has to do 10 push-ups as a friendly punishment. For all of us, we never knew how strong we were until being strong was the only choice we had. PEP was that choice.

Victor S-C. (aka “Major Lame”)

 

Expressions

“If you have any thoughts about starting your own business …

hurry up, we need you!”

– Ryan Mack

Many are chosen, but few answer the call. It is up to us as men to equip ourselves as well as we can for the adversity we will face in life. A man’s values, principles, and morals will be reflected in his walk. Therefore, it is imperative for him to sow good seeds into both his mind and spirit.

Every man wants to create a legacy, not only physically, but through rich, lesson-oriented memories passed down from past experiences to help guide his family. I believe leaving behind a business is the best and most intimate way of passing on financial stability, but it must be tended to and properly structured to succeed. This only happens through integrity, hard work and dedication. In the past, I tended to neglect the responsibility that was bestowed on me as head of the household. I wasted talent that I had and was letting them slip away through neglect and apathy. However, sometime during my incarceration, God opened my eyes to the value of myself. Along the way, I’ve learned my purpose and how to obtain it through entrepreneurship, as well as how to finally become an asset to myself and my family rather than a liability; it feels amazing and life-altering.

We dictate our life’s journey. By gaining useful employment skills in entrepreneurship, we can guarantee a better and brighter future. I will close out with this saying: “God is a waymaker, but it is us who have to take the steps.”

Caleb S. (aka “Bobby Hill”)

 

Week 9

Monday                                                                                           September 2, 2024

Today is Labor Day, so we did not have class today. However, we held study groups for our Chapter 14 test out of the entrepreneurship textbook. It’s our final test, so this is our last chance to improve our GPAs for this class. We are all shooting for the best scores possible. Then we went to lunch and had cheeseburgers with pickles and all the condiments. We also had strawberry cake, which was delicious. We were full and the quality was pretty good too, so we were thankful for that.

Our team leader also tested our knowledge with a promise of homework for not knowing the Ten Driving Values and mission statement of PEP. Only the mission statement we had to define and thank God we made it as a team because no PEP brother will be left behind. Here we are committed to having integrity and we will lead by example. We as a whole try to exemplify each and every value everyday here. Then we had to regroup and started to rehearse our pitches and then we worked on our Toastmasters speeches coming up. We have a lot going on right now and are being pushed to do our best on all our tasks. We also have group sessions this evening and will work on effective communication so we can understand each other better. Tonight, is my groups turn to do the cleaning in the dorm so will knock that out as well. We definitely are going to sleep good tonight and wake up refreshed and ready to put in another day to become better men!

Julian O.  (aka “Samuel Wackson”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                            September 3, 2024

Today was another really good day here in PEP! This morning, we were expecting to take the test for Chapter 14, but then things changed and we started on Workshop #2 instead. The workshop was really productive, and the main purpose was to help develop teamwork in each of the 16 groups. Each group is made up of three or four different people who have one common goal: to effectively present a business plan to a panel of executives and potential investors. We cannot wait to pitch our ideas to the volunteer executives that come in. We have been working together on our business plans and doing our best to get them perfect. The group presentations were really fun and interesting. We finished up and went to lunch and then went back to the dorm.

After that, we went back to the classroom and got into our groups and worked on our upcoming 10 Driving Values test. These values we are learning are really important and, when applied, can help us break through our bad habits and replace them as we build on the good ones we are learning.

Class was fun today; we had a couple funny moments when some guys had to dance to the front of the classroom, which is always uplifting. We don’t ever really have dull days here in PEP. It’s nice to be a part of something like this. We are building healthy relationships with other men that can help us shake off the old us and move on with our lives.

Thank you for reading this, and God bless everyone!

 Johnathan P. (aka “Ray Mysterio”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                     September 4, 2024

Today was a pretty good day. We started off making coffee and getting ready for the day in the dorm this morning. Some of us were reading our Bibles; others were studying for upcoming tests; and still other PEP brothers were watching the news. We waited for Adam W. to come and get us for class, and he showed up right on time. We all filed out to the PEP classroom. We then prayed into class as usual with a good prayer to start the class off right. It was awesome to hear, and we then were told to get into our groups to go over our business plans and adjust them as needed. It was cool (and we think our team has a really good chance of winning the competition) because we put in a lot of thought and soul into our pitch. All the work we put in showed when we got in front of the class to practice delivering our pitch. All the guys on my team spoke flawlessly! We really are setting a standard for the other teams in our class. Speaking of the other teams, every single team got up there and pitched their ideas like they have been doing this their whole lives – it was awesome!

After all that, we watched a BetterMan video. It was inspirational and hit home for the fathers we have in class. He spoke about being a father and how his childhood was not perfect, but his dad taught him to step up and do his best at whatever task he takes on. Then we went back to the dorm and prepared for the pitch panel practice in the dorm. Thank you for reading this, and have a great day!  

Dairan P. (aka “Chris Rock”)

 

Thursday                                                                                         September 5, 2024

Today we started class with the Word of the Day, which was “Revolution” and what it means to us. Dan W. came to the front of the class and spoke to us about some of the rules and upcoming tests. This morning really flew by as we enjoyed a cup of coffee and laughed a bit. Adam W. spoke to us about how well we as a class have been doing and that he’s proud of us. He also told us to keep pushing through and that we are almost to graduation, where the actual journey begins.

However, we had no idea that we were getting a surprise today. There is something called a 3-3-3 in PEP, also called a “heart check.” This is a writing assignment which the current class will complete by the deadline. It really tests how much you want to change and be a part of PEP. To say the least, it’s a lot of writing on business vocabulary, personal finance terminology and our AP Stylebook. We have to remember what we are working toward: being a changed man that puts in the work to become a great man of integrity. We want to be both PEP brothers and productive members of society.

This class has been baptized by PEP in a way because most of us are going to be completely different men when we leave this place. Some of the guys have finished the 3-3-3 already while others are still working hard on it. Today was an awesome day, and we are working to get ready for the Business Plan Competition!     

Cesar R.  (aka “Russell”)

 

Friday                                                                                               September 6, 2024

Every day in PEP is a learning experience. Today, outside entrepreneurs came into the Estes Unit and spoke to us, giving us some advice and sharing some of their knowledge on mission and vision. A number of us asked them some questions and told their stories of trials and tribulations. Everyone had great inspirational speeches, but the true inspiration received was from seeing how we’ve progressed and how we have all grown throughout the relatively short amount of time we have been here in the program.

We learned that a person must see value in himself. Some of us really wanted to ask a couple of questions while others tended to listen more than talk. It felt thrilling and exciting to meet PEP’s CEO in person. We can really identify with him, considering he has been incarcerated and has overcome obstacles and tribulations in his own life.

It takes a certain determination to strive for excellence and thrive by developing a mindset of free world entrepreneurs. We got a lot out of this PEP Clubhouse time, and we look forward to the next Clubhouse event offering knowledge and life advice.

After we left the Clubhouse, we went back to the dorm and worked on our pitches with a pitch panel before studying our Living in the Village workbooks to prepare for next week’s test. We continue to look forward to what tomorrow will bring because here, we are building a brotherhood that will last us the rest of our lives.

Christopher R. (aka “Gizmo”)

 

Expressions

“I am the light of the world; he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

– Jesus Christ (John 8:12)

God gave light to the earth in the beginning during creation. He also illuminates our hearts by forcing out the darkness that dwells in it. He does this through Scripture and his teachings. The Bible tells us that God’s Word is a lamp to my feet, leading us to the life God wants us to live, one where we are close to him. Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, His Spirit will come into our hearts to begin the process of pushing out the darkness. In the process of his light illuminating our hearts, we will start to manifest the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

I believe strongly that love is the most important one of these, since love is God’s greatest attribute. I try to follow Jesus’s example when it comes to illuminating the world around me, showing people love and charity every chance I get. No matter the situation, I strive to be gentle and compassionate with everyone I encounter. I know that love is one of the biggest things our world is lacking, so I try my best to show people what God wants from us. I do this by helping people realize that even in dark times like these, when we’re away from our loved ones and unsure about our futures, we can still laugh and smile. We can pick each other up and shine our lights on one another, just as God has done for us.

