{"id":5964,"date":"2018-09-19T14:44:41","date_gmt":"2018-09-19T19:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/family.pep.org\/cleveland\/?p=5964"},"modified":"2018-09-19T14:44:41","modified_gmt":"2018-09-19T19:44:41","slug":"week-11-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/family.pep.org\/oliverjbell\/2018\/09\/19\/week-11-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Week 11"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#ffffff” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” _builder_version=”3.14″]<\/p>\n

Monday, September 10, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today was a typical Monday in Phase Two. If you are wondering what Phase Two is, it is the second part of the nine month Prison Entrepreneurship Program. The first three months, which is known as Phase One, works on character development. Some say it\u2019s the best part of the program. For most of us that have gone through the first phase, our eyes were opened to what true authentic manhood is, which is very important for our success as fathers, husbands and men.<\/p>\n

But now that we are in Phase Two, our class today worked on the business aspect of this program. We had our Toastmasters class, which is an international program that helps us become confident public speakers. It\u2019s very exciting to take part in these meetings, because we are nervous but are always ready to hear a good story or speech. These speeches take place all day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.<\/p>\n

One bonus that we had today was that the CEO and two Regional Directors of Management Training Corporation (MTC), which is the Cleveland Unit\u2019s security staff, stopped in to ask us a few questions. It\u2019s like the saying goes here in PEP: Stay ready to keep from getting ready! \u2013 because you never know who\u2019s going to show up. Our guests always say they hear a lot of good things about us, and that\u2019s always uplifting to hear, especially after working so hard on our assignments day in and day out here at the Prison Entrepreneurship Program.<\/p>\n

Jason S. (a.k.a. \u201cBig Bird\u201d)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tuesday, September 11, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today we had our History Class. We watched a very interesting video about the Barbarians. This is one of many classes that we have every week. Even though we don\u2019t have to test on these videos anymore, we still enjoy watching them. We saw the course of actions that sparked the war and the after effects too. We will follow up with another video of the Barbarians next week and are all looking forward to it.<\/p>\n

Watching these videos causes us to consider the historical impact of September 11th<\/sup> and the lives that have been sacrificed throughout the history of our nation to maintain our freedom. Today, we remembered the lives that we lost 17 years ago. God Bless You.<\/p>\n

After class, the dayrooms were full of brothers studying for tomorrow\u2019s test in Bert S.\u2019s (a.k.a. \u201cChocolate Truffles\u201d) class. We worked together by making flash cards and going back and forth with each other. This brotherhood is amazing! We are all very fortunate to be a part of the program. Thank you PEP.<\/p>\n

Erik S. (a.k.a. \u201cJethro Bodien\u201d)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wednesday, September 12, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

The day finally arrived for Fall \u201918 to take Chapter Seven\u2019s, \u201cFinancing and Accounting\u201d test in Bert S.\u2019s (a.k.a. \u201cChocolate Truffles\u201d) class. We studied all week long for this test. Once the test was over with, we went straight into Chapter Nine, \u201cEstablishing the Legal Foundation\u201d with Bert S. He really knows how to talk to us and doesn\u2019t leave us confused by the end. If we have any questions, he is more than willing to answer them during and after class. We found the presentation on Chapter Nine concerning the legalities of business to be very informative and important. We got to learn the differences of the three legal forms of business, and also watched two films about them. We also watched another video about the introduction of a patent company.<\/p>\n

Bert S. also informed us that once we\u2019re released, we can always stop by PEP\u2019s Corporate Office to seek advice and help on filling out paperwork for registering our businesses. It is good to know that we have a place like PEP to help us with issues such as these for helping us start our business. Thank you, and God bless you, PEP Corporate Office!<\/p>\n

In addition, we had two unexpected visitors from Australia. The woman\u2019s name was Georgia and she had a business associate with her. He didn\u2019t talk very much, but she was very lively. Of course, they started off dancing up from the back of the room. It was great!<\/p>\n

Juan L. (a.k.a. \u201cMichael Phelps\u201d)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thursday, September 13, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today in class we had a test on Living in the Village<\/u>, which is our financial literacy course. For most of us, it is the first time that we\u2019ve learned anything about managing our financial affairs. This class is also teaching us how to build a better community, which starts in our homes first as being better fathers, husbands and men.<\/p>\n

As a family in PEP, we learn more about ourselves and each other every day. Our families are thankful for this, because they can see the change in us. They can\u2019t wait for us to come home and be the leaders we were destined to be.<\/p>\n

In the afternoon, everyone on the Cleveland Unit had a great time playing Bingo in the gym. Refreshments were given to everyone who participated, and prizes were handed out to the winners. This was truly a blessing to everyone, and it wouldn\u2019t have been possible without the help of our Unit Educational Counselor, Ms. Harris. Thank You to everyone.<\/p>\n

Alvin B. (a.k.a. \u201cJerome Jerome\u201d)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friday, September 14, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

Just like every other morning in PEP, we woke up to positive energy that could be felt in the air. A brother is always welcoming with a handshake and a \u201cgood morning\u201d on the side.<\/p>\n

We did not have a test this morning, so a few of us decided to visit the Friday morning Devotional Class. For some of us, it was our first time. We watched a three-hour video about how hip-hop rap has a big negative impact on everyone, especially our children. We learned that we as men should teach our children the value of becoming a good loving parent first and then focus on their careers.<\/p>\n

After dinner, we had our weekly accountability group meetings and discussed the topic of the week: acting mature. The rest of the evening was a relaxed one at PEP. We all came together as a pod and ended the day with Bingo night. This is an average day in PEP.<\/p>\n

Brandan G. (a.k.a. \u201cCaptain Crunch\u201d)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Expressions<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot hold a torch to light another\u2019s path without brightening our own.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n