Monday, September 3, 2018

All of us in the Legacy ‘18 class have been practicing our graduation march. We started out as a mismatched group with different backgrounds and ideas. Over the course of this nine-month program, we’ve become a strong fellowship and brotherhood of accountability. We now have hope and a strong sense of accomplishment. There’s seriousness to the mock graduation march, despite the good-natured jokes and humor, because we know our families will be attending the graduation ceremony.

The Prison Entrepreneurship Program has dedicated Family Liaisons on staff who contact our families and tell them about our progress and participation in this positive and life-transforming program. These Family Liaisons reach out to our families for us. For some of us, our current relationships maybe strained because of our years of estrangement and burnt bridges on our part. These selfless ladies reach out to our families and help us begin to rebuild those bridges that we would not have been able to repair on our own. Our family members are invited to our graduation ceremony to share this special moment with us. For some of our brothers, this event represents their first-ever graduation and the biggest accomplishment of their lives.

We still have the Business Plan Competition on the 6^th. This event represents the culmination of our entrepreneurship training program. PEP brothers will present their business plans to panels of executive judges who come to the Sanders Estes unit from all across the nation and sometimes even from around the world. This will be a two-day event ending with our formal graduation ceremony. Executive volunteers and our families will gather together to celebrate our graduation from PEP’s Phase Two into the graduating Class of Legacy ‘18.  

Teddy M. (a.k.a. “Theodore the Chipmunk”)

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Today was a great day. We saw our Phase One brothers graduate from Authentic Manhood and become our Phase Two brothers. It is a journey our class took, where we started understanding a lot about ourselves. We saw how our brother Rodolfo P. drew portraits of Scott H. and Keith B., two great executives who always welcome us to PEP. It is men like them who inspire us to be better individuals in life, period.

After the new Phase Two left, we set up chairs for our graduation practice walk. When we came back, we prayed in and went through our routine. We did pretty well. A few of us like to have fun, so we cheered and screamed at each other when we walked the stage to get our diplomas. We are all anxious to graduate. Some of us haven’t seen our families in so long, and for some of us it will be our first time graduating anything. Most of us cannot wait to walk to the real stage in the gym and be an official graduate. Back in December our goal was to graduate, and here we are, only three days till our goal is accomplished. We will find new goals, short- and long-term, to continue to grow and help out the next class, now called “Redeemed ‘19.” We see a better class in Redeemed ’19, and it is our job to make sure they do better than we did. It’s a PEP tradition. God bless.

Henry M. (a.k.a. “Petty Officer Dufus”)

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Today in class we took the time to strategically practice our walk for our upcoming graduation that will be taking place in two days. We also had the chance to see all of the Redeemed ‘19 guys who volunteered to draw some really creative banners, signs and posters for all of us who are graduating to show that they support us and to congratulate us for the hard work that we put in during this adventure.

Toward the end of class, we watched the end of what was left of American History, followed by some motivational videos by Nooma which help encourage all of us to be mindful and strong for ourselves and others around us. One of the videos talked about how to forgive people who trespassed against us and learning to let go of things that hold us down so that we can move on with our lives and into a better future – something we all look forward to doing when we are released from prison. The other motivational video we watched was about how we could affect someone else by setting an example that will lead in the right direction. Something we all value here in PEP is having a servant-leader mentality, showing a good example for the next class of brothers joining us in this PEP adventure. Once we were all done watching the motivational videos from Nooma, we prayed out together as a class before leaving the PEP room.

Isai Martinez. (a.k.a. “Cow Lick”)

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Today was a very special day for our class Legacy ’18: it was our Business Plan Competition. Finally, after months of extensive work to put together a business plan pitch and present it to a panel full of successful executives, our fantastic ideas were on full display.

Our day started early around 7 a.m., when once again our PEP staff blessed all of us with a great feast. First breakfast topped off with fruit, and for lunch they gave us actual burgers with all the fixings. After all our stomachs were nice and full, it was time to get to work. We were split in groups so we could present our business pitches. It was a very great and special thing to be able to see the actual, genuine love and care we have for each other. Every time one of our PEP brothers would be next to say his pitch, the others would encourage and lift the other brother up and assure him that he was not alone – just remember to breathe. Even the executives would be well into our pitches, and the comfort level would settle in, so we would breeze right through with no problem.

After the pitches were said and done, we were able to spend time with the executives, sharing ideas back and forth and to get to know each other. Finally, they chose the final four for the competition, with the final results being revealed tomorrow during graduation. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s journal to find out the results of our great finale! 

Ivan M. (a.k.a. “Woody From Toy Story”)

Expressions

 “Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

~ Robert Frost

With over 1000 inmates in Sanders Estes Unit and only just over 50 completing the PEP program, I feel I took the road less traveled. In prison, the mindset is often to become a better criminal and find a way to make it work this time. I took the path of working instead. I wanted to find a way to get better at life, not a life of crime. This program has shown me a way to be a better man and a better person in general. I have confidence to start a business, and I know I can succeed in life. Many people want to take the smooth path of lying around all day or watching TV. That is the path of the sluggard. That is a path of someone who will be back in this place in all white, not a suit. I want the rough path, the path that I can learn and grow from. When you get cut and the cut heals, it leaves a scar. That scar is stronger than the normal skin ever was. I was cut coming here, but going down this road less traveled, I won’t only be stronger and grow from it; now I also know what direction I want to go.

Stefen M. (a.k.a. “Hula Hoop”)