Following God’s light leads to eternal salvation through belief that he loved us so much that he died on the cross, suffering a horrible death while living a fully human life. It’s this promise of salvation that inspires me to be there for others, just like He was for all of us. Through daily reading of God’s Word, prayer and thinking less of ourselves and more of others, I hope to become more Christ-like, forever following His light.

 Kristopher R. (aka “Smeagol”)

Week 8

Monday                                                                                            August 26, 2024 

Each day in PEP is an informative and exciting one. Like every Monday, we took the Living in The Village test, which most of us love taking because it is a way to test what we learned about personal finance from Chaplain Bruce T. Here in L-dorm, we are surrounded with great Servant Leaders and class members that help each other tremendously, especially the group that studies every week together. What was different about today was that we took the test in the morning, and then Bruce T. taught us the material for next week’s test in the afternoon rather than the other way around.  It was a nice change of pace from the usual schedule. We love to hear what Bruce T. has to say when he teaches our class. For some of us, it is our favorite part of the week because personal finance is something we will use, regardless of whether we start a business once we are released. The best part? We all got good scores on our test today.

Funny how things ended up working out in the end, despite a few mishaps along the way – we just had to not freak out and trust in the Lord. Today was a success no doubt and a learning experience for all.

Sergio M. (aka “Kumar”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                            August 27, 2024

Here in PEP, we have been learning about the 10 Driving Values that PEP stands on. There are three Driving Values that we feel we are good at using on a daily basis. The first value is Love, which we show every day in class – from Servant Leaders to class members, it is very evident. Our In-Prison Manager and Character Development Specialist show lots of love to us in many different ways as well. The second one is Fun because there is never a dull moment throughout our day. The fun we have is unlimited once our lesson or our objective is complete. Last but not least, there is Accountability. Actually, holding ourselves and our fellow classmates accountable is one of the ways we show love for one another. We do this because we care about each other, and we are all trying to become better men together. Today has been fun and full of love – and all the while, we have been holding each other accountable.

We just finished Toastmasters Project 6, and all the guys did awesome and delivered some truly motivational speeches. Most of us have never had the chance to speak like this, so we are trying our best and having fun at the same time. We have come a long way, and every day we spend in class is informative as we continue to learn new things.

We then got into our business plan groups and had discussions about our pitches and how we are going to execute them going forward. We all really enjoy being part of a team and are trying to win the competition. Today was another great day here in PEP!

 Edward M. (aka “Master Splinter”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                     August 28, 2024

Hello there! We are reporting live from the awesome Prison Entrepreneurship Program in Venus, Texas. It is a beautiful day here, and today we stayed in the dorm due to a Servant Leader meeting that took place this morning. Here in H dorm, our PEP brothers have been having a fabulous daily pitch panel run by our Servant Leaders, and it has been helping us in many different ways. We’ve heard from a bunch of different groups that they all are getting better and better as we hone our skills, which in turn is making these pitches super professional. We are all blown away by the dedication these men display towards these business plans. If they become actual businesses in the world, we would love to visit and see the “dream that came alive” in person. These brothers are working very hard on these plans, and it is a future that is possible for each of us.

We have been in the dorm being very productive all day long. From cleaning up the dorm to study groups for our next entrepreneurship tests and future panning, we all are working together and becoming a brotherhood that will impact all of us in a positive way in the future. We are going to do Toastmasters in the dorm today, so that is something to look forward to. It is really cool to hear all of these guys’ speeches. Some are very informative on certain subjects, and others teach us life skills we might need one day. Thanks to PEP, our futures are a lot brighter!

Christopher N. (aka “Kevin from Home Alone”)

 

Thursday                                                                                         August 29, 2024

Today in PEP, we reviewed Chapter 14 on franchising and purchasing an existing business with Rob M., our guest volunteer. Rob M. elaborated very well and explained the elements of franchising and the process of buying a franchise, including general and specific questions. A fun exercise that we did was to show how working together benefited both parties in the game: we faced each other, shoulder to shoulder, and stepped our right foot on the outside of the opposite side of our partner while locking hands. Everyone participated, and we had a lot of laughs. When we do fun activities such as this, it can remind us of good times we had as kids. We all have a bond now that is strong, and we all feel comfortable showing our silly sides. Unfortunately, our class will be coming to an end soon and all these fun small moments, so rare in prison, will be in the past.

Today’s word of the day was “responsibility.” Our emcees shared some personal information of what happens when we choose to respond selfishly rather than taking care of business. We were moved by what was shared and reminded that a few of our 10 Driving Values require us to take responsibility for ourselves.

There are two halves of class each day Monday through Friday, but today we only had the first half, so in the dorm we shared our business pitches with one another. By doing our homework and studying in our free time, we are always busy. We often say to each other that this is an amazing experience, and we can’t wait to step up to be leaders for the next group of PEP brothers.

Otoniel N. (aka “Member of B.T.S.”)

 

Friday                                                                                               August 30, 2024

As we draw nearer to the Big Pitch Competition, 16 teams have the opportunity to practice together in front of the entire class. The teams consist of four members: a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), a Chief Operating Officer (COO), a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and a Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Every man has a designated position, and we all contribute to the team with these roles. The challenges can be difficult to overcome due to our limitations with market research, but we all do our best with what we have.

Public speaking can be a daunting task to the uninitiated – it is one of the most feared things to do! To address this fear, PEP has a Toastmasters public speaking club that we participate in each week. We have really grown as a class compared to several weeks ago. To see the class transform is a great thing to witness. We see each other speak with confidence, and it’s awesome because we are all from different backgrounds and cultures. The men in our class present very interesting speeches each time we have this type of event. Here at PEP, we bring everyone together and build relationships every day.

We finished up the first part of class and went to lunch. Afterwards, we had a pitch panel to help us practice our pitches because come Pitch Day, we are going to knock it out of the park! When we went back to the dorm, we studied and held group sessions. Today’s class was fun to be a part of as we keep learning and pushing ourselves to be better men.

Jesse O. (aka “Captain Underpants”)

 

Expressions

“It’s not the size of the dog, but the fight in the dog.”

– Sugar Ray Leonard

The more I live, the more I come to realize that life is like a big boxing match. We know that a person who prepares himself for battle by conditioning (activities like jumping rope to build lean muscle to get your body and arms prepared to go the distance, as well as running five miles a day to help your breathing) serve to help you go the distance under pressure. You will definitely need this, so don’t skip that piece. Then, you need good hand-eye coordination. This will help you see an attack unfold and respond with perfect timing and accuracy. Most of all, you will need to work on rounds of sparring to get the practice required to be successful in the ring.

Similarly, every situation we go through can help prepare us for our next match – if we choose to learn from it – because on the other side of the ring is our opponent. It could be a person who wants success just as much as you do and will get in your way to win that round. But our opponent in the other corner could also be our problems and situations such as tragedies and major setbacks in life that have us down and out mentally or physically. However, once that bell rings, it’s time to get after it. Some rounds might be ours, and some rounds we may go down more than once, but no matter what, we have to get back up and give life our best shot.

 Lewis O. (aka “Adam Woods”)

 

Week 7

Monday                                                                                            August 19, 2024

Toastmasters was today’s main focus. What does this mean and how important is this to us? Well, we are learning about public speaking by studying, practicing and helping one another. We take into consideration the stories we hear, while at the same time getting to know each other pretty well. Not only is this a good opportunity, but it is also a learning objective. Being able to speak in front of people you don’t know is nerve wracking, but it helps us build communication skills. Over time, we have become more confident and have seen improvement in our speeches. We also have seen so much growth in each of these men every time one of us gets up in front of the class and delivers a speech.

PEP also teaches us about character development, so we have learned about some of our character flaws too, but each of us here helps to correct one another. We come together every day and build friendships, training ourselves to become better men all around. It’s fun and challenging at the same time. We keep learning new ways to build each other up and grow as entrepreneurs as well. Class today was fun, and all the stories were interesting and inspiring.

PEP’s 10 Driving Values really mean something to us. As we study what each one means and how we can apply it to our lives, each Driving Value becomes ingrained into our minds. My favorite value is Accountability because it is a pillar of the program and life in general. We have been taught that being accountable is super important to becoming successful in life. The brotherhood here is one of a kind, and we are so glad to be a part of it.                                     

