Toward the end of October, I was invited to a summit on economic mobility in Houston. It was the first time such a gathering was held and a privilege to be invited and represent PEP as one of only a handful of non-profit organizations in the room. You can read my full reflection on the event HERE, but I highlight this summit because as leaders and economists spoke about the predictors of economic mobility, they highlighted the importance of people from one socioeconomic class coming into contact with another. Since the summit, I have had several conversations with leaders in Houston and Dallas about the lessons that can be learned about economic mobility from prison – or more specifically, from the work that PEP does in and out of prison. More and more, PEP is moving into a place of leading and convening, and not just when it comes to incarceration, but also in areas like education and economic mobility. 

This is the time of year when we give thanks; and I am filled with immense gratitude for the opportunity to serve the mission of PEP alongside so many amazing people: volunteers, staff, partners and participants. Most of my life, I have lived a life of service, but I don’t know that I have ever felt such an impact as I do with PEP – not only because of the work, but because of the community to which we all belong. 

Many of you contribute to this community with hours of service, for which we are so very thankful. This contribution is enough. However, if it makes sense for you to make a financial contribution to PEP at the end of the year, you can visit this page to learn more about the impact you can make and how to make a contribution that makes the most sense for you. 

As I write this, the PEP team in partnership with TDCJ is moving from the Bell Unit in Cleveland to the Pam Lyncher unit in Atascocita (30 minutes North of Houston). It is the first time PEP has moved into a new prison facility in 10 years. The move is a result of significant renovations at Bell which will take approximately two years. When PEP moves back, we have the opportunity to quadruple our presence in the Houston area. 

However, the move isn’t the only significant milestone of this class: 86% of them completed Leadership Academy on the tablet, and they have the lowest attrition rate of any class for the first 30 days. Many volunteers who met them at the Big Idea Pitch commented that they are also the best group we have seen in a while. This tells us that the tablet innovation is working even better than planned. 

Also as a result of the tablet, we have seen a significant increase in applications to the Core BPC program. In the first two quarters of 2025, we received 1,240 applications, but third quarter boasted 3,000. 

In Dallas, renovations of our new 14-person transition house are underway. This property which was purchased for $875K has required roughly $700K in work (55% has already been covered as pro bono) and will be valued at $2.2M when complete in late spring. 

As we look to the new year, North Texas especially will see a lot of activity: an Entre Capital breakfast business showcase at SMU January 14; eSchool Graduation dinner February 24; and B2B North Texas April 30. Be sure to save the dates on your calendar for all these events now. Houston will welcome volunteers to a new unit for Pitch Day January 9, and all volunteers will be able to sign up through a new volunteer portal starting in January. 

In the meantime, I want to again say thank you for all the support you give to this second-chance community. Without you, the work which has been described is not possible, so thank you. May you and yours live with the gratitude and joy of this season year-round. 

As we look to the new year, North Texas especially will see a lot of activity: an Entre Capital breakfast business showcase at SMU January 14; eSchool Graduation dinner February 24; and B2B North Texas April 30. Be sure to save the dates on your calendar for all these events now. Houston will welcome volunteers to a new unit for Pitch Day January 9, and all volunteers will be able to sign up through a new volunteer portal starting in January. 

In the meantime, I want to again say thank you for all the support you give to this second-chance community. Without you, the work which has been described is not possible, so thank you. May you and yours live with the gratitude and joy of this season year-round. 

 

In conjunction with eSchool, executive volunteers are invited to a monthly networking event with our participants.

The event aims to connect you with eSchool participants and support them in developing their vision, creating a resume, leveraging LinkedIn, etc…

Join us for an evening of connection and collaboration at the PEP Houston Business Mixer.

Meet entrepreneurs, mentors, and community leaders, explore funding opportunities with Entre Capital, and learn how PEP is helping returning citizens build strong businesses. It’s a simple way to plug into real impact.

Round 2: Bell Winter 2026 Business Plan Competition

PEP needs Business Owners, Executives, Directors and Key Decision-Makers to evaluate and score the second round of business pitches

Your input and feedback will help decide the final teams competing at the Winter 2026 Business Plan Competition Event.

In conjunction with eSchool, executive volunteers are invited to a monthly networking event with our participants.

The event aims to connect you with eSchool participants and support them in developing their vision, creating a resume, leveraging LinkedIn, etc…

Provide quality feedback on participants’ business models that will encourage participants to improve and continually develop ideas; to serve as a business coach to further develop business ideas; Networking with participants and other attendees.

 

 

Round 2: Bell Winter 2026 Business Plan Competition

PEP needs Business Owners, Executives, Directors and Key Decision-Makers to evaluate and score the second round of business pitches

Your input and feedback will help decide the final teams competing at the Winter 2026 Business Plan Competition Event.

This month we celebrated a huge milestone for one of the most important people in the PEP family. Our Chief Operating Officer, Phi Tran, turned 50. Phi is PEP’s longest tenured employee and the steady hand behind so much of our work. He has guided operations through years of growth, helped launch new chapters of the program, and supported countless participants and volunteers with the same calm, generous spirit he brings to every challenge.

