Step inside.
Change a life.
Come out changed.
PEP volunteers don’t just give time. They receive something they didn’t expect: a perspective shift that lasts.
In Their Own Words
What volunteers say.
“I walked in expecting to give something. I left with more than I brought. These men are running circles around MBA students — they just haven’t been given the same starting line.”
“The business plan presentations were sharper than anything I’ve seen at accelerators. Genuine preparation, real stakes, and zero entitlement. I left wanting to hire them all.”
“My company started as a corporate sponsor, but now it’s personal. I bring my whole leadership team every semester. It is the most impactful professional development we do.”
Watch
Finding Joy Behind the Walls
A volunteer reflects on what she found when she walked into a Texas prison expecting to give, and instead received something she didn’t expect.
What to Expect
Real classroom.
Real stakes.
Real results.
PEP runs a structured semester inside TDCJ units. Volunteers are the faculty. You bring your professional expertise; PEP provides training, materials, and full logistics support.
Orientation & Preparation
PEP provides thorough orientation covering what to expect inside a correctional unit, TDCJ protocols, and how to communicate effectively.
Teaching & Mentoring
Teach in small groups, review business plans, judge pitch competitions, or run workshops in your area of expertise. Participants are motivated, prepared, and sharp.
Ongoing Mentorship
Stay connected post-release as an accountability partner, employer connection, or business advisor. Many of PEP’s strongest success stories trace back to a single sustained relationship.
Volunteer Roles
Find your fit.
Whether you can give one afternoon a year or one day a month, there’s a role matched to your schedule and skillset. All are meaningful. None require prior correctional experience.
Not sure where you fit?
Tell us your background and availability, and our volunteer coordinator will match you to the right role within two business days.
Get MatchedBusiness Curriculum Instructor
Teach a module of PEP’s MBA-style curriculum: finance, marketing, operations, or strategy. Materials provided. You bring your professional experience.
Business Plan Judge
Evaluate participant business plans at the Shark Tank-style Business Plan Competition, PEP’s equivalent of Demo Day.
Character Formation Facilitator
Lead discussions on leadership, ethics, accountability, and servant leadership. Conversation-driven, not lecture-driven.
Reentry Mentor
Walk alongside a graduate in their first 12 months post-release, meeting monthly and providing accountability during the critical window.
Employment Connector
Open your network. Introduce graduates to hiring managers. Make the call. Even one connection can break the cycle.
Online Workshop Facilitator
Deliver a workshop remotely on resume writing, interview skills, financial literacy, or digital tools.
Who We Need
If you’ve built something,
we need you.
PEP works because real operators — not theorists — teach real business. Participants can spot inauthenticity immediately. What they respond to is earned credibility: your failures as much as your successes.
No prior correctional experience needed. No special certifications required. PEP handles all logistics. You show up prepared to be honest.
Anyone with a Story
If you’ve overcome adversity or built something from nothing, that is the curriculum PEP teaches best.
C-Suite Executives
CEOs, CFOs, COOs who can teach strategy, operations, and leadership from lived experience.
Attorneys & CPAs
Legal and financial professionals who demystify contracts, taxes, and running a compliant business.
Entrepreneurs & Founders
People who have started companies and know what it actually takes, including the failures no pitch deck shows.
Sales & Marketing Pros
Revenue generators who can teach customer acquisition, brand building, and how to communicate value.
HR & Talent Leaders
Professionals who can teach hiring, managing people, culture-building, and how to be a great employee first.
Common Questions
Good to know before you sign up.
Answers to what most first-time volunteers want to know.