Rogelio L. (aka “Kevin from Minions”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                            August 20, 2024

It was a blessed day in PEP today. We finished the rest of the Toastmasters speeches for Project #4, as well as starting Project #5. Everyone gave great speeches, and it was awesome to see how much we have progressed. Our confidence has improved, as well as our delivery. It has been wonderful to see how far we have all come.

For three hours this morning, we had a great discussion on many things that better us. The realization of completing this course has become more and more surreal. We are truly understanding more and more about how the 10 Driving Values can be applied to our lives to improve our quality of life. All of our innovation and creativity – not to mention our execution – really shows, and it is a great thing to witness. All of us have changed, and we still have a lot of work to do.

We had some laughs, and the room relaxed when fellow PEP brothers showed off some dance moves in front of the class today, which was super hilarious. It was great to see, and we finished off class with the Word of the Day: “egotism.” Today was a great experience to be a part of, and seeing all the smiles on everyone’s faces was inspiring. Thank you for reading, and God bless all!

James L. (aka “Milli Vanilli”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                     August 21, 2024

Today we worked on our business plan pitches, and they were all awesome to hear. We received positive feedback from our Servant Leaders and current class participants. We really enjoy practicing and doing this because it only makes us better in the end. We are preparing for our next event and proud to be a part of this PEP revolution.

As brothers, we are learning how to become better men for our families, friends and society. We have learned to say what needs to be said, not simply what people want to hear. We will lead by example with humility at the sacrifice of personal glory. We strive to equip people to achieve their full potential here at PEP. This work we are putting in here will help us become free men in prison.

The love here is evident and becomes a bond between us as we put in the work to change. We were on the pod all day because there was no class, but we still had study groups and needed to clean the pods, so we all still had jobs to complete. We swept and mopped the floors, as well as emptied the trash. We cleaned the rails to the stairs along with the tables. Then we cleaned the showers and scrubbed them down well, so they looked nice. We take pride in the dorm as well as the classroom. It is a good feeling to accomplish tasks in both areas.

We hold ourselves accountable so that our lives are better overall, and we are adopting and applying the 10 Driving Values to our lives. This is a revolution, and we are glad to be a part of it. Thank you, and God bless all!  

Donald M. (aka “Chris Tucker”)

 

Thursday                                                                                         August 22, 2024

Today we started class with our daily pray-in. Following that was the Word of the Day which was “belief.” The speaker shared this quote: “Sometimes you have to believe in someone’s belief in you until your own belief kicks in.” We were well informed on the Word of the Day to say the least. After that, Ramon C-C was asked, “Who are you?” and the DJ started the music which was the Baby Shark song. (His PEP “fun name” happens to be Baby Shark, so it was hilarious to witness.) Then we had a couple birthdays to celebrate for four of our brothers. We sang Happy Birthday, and they received certificates and pencils.

We then waited for executive volunteer John S. to come and teach us Chapter 13’s material, so since we had some spare time, we got into groups and practiced our pitches with each other. As CEO of Quality Custom Cabinets, listening to my team come together really made my belief in them come into play. It made me proud to be a part of the team. We reviewed Chapter 10 and then went to lunch.

We came back and John S. was there to go over the chapter with us. That was great to have him teach us so we can understand the material better (and get a good grade on the upcoming test). We then went back to the dorm, where we had a pitch panel and got into our weekly groups. We learned about emotional detachment, which was very interesting. After that, some of us exercised, showered and relaxed for the rest of the night. All in all, it was a great day, and we are ready for whatever tomorrow brings.       

Luis M. (aka “Buzz Lightyear”)

 

Friday                                                                                               August 23, 2024

Today is Friday and so is one of our lighter days here in PEP. These days are nice to have because of all the hard work we put in week after week. The first half of the day, the PEP room was occupied by a spiritual gathering called “Devotion.” Devotion is usually led by one of our In-Prison Managers, either Adam W. or David F.

After lunch, we all met in the PEP classroom to start the day’s assignments. Normally when we arrive, there is usually a five- to ten-minute window to turn in homework, say our hellos and find our seats.  Today, most of us scrambled to find our pitch team to go over any adjustments we might need to make. (Some of us are still fine-tuning our part of the business pitch for the first big event we’ve had since we formed teams.) When we sat down in our seats, the first thing we did was pray in. Someone in the room always volunteers to lead it, and we all stand for prayer.

The first thing on the agenda was taking group pictures, so all the CEOs gathered their pitch teams to take a team photo. Each team consists of a CEO, COO, CMO and CFO. While each team took pictures, the other teams practiced their pitches. It was amazing to see how far everyone has come with their pitch presentations. The confidence, organization and delivery have improved significantly. We were having such a good time that before we knew it, it was time to pray out and go back to our assigned living quarters.

Steven M. (aka “Joel Osteen”)

 

 

Expressions

“The man on top of the mountain didn’t fall there.”

– Vince Lombardi

When I think about what this means and how this relates to me, my goals start popping up. I think about where I started along my journey and where I am today. I am not on top of the mountain yet, but I did not land where I am in my climb. I have worked really hard to get where I am today. This is also something that cannot just be handed to somebody. I have had so much support from my wife and my family, which has encouraged me to stay strong in my climb up. I am beyond grateful and thankful for them.

Nobody really starts at the top. There are people in the world who are more fortunate than others in different areas, but we all have to climb and put in a lot of work at some point in time. So when I think about this quote, it makes me stop and ask myself, “Where do I take my next step? Where should I reach next to get higher on my mountain? What are my goals, and do they make my mountain taller? What do I consider to be success? How can I get better?” All these questions are popping into my head, and I look forward to answering these questions. I open my eyes and heart to help me grow. I look around to see which obstacles I can overcome. I use the advice from people in my life and try to be humble. I wake up hungry for more success, knowing every day is a challenge.

Everyone’s mountain is different, and some may be at the top of theirs, but I am still a work in progress because I am not at the top of my mine … yet. Keep pushing forward and never give up!

 Alexander C. (aka “Mr. Crocker”)

Week 6

Monday                                                                                             August 12, 2024  

It’s always a great day here in PEP! The Word of the Day was “communication.” We feel that being a great communicator can help us in every aspect and situation. Our main daily problems stem from a lack of communication with the people around us. Each and every day, we are learning about character development, how to be a better dad and how to speak professionally in front of a group of people (Toastmasters), as well as the main subject of “entrepreneurship.”

Mondays always seem to be slow and steady, but on this particular day after class we went into deep conversation with my cellmate about Jesus Christ. With me recently renouncing gang affiliation, losing my dad and having a relationship fall through, the program and my brothers have made me develop a plan on how to deal with these problems in my life and be positive in a lot of different ways.

At the end of class, we were talking with our teams and our CEO asked if there was anything we needed to pray about. That really got me, because people sometimes tend to serve the flesh more than our God. If we can really support each other, it will only help us. God is good all the time, and we really need to lean on His understanding not our own. Even in all the trials and tribulations, we should stay consistent in Him.

Today was a great day, and we look forward to tomorrow to learn more about how to become better men.

Derrick H. (aka “Baby Charles Barkley”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                            August 13, 2024

On this beautiful Tuesday in the Prison Entrepreneurship Program, adrenaline was running high in anticipation of our tests on Chapters 6 and 7. Some people were literally sweating, chomping at the bit to take the tests. Yet when it was all said and done, there was absolutely no reason to sweat it. Gaining the courage to face these challenges without worrying is going to be a common goal amongst us in the days to follow.

Now to fast forward to our afternoon – after our lunch of burgers and beans (YUMMY!), we got our first taste of the limelight while videotaping our introductions for our business groups. As the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for Hurricane Boxing Community Center (a community center focused on building better role models by helping youth grow their mind, body and discipline), to say today was a good day would be an understatement. Students walked in feeling uncertain and anxious, wondering what this day would bring and walked out with a feeling of accomplishment. Each of us is growing little by little, bit by bit. The result is that we are better today than we were yesterday. Of course, we have the scores and videos to prove it! 

After class, we went back to the dorm. Some of us took a much-needed afternoon nap, while others went straight to their daily exercise. Every day is the first day of the rest of our lives, and we are taking advantage of it in every way we can. What a blessing this experience is. Thanks for tuning in.

Benjamin I.  (aka “Bubbalicious Tweety Bird”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                      August 14, 2024

We started our day off in prayer as we do before giving our Toastmasters speeches. During Toastmasters, we had to give a speech with a clear purpose and effective organization. We achieved this by selecting the right words and sentence structure to communicate our ideas clearly, accurately and vividly. We made use of rhetorical devices to enhance and emphasize our ideas, making sure not to use any unnecessary words or jargon and instead focusing on using correct grammar. This was our fourth Toastmasters project, and already we’ve experienced so much growth in the areas of personal confidence, freedom through vulnerability and public speaking, just to name a few. With awesome challenges like this one pushing us into a new head space, we can see new possibilities for ourselves in the world.

Many of us are already becoming more confident. For example, we now trust in our ability to interview for a position we would have previously not even considered applying for, due to not wanting to speak about ourselves at such a level. Many others have become more confident speaking publicly in executive positions. It doesn’t stop there; simple peer interaction, which started small, has greatly increased to the point where men have overcome their anxiety, shaken off old ideas of themselves, and now confidently speak with one another.

Bottom line, today was a good day. We have learned more about taking good chances in life by taking a chance on ourselves, believing in the idea that good outcomes wait for us on the other side!

Jermoni J. (aka “Sammy Sosa”)

 

Thursday                                                                                         August 15, 2024

Today was an amazing day in PEP! We started off with a great pray in by our brother Benjamin G., and that led to our Word of the Day: grace, which is unmerited help given to people by God or the disposition to perform an act of kindness. Our emcees, Javier M. and LaDavious S., gave us some heartfelt examples of how lives were saved and worlds were changed by acts of kindness and by God’s grace. They gave us Ephesians 2:5, which says, “He made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” It really spoke to the class and showed us that we never know what we can say or do that’ll impact someone’s life in a major way, so we should be kind to everyone.

Next, we worked on mastering our pitches for our upcoming event, and the class saw some awesome transitions by a few different teams. This will most likely be a close contest because our whole class is full of great and innovative ideas. The creativity and execution displayed by our CEOs and their teams is quite a sight to behold, and it’s clear that we have been putting in the work needed to be the best of the best.

We finished class with one of our amazing executives, Jim H., coming to teach us about “Business and Financial Analysis” or, as he likes to call it, “KPI – Key Performance Indicators.The chapter was about financial ratios and having a solid financial foundation. He also told us that it is essential to have great accounting and bookkeeping. 

After he left, we prayed out of class and went back to our dorms, where we worked on our homework and continued to practice our pitches. This class is an experience we never thought could happen where we are, but it’s a great life-changing opportunity we have, and we are taking full advantage of it.

Sam K. (aka “Oscar Proud”)

 

Friday                                                                                               August 16, 2024

Today was a bit out of the norm because we had a half day off. This worked out perfectly because it allowed us a head start on our homework. They really push us and challenge us every day – it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s good though because like they say, “what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” That must be true because with each day that passes, we find ourselves growing stronger and stronger, only looking at the next task or hurdle. When you finish something that seems insurmountable at first, you feel a major sense of accomplishment.  Most of us are new to stuff like this, but each day brings a new journey.

The second half of the day, we had a faith-based program called BetterMan, which is a video series from a church based in Waco that teaches us biblical principles for how to become the men we were meant to be. Today instead of listening to the videos, our Character Development Specialist, David F., spoke to us on the topic that the video would’ve discussed: fatherhood and what it means to be a better father to our sons.  Specifically, he shared with us how he navigates being a stepdad to his son and how he encourages his stepson to communicate with his biological father in a healthy manner.  It is one of the best parts of PEP, bar none!  We have learned so much about ourselves and about our brothers because we always have these bonding moments and open up.  It’s really beautiful because after all, Love, like PEP, is a beautiful thing!

John K. (aka “Drew Carey”)

 

Expressions

“To me, there are three things we all should do every day. 

Number one is laugh – you should laugh every day. 

Number two is think – you should spend some time in thought. 

And number three is you should have your emotions move you to tears. 

It could be happiness or joy, but think about it …

if you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day.

You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.”

– Jim Valvano

This is just an excerpt of the now famous “Never give up, don’t ever give up” speech from the 1993 ESPY Awards when Jimmy Valvano accepted The Arthur Ashe Award for courage. With these words, the coach gave me a roadmap to live each day to its fullest; to channel my inner Jimmy Valvano and enjoy the journey as I navigate life. He didn’t become my hero because of what he accomplished in his life, which included the 1983 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, but rather by what he left the world through his legacy. He showed me how I can live a life of impact worth celebrating, and what a life well lived looks like. 

Coach Valvano was raising awareness and money for cancer research. He wasn’t complicating the message – he was walking down the path of logic. Every outcome has its cause, every predicament has its solution; and every lock has its key. By elevating cancer research and simply saying, “It will not save my life … but it may save yours or someone’s you love,” he made it personal and something greater than himself.

For many years, I spent my career always moving up toward the next rung on the ladder I was climbing. This quote reminds me to enjoy every day to the fullest by stopping, looking and listening so that I do not miss anything. I want to open my eyes and see what I can with them before they close forever.

Jeffrey L. (aka “The Weatherman”)

Week 5

Monday                                                                                             August 5, 2024

Proverbs 4:20-24 says “My son, pay attention to what I say, turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight and keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep corrupt talk far from your lips.” This scripture came to our minds while doing our Toastmasters Project #2. PEP is always finding a way to knock down these walls we have built around us. Our bond as brothers has grown stronger with each amazing experience we’ve gone through. It’s been quite a journey for us as we’ve learned to gain confidence from one another. It was a bumpy road at first for us to truly let go and be transparent. I am proud of my PEP brothers for all the changes and progress we’ve made.

The first half of class was as amazing as it always is, from Living in the Village to Bruce T.’s excellent presentation on understanding finances. Then came our test on the previous week’s lesson. We had some time after testing, so we revisited the Words of the Day, which were “price” and “cost.” No matter what, nothing is free in life. Everything always comes at a cost, such as time and energy, but it’s what we do with those resources that really adds value, so in the end it’s worth it.

In our second half of class, we were grateful to be able to share a few laughs as we watched a presentation of our class’s progress and a few funny moments. To come this far, seeing and feeling the changes our brothers are experiencing can be counted as one of the greatest experiences in our lives. It’s such a great pleasure to be a part of a family where we all change for the good.

Ivan G. (aka “Scrat from Ice Age”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                            August 6, 2024

The energy was great as we started class today in PEP. This morning, we took a test on Living in the Village. We like this book because it teaches us how to be good with our money, as well as what things to avoid that can hurt us financially. After we took our test we did Toastmasters, which all my PEP brothers are doing great at. Everyone seems to get better and better the more speeches we give. We all remember our first time up there in front of the class, standing at the lectern, because just about all of us were nervous. But now, we feel confident in ourselves because this class has helped us be more open with those around us. I am happy to be a part of this PEP revolution!

After Toastmasters, we started to discuss what our mission statements would be for our businesses that we are now a part of. We all have separate teams that we are on with our own jobs to do. It is really cool, and we are all having fun creating our business plans. Since we have been here, none of us regret showing up for this program because they don’t just talk about business or entrepreneurship – they help you become a person of integrity and good character. This will help us in the future because we are leaving our old lifestyles behind and becoming someone new.

When class was over, we sat down to watch all our pictures and videos throughout class so far. That was awesome to see because in all of them, we were all smiling and having a good time. We have some great men here, and we are building relationships and memories with each other. Thank you for reading and God Bless all!

 Angel H. (aka “Chocolate Moon Pie”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                      August 7, 2024

Today is a beautiful day full of sunshine outside, but the light shines in here as well. Today we split the classroom into two sections before continuing on with Toastmasters speeches for Project #3. The topic was “getting to the point,” and all of us did a pretty good job of tackling the objective. It really seems like we are getting a lot more confident speaking in front of a large group. We still have a long way to go, but we are making progress for sure. Some of the speeches were funny; some taught us how to do something like change a tire or make an awesome dinner; and still others were very inspirational and moving. It is funny how all our speeches were different, but we could relate to each one in our personal lives. We are truly coming together as more of a family every time we share stories with each other.

After Toastmasters concluded, we were blessed to have two graduates from PEP talk to us about re-entry and the process we go through on our way home. They told us PEP will be with us every step of the way, from getting us picked up to taking us to the transitional house. Then we can get clothes for interviews and whatever else we need to do. This is an awesome opportunity for us, and we can feel positive about our release and not have to worry so much about all the details.

Thank you for reading and have a great day!   

Roger H. (aka “Ace Ventura”)

 

Thursday                                                                                         August 8, 2024

Thursday is always an important day for us. We have different executives come in and help us review chapters in our entrepreneurship textbook. Today was no exception; we went over Chapters 6 and 7, where we learned about funding and accounting through examples as well as the book. On the funding side, we talked about flow charts, balance sheets and the entrepreneurial break-even point – in other words, how to better predict need and usage of funding, plus the importance of two of our Driving Values: Excellence and “Fresh Start” Outlook. Chapter 7 was more focused on our Driving Value of “Wise Stewardship” as we discussed keeping track of our spending and overall cash flow while being accountable to our investors. Finally, our Word of the Day was “trap.” It was helpful in getting us to recognize our mindsets and the negative ones we need to stay away from, focusing instead on positivity and being practical in our everyday lives. We also talked about our environment and how we can overcome the culture in here.

Our resident “Fonda” man, Ivan G., got to do his favorite exercise in front of the whole class, which was hilarious. This was well-timed at the end of class to lighten the mood a bit.

On a neat side note, we are really ramping up our business pitches. Everyone is settling into their roles on their teams. Our CEOs have conveyed their ideas to all of us. Our CMOs are supporting the team members and really bringing us together. Everyone is working together, and it’s awesome to see the professionalism here at the Sanders Estes unit. We then finished the night off with a pitch panel to help us get more comfortable pitching in front of a group of people.

Thank you and God bless!        

 Preston H. (aka “The Mask”)

 

Friday                                                                                               August 8, 2024

Today was a great day with my PEP brothers. We had no class today, so many of us were able to sleep in and get some much-needed rest. Once we were all up, some of us got into groups and studied Chapter 6 of our entrepreneurship book, which was about analyzing cash flow and other financial information which will be tested on soon. The chapter gives us good information that we’ll need to be successful entrepreneurs. We also discussed and reviewed Chapter 7, which gives us information about financing and accounting. This chapter identified key financial issues involved with starting a business. We also learned about grants that a new business should explore.

All the information we are learning helps us get closer every day to understand what it means to start and run a business. We then finished class for the day and went to eat dinner. Some of us had not finished our pitches, so we did a pitch panel in the dorm. This is really helping all of us overcome the fear of public speaking and of being super nervous in front of everyone.

Lastly after some of my brothers got back from recreation, we got together for another study session. Then it was time to relax and enjoy the rest of the night. Today was a great day, and I’m glad to be here and a part of this revolution.   

 Ruben H. (aka “Madea”)

 

Expressions

“Boy, if you’re righteous in everything you do, you’ll always be in the right and your path should be straight to what you want.”

– my father

My dad once told me this when I was about 13 years old, and it always stuck with me. Time and time again, I can tell you that this quote came to my mind in everyday situations. Now that I am an older man, it really has an impact. It has been my go-to when I am not sure what I should do. I try to make the right decisions, so when I think of this quote, it helps keep me on the straight and narrow. It is so easy to do the wrong things, it seems. Making the right decision is sometimes hard, especially if you’re living the wrong kind of life.

I choose to do the right thing when no one is looking, and I can give credit to my dad because of what he told me back in the day. I want to do the right thing now because it’s easy for me as a righteous man. I am a man of integrity, and it feels good to be counted on and recognized as a good man. I couldn’t have told you that years ago when I was not holding myself accountable at all. But these days, I truly understand what and why he told me that back then, and it has meant a great deal to me.

Thank you and God bless all!

Anthony H. (aka “Blank Man”)

Week 4

Monday                                                                                             July 29, 2024 

Today was a chill day at PEP. This morning, we went over Chapter 4 of Living in the Village with a volunteer named Bruce T. We learned the differences in insurance types and which one we should invest in. We also learned the different tactics that most insurance companies use to get people to buy their insurance products. We also started our second Toastmasters speeches, where we split into groups and focused on using different transitional phrases, such as “furthermore,” “in the end,” and “to get my point across.” Most people who presented today did well speaking in front of the class.

Some of us attended church services in the afternoon before heading back to the dorms, where most of us studied and practiced our business pitches for our upcoming event. The overall experience today, including life lessons that we learn in PEP, has helped us become better men in Christ and our daily lives. It feels amazing to be a part of the PEP revolution.

Grayson D. (aka “Captain Insane-O”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                            July 30, 2024

The brotherhood of the Prison Entrepreneurship Program is alive and quickly becoming a movement. Our efforts are combining to create the change that is occurring in each of us. Today watched BetterMan, which is a video series. Today’s topic addressed the challenges men face going forward in life after incarceration, the steps necessary to begin the healing process and the action steps for addressing the past. Although opening up about past trauma issues is hurtful for some of us, it is vital for proper healing to begin. It is in these group efforts that we are becoming self-aware and willing to communicate our emotions in a healthy way. We have open conversations about the topic in small groups, and it really is therapy for most of us. It is always a priceless moment for men to feel comfortable expressing themselves and putting into action key steps to becoming better men. As with many of us, this is a first-time experience.

We are learning that if you can’t overcome hardships, you’re never going to have any great victories. It is an awesome experience to be unified in the “better man” movement. Day by day, we are becoming a big family here, and the work we put in now will pay off for us later.

We had a really good day today, and tomorrow cannot get here fast enough. Thank you for reading this and have a great day!      

Daniel F.  (aka “Moley”)

 

 

Wednesday                                                                                      July 31, 2024

We had a great day in class today! We first began by having everyone in slip-on shoes (Jackie Chan’s) dance from the back of the room. Next, we talked about the temptation of old habits and what it takes to achieve success, not just in business but in our personal life. More often than not, we must endure a certain amount of pain in the beginning to enjoy success. For instance, we will have to do things that are uncomfortable at times and push through to receive the benefits that will come from a job or relationship in our life. We discussed how going through these obstacles in life will make us stronger and teach us how to handle difficult situations in the future instead of acting out our first emotional response will benefit us in our life by teaching us emotional stability through self-discipline and behavior modification. The leaders discussed how sometimes in life the darkest part of the night comes right before the morning sun rises, meaning that in life sometimes things will get worse before they get better, and only perseverance, persistence and patience will prevail at the end of the long, hard road that we travel.

But there is an end, and more often than not if we practice those techniques, the outcome will be success and well worth the struggle. Next, we all took notice of La’David’s new chili bowl haircut, followed by learning the CEOs for the companies we will be representing for the business plans. Next, we were assigned to teams that we will be on and discussed what positions we will play, such as CFO, CMO and COO. Each team consists of four individuals, with each playing a very important part. We then broke up into groups and got to know our teammates, their strengths and weaknesses and how they will best support the business. Everyone was very supportive and willing to assist others in their weak areas. With full team support, each group of four will build a successful business plan and work together as a team.

James F. (aka “Rob Schneider”)

 

Thursday                                                                                         August 1, 2024

Today class started off like most days by dancing to wake up and get the energy in the room booming. We continued with the Word of the Day, which was “attitude.” Then the emcees elaborated on the subject with a detailed explanation on why attitude is one of the biggest keys to success (if not the biggest). Then once we finished that, four individuals got the “wheel of doom”: two for outbursts in class and two more for sleeping in class. It was hilarious. The wheel landed on “wormy dog,” and the whole class was enjoying the show and laughing.

Then once that finished, another person lip synced an Usher song to lighten the mood, PEP style. Then a volunteer came in to teach class: our weekly lesson in the entrepreneurship book. Today’s subject was the type of business to set up, such as sole proprietor, partnership or corporation. He elaborated on the type of corporations, going over the different advantages and disadvantages and what is best in certain situations and why.

During the second half of class, another executive volunteer came to speak with us about establishing operations as he reviewed Chapter 12 in the entrepreneurship textbook. The volunteer discussed project management, breaking it down to a science, how important location is and answered questions, giving advice on how to finance a business and professionalism methods. We ended on a good note as the executive wished us well on our next event. Then the emcee’s jumped back on the mic and issued a Wheel of Doom for somebody else for an infraction.

After that, we prayed out and class ended with the CEOs staying back for a meeting.

Joshua F. (aka “Ice-T”)

 

Friday                                                                                               August 2, 2024

A day in the PEP class is always impactful. Many times, we share memorable and fun moments that could only be captured with the heart. Other times we get deep and personal, and today was one of those moments. Today was “Family Day,” a day in PEP where Laura S., our Family Liaison, joined us for the day. With a short but very impactful conversation, she helped us on an important, heartstring-filled reconciliation journey with loved ones we’ve asked her to contact on our behalf about our progress in class. Our “PEP Mama” made us feel a sense of hope and joy, ensuring us that there was help not only in the characterization of our own identity but that through the help of our Family Liaison, we are provided with a second chance at restoring relationships with our family and friends. This is another piece of the “PEP Revolution.”

We were also given a chance to take joyful (and, for some, tear-inducing) birthday photos to send to our kids. This gave us a chance to break the exterior of our former selves and create a birthday card for our children, personalized for our loved ones. Friday August 2nd was a day filled with “Love” and “Fun,” two of the most favorite of PEP’s 10 Driving Values. But the most impactful moment involved writing the names of those who we hope will be attending our graduation. This brought a realization that time is moving rapidly as we speed toward the end of our PEP journey. It is exciting that we are committed to change and positivity for ourselves, our families and our communities.

Benjamin G. (aka “Cowardly Lion”)

 

Expressions

“Most people don’t listen with the intent to understand, but only to reply.”

– George Bush

There are times we just need to speak out to others, not to get a reply but to be heard by someone you truly trust and have confidence in not to form an opinion. There are times you speak to see others’ reactions. To talk about health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet and talk to is great. You can also make someone’s day with a smile as well. You should make others feel like they have something within themselves worth sharing, so say something to them that triggers something amazing to come out.

We should listen as well with enthusiasm and care. When someone has something to say, we need to be sensitive and make sure we truly listen and understand – otherwise, we could miss a valid point. We should value everyone and their opinions. We have two ears for a reason: we should listen twice as much as we speak. I think we can all be better listeners if we choose to be, and that can make the difference between a good environment and a bad one. It takes practice to be a great listener, and those who are good at listening are most likely successful people.

Never stop listening to others, and always actively listen to understand. We can all grow from that and take in all the knowledge we can get. Thank you and God bless everyone!    

Antonio G. (aka “Brucie”)

 

Week 3

Monday                                                                                             July 22, 2024

It was an amazing day in PEP today. We learned about what a Marketing Plan consists of, and that it is developed by an entrepreneurial business to specify who the target customers are and how they will be attracted to the company. We also learned about identifying the market we are trying to get into. This step focuses on how to market the firm’s products or services to customers who are likely to buy the products or services at the desired price. It is awesome we get to learn these types of things because this is the information we need to use in the real world if we are to open our own businesses. We were taught that identifying the right geographic area and target customers is key to a business and its success. It’s important that we take all this in and use it because most of us will be future business owners. People pay a lot of money to get what we are getting for free here in PEP.

This is a college-level course we are taking. We get to ask questions and really get to the meat and potatoes of business ownership and everything associated with that. Seems like every day we are learning critical information that is key to our success. But overall, we had a great day in class. There is a lot of creativity in the air and throughout the whole class. We went over the next chapters so we will be studying all weekend to prepare for our next tests on Tuesday. We are all coming along, and it is awesome to be a part of this PEP revolution!                                          

Devin C. (aka “Fat Albert”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                            July 23, 2024

Today we had a full and interesting day. Today we had some new brothers join our class, so we had to give them each a “fun name” (class nickname) which was really funny. After we gave them fun names, we tested over Chapters 3 and 4. We first did the multiple choice and true/false questions, followed by the chapter review questions. Then we finished with the peer review questions. After all that, we went back to our dorms to relax a little bit and wait for the new guys to finish their Coat of Arms assignment. We went to lunch as well, which was pizza that tasted pretty good. Adam W. came and got us from the dorm, and we all went back to class.

That’s when executive volunteer Cindy joined us, and she is a really nice lady. She was today’s speaker who taught us the next chapters we will be tested on out of our entrepreneurship textbook. We learned about Business Mission and Strategy and how to recognize the degree to which mission statements guide a new business. We then focused on the three steps to identify a sustainable competitive advantage. We ended the review with a focus on developing an effective strategy and then applying it. Cindy asked us if we had any questions and answered them all with ease. She helped us understand the chapter much better, and we are grateful that we get to learn from qualified professionals. That was our day – thank you for reading this and God bless!  

 Vincent C.  (aka “Louis Armstrong”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                      July 24, 2024

In PEP today, we prepared for our first Big Idea Pitch event that will be held on Friday. Everyone lined up, 10 at a time, for a trial run; we also voted on each other’s pitches (and no, we couldn’t vote for ourselves – that wouldn’t be appropriate). Our event will be held in the gymnasium where executives/investors come in to volunteer their time with the current PEP class to hear us pitch our “big idea” to them. These volunteers then vote and select the winning business ideas. Those of us who are hand-picked as winners will become each business team’s CEO – we will also need to select a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Operations Officer (COO) for these teams and work together as a small company.

We also had a quote of the day that went something like this: “Life’s a direct reflection of our actions.” (Well, that’s what several of us got from it; we discussed that before writing this journal entry.) So that’s why we’re choosing better actions now, even though we are in prison, because it’s not too late to get back on track. We also went over civics, ethics, morale and values.

We had two guest speakers who have re-entered society and now work for PEP: Gerald D. and Jeremy J. Gerald D. spoke on character, and of course where we want to go, which is home to our families eventually. Jeremy J. gave his testimony before prison and after, including how good PEP has been to him even after prison. Jeremy J. also spoke to us about PEP’s transitional housing and went over paperwork with some of the guys before we prayed out and went to our dorms. Thank you for reading this and God bless!

Christopher C. (aka “Big Snacks”)

 

Thursday                                                                                         July 25, 2024

Today we had a welcome rest. We practiced pitches all day in the dorm. We are all preparing to present our “elevator pitch” to the executive volunteers tomorrow. Our nerves are all on edge, and we continue to hone our skills learned from our PEP classes, such as our Toastmasters and Entrepreneurship classes.

As we went through the day, we could definitely see improvement in our posture, grammar, body language and self-confidence! The things we learn in class benefit us, from our overall perspective to our professionalism. It’s amazing as we watch each other transform into men who act, walk and talk with such clarity and professionalism. Even though the curriculum is very condensed, hard and demanding, the rewards are obviously worth every second, and we can see how much our PEP brothers appreciate the effort we are putting in. We are all very impressed with how far we have come and how effective leadership skills are now manifesting, as they show in all of our day-to-day activities. We will be positive leaders in our community and strong pillars in our households, and our future jobs and businesses will drastically improve as well. This is worth all the hard work, and we all thank PEP and all the volunteers for all you do. Thank you for being you!

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY – and we are ready. Thanks to our Servant-Leaders, who are positive and helpful, steadily pushing us toward perfection!

Chris C.  (aka “Tony Hawk”)

 

Friday                                                                                               July 26, 2024

We will tell you that today was no ordinary day in PEP! We haven’t had a better day since we’ve been free, and that’s been a long time. So, let me tell you all about it.

We’ve been practicing our Big Idea pitches for the past three weeks, and today all the executives and sponsors came to hear our business plan ideas and pick out of our whole class the top 16 presentations that caught their attention. No matter who wins, they divide the rest of us up and put us in groups of four on those 16 teams. For those who don’t know, a pitch idea is an idea for what kind of entrepreneurial business we are interested in starting. We’ve got trucking business ideas, boxing schools, clothing apps, coffee shops and many more. There are 67 of us with 67 different business ideas, and we’ll find out on Monday which business ideas were selected. It’s pretty exciting!

Anyway, today all the “bigwigs” came, and it was awesome! It felt like we were literally not in prison for nine hours. We got to sit down with them and have some one-on-one time to talk about our business ideas, and they gave us plenty of tips and information to think about (plus some really great advice). We also got to find out a little about them and what they do, as well as why they come out here to support us. All of these people are awesome. We are truly grateful and lucky to have them on our side. A big thanks to all the executives and volunteers who came out today. This was THE BEST DAY we’ve ever had in prison. Thank you, PEP!

Andrew D. (aka “The Monopoly Man”)

 

Expressions

“An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.”

– 2 Timothy 2:5

The difference between two people who are trying to accomplish the same thing is the way they choose to accomplish it. You can choose to do right and follow the rules of life, such as being loving, giving, respectful and honest. The simple thing is to give yourself the satisfaction and feeling of doing it the right way.

Life has so many rules. We didn’t follow those simple rules of life, and that alone led us to where we are today: behind bars, away from the love of family and friends. We did easy things the easy way by cutting corners, giving up easily and doing things our way, hoping for a different result. We were blind to what a true role model is and how to do things according to life’s rules. Then you have the accomplishers – those who always follow the rules and set the example of success, who don’t take short cuts and therefore wear the crown proudly. These are men who help blind men like us see what life is like when you follow the rules and refuse to let hard times break us.

Success is not easy; it comes with stress and knowing who we are and what we are made of. To those who are successful and might have a target on your back: we are always looking to see if you cut corners or take the easy way. To the one who makes it, his mission is to do it right.

So which one are you?

Alexander D. (aka “Piglet”)

 

Week 2

Monday                                                                                             July 15, 2024

Today was a good day here in PEP. It is kind of different than what most of us are used to, to be honest. First, we walked in and went to our nametags and put them on. (This was my first day here in PEP because of transport issues from my other unit.) But those of us who arrived late were excited to finally get here and start new chapters in our lives.

Bruce T. talked to us about finances and told us different ways to budget and how it can help us become financially stable. He also showed us the most common ways we will spend our money based on how a lot of companies target us with advertisements and marketing techniques. For example, simple smells could cause us to buy something they are offering. He also broke down Rent-A-Center places that give us instant gratification but can cause us to spend way more money for the product or service. He said that credit cards can cause us to go into debt and mess up our financial situation. The best way to build credit is to get prepaid credit cards, put money on them and use them for specific expenses like gas or whatever else you might need. He showed us that a simple investment of $3 per day can add up to almost $1 million in 20-30 years!

Today was a great learning experience, and we are all glad to be a part of it.

 Luis C. (aka “Ra-fiki”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                            July 16, 2024

Today was a great day at PEP! We got a chance to listen to most of our brothers’ Toastmasters speeches. This was called the “Ice Breaker,” which is a speech to introduce ourselves. This was one of our first times going up to the front and speaking to the whole class. We are pretty sure this was nerve wracking for most of us because we have never been in front of a crowd this big, speaking to them on a microphone. Being in front of everyone to talk about our lives and how we grew up was eye-opening and cool. We know each other a little better now to say the least. The person with the microphone had everyone’s attention, and everyone respected the person speaking. Instead of judging a book by its cover, we got to see each person’s reality, and maybe even put ourselves in their shoes and relate to them. Thanks to Toastmasters, we are learning to drop our guard and vibe together as a big family.

We are really having fun with the tasks PEP gives us on a daily basis. We are all working together on some business ideas, helping to bring each idea to life. We finished the day off testing over Chapters 1 and 2 out of the Entrepreneurship textbook, taking our tests on the computers. We went to the computer lab, logged in and took a college-level test, which was pretty cool to accomplish. We all did well, because we all have been studying really hard. After all that, we went back to the dorm and did a pitch panel that capped off the day.

Thank you and God bless!

 Ramon C. (aka “Baby Shark”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                      July 17, 2024

First and foremost, we would like to thank God the Father, God the Son our Lord Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit for His faithfulness in restoring our souls to our bodies with mercy and grace, giving us another day of full of “life” so we could have a good day. We started the day with prayer and good hygiene, so we are thankful for that. Today in class, the Word of the Day was “thoughts.” Our PEP brothers on the mic were very encouraging and positive. Their inspirational speeches help impact the way we think about ourselves.

As class continued, the real inspiration was watching my fellow classmates practicing their business pitches so we can all better our skills as we learn to start and run a business. Seeing them come out of their shells helps us progress and be more confident when speaking to an audience. Witnessing the determination, confidence and delivery is building character, unity and love.  We had our spirits lifted as we worked harder and became more creative, all while having fun and getting to know each other personally – priceless!

Back in the dorm meditating on today’s Word and business pitch is not easy. And yet, each of us is building self-confidence to give a pitch while also getting help when we make mistakes from our fellow dorm mates, which is truly an expression of love.  Also, a small group got together to study the Bible. Isaiah 55:8-9 says: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither your ways my ways,’ saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” In other words, let’s not worry about what the world thinks about us, because God’s thoughts for us and his purpose are greater as we learn to trust in our Lord.  Amen.

Paul C. (aka “Sugar Baby”)

 

Thursday                                                                                         July 18, 2024

What happens when you take a bunch of guys who don’t really believe in themselves and get them to pitch a vision to a bunch of executives? PEP happens! This program gives us the tools we need to do just that while boosting our character at the same time! Today we got to hear from successful corporate marketing executive Carl B. You may not know it, but he helped get us all to know household products such as Swiffer and Dawn dish soap. We also had the opportunity to start believing in ourselves by practicing our pitches in front of our peers! Were they perfect? No, but we are all working and perfecting our pitches, day by day, shaking off the nerves and memorizing our own pitch so we can learn to deliver it effortlessly. We are building confidence as we begin the process of building a business. Some of us missed some lines and others froze up, but help from our Servant-Leaders helped get us over the bumps in the road.

Today was a great day – hearing the lecture from an actual executive was awesome and very interactive. We also went back to the dorms to see our GPAs from the first two chapters’ test scores, which was cool. We were all able to see the fruit of our labors and see how much a little hard work goes a long way and surely pays off. A few of us haven’t felt success in a long time. Today, confidence was buil, ,and we are seeing change come along. We are all in that space and choosing to build the power to choose our response that is creating growth and freedom. Thank you!  

Rocky C. (aka “The Baked Potatoes”)

 

Friday                                                                                               July 19, 2024

Fridays in class are allotted to such a beneficial part of this curriculum called BetterMan, which includes videos, seminars and group roundtable discussions. Today’s session was so moving and powerful that there were more than a few twinkling eyes being wiped dry. There were points made relating to our individual pasts, both challenging and establishing a framework to determine where we stand in our manhood today. BetterMan also covered six “Looking Back Truths,” including processing “unfinished business” to help us interpret and possibly redirect where we are now as men into the men we hope to become moving forward. This was all eloquently followed by our lead emcee, who effectively and powerfully expressed the need to persevere beyond our pasts.

The second half of the day was dedicated to hearing the remaining brothers give their first Toastmasters speech. The afternoon was filled with many unique and unsurprisingly heart-filled stories. One brother with especially pronounced anxiety regarding public speaking showed exceptional fortitude by actually sharing extremely intimate family stories as he powered through heavy emotion and even tears. We were all both moved and proud of his bravery. Overall, the day was inspirational and peppered with occasional laughter, which always makes things easier. Days like this create the interpersonal insights that make looking forward in life so much easier, allowing us as brothers to lift one another up. Thank you.     

Thad C.  (aka “Crash Bandicoot”)

 

Expressions

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths one takes, but by the moments

that take one’s breath away.”

– Maya Angelou

 

Never are we guaranteed another day in this life, nor is tomorrow a thing of certainty. The only thing we are remotely close to being guaranteed is this moment, and that can end at any given time. Most people in this world are so driven by the fear of life coming to an end that they want to live for all eternity. Maybe we do carry on living for eternity outside of this so-called meat suit. So, I ask: what is eternity worth if none of your dreams or goals ever get accomplished, and you end up not enjoying it?

I am in no way suggesting that we should not plan for the future, but what I simply suggest is to live in and appreciate each moment. Give yourself the chance and opportunity to engage and experience life to the fullest. What is a dull day in comparison to a day filled with adventure or excitement? How about a day full of laughter, or comedy and joy, as opposed to “just getting by” or “just making it through the day”? We are here for more than just that. We aren’t here just to survive, but we have the ability to do whatever our hearts desire, and that requires making certain choices. Is this life without purpose? Are we not expected to take pleasure in and to cherish things, even specific moments? Why do we have the ability to feel emotions if not to utilize, live out and experience them? It is time to stop counting only the years, months and days, but also our all-important breaths. Start to live and count those moments that take your breath away. I am certain you will lead a much happier and fulfilled life.   

Jefferson C. (aka “Captain ‘Wack’ Sparrow”)

Week 1

Monday                                                                                             July 9, 2024 

Welcome to this journal entry for the first day of class! Today was a very special one here in PEP because it is our first day of having a fresh start! It was a lot of fun, and this was nothing we expected from a prison program. We were assigned “fun names” (nicknames) that were unique to each of us. This was to help “loosen us up” and to contribute to the whole PEP experience. We had a lot of laughs for sure!

Then we were introduced to a man named Bruce T., the facilitator for the Living in the Village curriculum that he will be teaching us from about financial literacy. Bruce T.’s “Steve Jobs aura” filled the room instantly as he took the stand accompanied by his warm voice, subliminally complementing his humming humility complementing with his confident hand gestures. He led us through the first two chapters of the workbook that touched on topics ranging from the financial history of The Great Depression to creating a household budget.

Last stop on our scholastically itinerary was the introduction to Toastmasters International. We learned how serious this class is and how it should not be taken lightly. This class is strictly business, but all for everyone’s betterment. In Toastmasters, we will learn how to communicate in front of groups efficiently and effectively by receiving constructive criticism on our speech presentations. The most important part of this curriculum is that we will learn how to actively listen – and that, my fellow Toastmasters, is the most crucial part of all communication!

We voluntarily applied for and were selectively chosen by the finest program offered in correctional facilities across the nation. All in all, the class ended on a high note with much anticipation for the months to come on our journey to becoming better men and great entrepreneurs. Thank you and God bless!

Tommy A. (aka “Happy Gilmore”)

 

Tuesday                                                                                            July 10, 2024

There was never a dull moment in our PEP class today. From the moment we walked through the door, there was an abundance of positive energy along with laughter, all within the confines of professionalism and an eagerness to learn. We have a daily ritual here in PEP, so every morning when we arrive in class, we acknowledge our fellow classmates by exchanging smiles and handshakes amongst each other. After that, to break up the intensity of the day, we all head to the “back of the room!” Then we begin to dance toward the front of the room, down the middle aisle to each of our assigned seats – but we continue to stand while one of our PEP brothers begins to pray us in to start the class off.

Today’s program began with our business plan coaches giving a speech about what is expected of our individual business pitches that we will each present in front of a panel of executives. The coaches explained everything we needed to know to be fully prepared. It was very reassuring to see the time and energy they are willing to put into our presentations so that we can exceed expectations. These guys are giving back to us, and it is awesome.

Character is also a big part of this program, so we are not just learning about entrepreneurship, but also how our character is very important to being a successful business owner. PEP is equipping us with the tools needed to become valuable members of society. We watched a video about being better men, and it is a series we will be watching throughout our time here in PEP. It was a very interesting video about morals and values of being a man and how it affects our lives in positive or negative ways. It showed us how we can take steps toward becoming better husbands and/or fathers.

To end the day on a lighter note, we spent the remainder of our day practicing our business pitches in front of the class and showcasing our business ideas. PEP has Fun as a Driving Value, because as they say, “work is an important part of life, and it should be fun and rewarding”!

  Phillip A. (aka “Escalito”)

 

Wednesday                                                                                      July 11, 2024

Today we listened to everyone’s business plans, and as they got up there you could tell that all our nerves were going crazy. Some of us got up there and nailed it, while others stumbled and stammered. But that was good for us to do, considering it helps us fix what we have wrong with delivering our business pitches. In the end, we executed pretty well. We have some really good ideas, and we only have about 90 seconds to impress the judges and become CEOs. This program is giving us a great jumpstart in the right direction. We all came into the classroom not knowing what to expect, but it has become more than we thought to be honest. We enjoy being surrounded by like-minded individuals, and we will all make this run together.

Today was pretty fun, and after we pitched our ideas, we went to eat lunch. Then we all went back to the dorm, where we did what we needed to get done before learning that we wouldn’t have the second half of class today. They had something called Clubhouse for the previous PEP graduates where they come together and talk about important subjects. Executives come in and speak with the men and share ideas and information that is needed to succeed. We held a practice pitch panel in the dorm which ended our day.

All in all, today was a busy day. We are blessed to be here and cannot wait for tomorrow to get here. Thank you and God bless!

Kevin B. (aka “Carlton from Fresh Prince”)

 

Thursday                                                                                         July 12, 2024

Today was an exciting day in PEP! We were honored to have our first guest speaker come and share with us about Chapters 1 and 2 from our Entrepreneurship textbook. We are all extremely grateful because his presentation was excellent, and he answered a lot of tough questions.

The day started out with our Servant-Leaders sharing the Word of the Day, which was “acceptance.” We talked about letting go and the power of turning our lives over to God. To know acceptance is to know peace, because the stress of trying to control our lives will melt away once we accept God into our hearts and realize we are all part of His plan. Our Servant-Leaders then passed out our Business Pitch Competition signature sheets and reminded us of the importance of getting our pitches memorized. After that, we welcomed three of our brothers from the current class to the front of the classroom to wish them Happy Birthday, PEP-style.

In the Entrepreneurship presentation on Chapter 1, we covered topics such as critical elements for success and economies of scale. We also learned about the difference between venture capital-backed firms and entrepreneurial firms. In Chapter 2, we learned the importance of having an entrepreneurial orientation through the examination of risk tolerance, boundaries and personality. We also learned the best chance at success is to form a business doing something we enjoy. One other thing our guest speaker told us is to not be afraid to fail. With that, he gave an example about professional baseball players and how even the very best batters “fail” the majority of the time.

After class, we held a pitch panel, allowing those of us in the current class to practice our business pitches in front of everyone in the pod. We ended the day with accountability group meetings, in which each member evaluated the group leader by picking one of the 10 Driving Values that he is strong in and one that he can improve upon.           

Justin B.  (aka “Abe Lincoln”)

 

Friday                                                                                               July 13, 2024

Hello PEP alumni, PEP brothers and family members. We would like to give you some insight on how our Friday went. We began with a beautiful, warm welcome by our Servant-Leaders as we entered the PEP classroom. We all retrieved our name badges and found our designated seats for our morning prayer. PEP’s In-Prison Manager, Adam W., prepared a devotional discussing a powerful message from the book of Matthew. We enjoyed Adam W.’s devotional as well as the time we shared together as brothers. We were then dismissed for our scheduled lunch break, bringing our first half of the day to an end.

As we returned for our second half of the day, a few our Servant-Leaders (graduates) and Peer Educators took the time to help us understand how our tests would take place, including things like chair positioning, rules, etc. We then proceeded to watch a video to help us on our personality test we were about to take. We also watched a video on how our tests would be taken on the computer on Tuesday. Our Peer Educators helped explain what the tests will look like and how to navigate through them. We were told some of us will take the test on laptops in the computer room we have here.

After all that, we started taking our personality tests, and we were all able to utilize the knowledge we had just learned. Finally, as our day was winding down, we had a few questions come up. One of the main questions was about what PEP has available to newly-released PEP graduates. Adam W. took the floor and began to give us a breakdown of the many benefits PEP offers. It was eye opening, and we all really needed to hear that information.

Thank you for reading this, and God bless!      

 Lemuel B. (aka “Dr. Evil”)

 

Expressions

“Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatness.”

– John F. Kennedy, Jr.

 

Romans 8:28 tells us that “for those who love God, all things work together for good.” So why is it that we as human beings see failure as a means to an end, a loss of self, damaged pride, and/or a sense of emotional balance that can never be restored? Failure is merely a stepping stone to success and without experiencing it, growth is not possible. But we are stubborn creatures of habit and reluctant to change. We fail to acknowledge that our level of success in life will rarely exceed our level of personal development. For some (including me), turning down the noise of the world around us and removing all the free world distractions that materialism offers us, leaving only our innermost thoughts, is terrifying. It is during these times that our beliefs, faith and structural soundness of our values will be tested. But fear not, for a period of physical confinement can lead to a state of mental liberation.

In my own journey, I have found that my inability to forgive and be grateful for my life in this present moment was hindering me on my path to enlightenment and becoming a more authentic version of myself. Know that at times you may be lost, but you are never forgotten. You may become weary and fall, but it is always a choice to get back up and continue on. Greatness cannot be defined by a moment in time or the successes of a lifetime; it can only be attained by the relentless pursuit of humility, embracing the inevitable failures you will face and being grateful for the opportunity to learn from them.

Sean C. (aka “Elon Musky”)