The Houston staff surprised Phi with a birthday party at the PEP Collider, and the theme could not have been more fitting. Everyone showed up “as Phi,” complete with his signature clothing choices and masks of his face. The room was full of laughter, stories, and a genuine appreciation for a leader who has given so much to this mission. It was a moment to honor his dedication, celebrate his impact, and remind ourselves how fortunate we are to have him guiding the way forward.

PEP volunteers are now sharing their voices beyond the classroom in PEP Clubhouse, and they are writing about their experiences with PEP, life lessons, and the issues that matter most. Check out the new Clubhouse blog for fresh stories and inspiration from the people who walk alongside our men each week.

Wednesdays have become my favorite day of the week over the past 18 months.  Not because of the silly “hump daaaaay” voice from that old commercial that goes through my head, but because it’s “Clubhouse Day!” 

Clubhouse is part of an extensive reformative process developed and run by the Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP), a non-profit organization that has been helping incarcerated men transform their lives and become contributing members of society for over 20 years.  Through a series of structured classes and events, the men learn entrepreneurship skills, general business skills, self-reflection, and most significantly, character development to become the men they were born to be.

I’ve been volunteering with PEP for over 5 years, and Clubhouse has become my favorite interaction with the men.  Each week for 15 weeks, a few executive volunteers go inside the prison and meet with the current PEP class to help them with their journey. 

It is hard to put into words what this interaction does for me, but there’s something magical about being one of 2-3 volunteers in a room of 70-80 men having conversations about truth:  whether the topic is talent, purpose, relationships, transformation, being authentic, or goals. 

We talk truth to each other, from the heart, and they tell us it helps them.  They say they learn from us, that they develop an ability to connect with people “on the outside” they wouldn’t otherwise know.  We share about our successes and failures, lessons we’ve learned through our lives.  We ask them to talk about their stories, how they’ve grown, and what fears they have about the future.  They are challenged to think differently about themselves and the world around them, strive to establish goals they might otherwise never consider, and give back as mentors to the next class of PEP participants.

But I also learn from them.  I learn every week that these men work harder on themselves than many, if not most, of the executives I’ve coached over my career.  They are honest with themselves and each other, they are vulnerable with other grown men every day, and they have a level of insight and love that I rarely see “on the outside”.  They break down walls and tough exteriors and find the joy that comes from genuine interpersonal connection.  They invite us in to be a part of their transformation, and it is beautiful.

They are gracious enough to share their love with me, and it makes my heart full.  I appreciate every comment, every interaction, every emotion they share.  As a woman, I realize that I offer a slightly different perspective, and I’m aware of how I may challenge their views of women.  When I see someone who is clearly uncomfortable having a professional conversation with a woman approach me, I beam inside, knowing how much courage they are showing and how this will help them grow.

My perceptions of incarcerated people have forever been changed as a result.  As with any group of people, there is a wide range of skills and qualities in prison.  PEP has found a way to discover and nurture those who want to contribute to the world, and I’m so blessed to be a part of it. 

These men might need a bit of guidance and support, love and encouragement, but who doesn’t need that?  They choose every day to work hard on themselves as they fulfill their purpose and give back to others.  Being a part of the Clubhouse is a small way I can help them in that journey, and I gladly pour whatever I have to offer into someone who wants to better himself.

Personal Development is the ongoing, lifelong process of self-improvement and growth aimed at realizing one’s full potential by nurturing one’s body, mind, and spirit. Personal Develop-ment is cultivating self-awareness in one’s self and also a continuous learning process. It is the ability to understand the development of skills across different parts in your life.

Personal Development is important because it provides the ability to understand direction. It helps increase one’s resilience and a sense of purpose which in return could allow someone to have and lead a more fulfilling life. Being able to truly understand your own feelings, thoughts, potential and behaviors to me is the foundation of personal development and personal growth.

Regularly reflecting on your personal ex-periences allows you to have a personal insight and could help you identify areas in your life you could improve on. The ability to adapt and to be resilient in your personal life is important because it helps you face and overcome situations and challenges you might deem impossible at first.

Staying focused on personal development is also when the process of strategic think-ing starts to happen. Doing the work that is necessary to craft the life you desire. Talking about a vision you might have is not the same as doing the work that it involves to achieve your mission and goals. There is no need for perfection in what you are doing and there is no need to rush in trying to accomplish your goals, just start small. Once you achieve your first goal, move on to your next goal. You don’t need to impress anyone or make them approve of what you are doing. Personal devel-opment and personal growth is about you and what you want.

We build our lives one “brick” or one step at a time. As you start building the life you want, your personality will start showing or coming into play. Some people tend to be harder on themselves or more cautious with the things they do. We tend to see all our flaws, the things we failed in doing and give up before being able to start what we are trying to accomplish. In dealing with myself, I have learned to just show up and offer myself compassion when I fail in something or think I might fail in doing some-thing. I taught myself not to settle for staying permanently stuck. I learned that I am not a failure because I struggle and I don’t have to look or do life like everyone else. I don’t even have to be great at anything. I just have to make my own path. I have also learned that I am stronger and more resilient then before and I learned this by taking one step after another.

Personal development is when we are not looking for a right answer for ourselves, but instead looking to remove, piece by piece, the parts of life we were wrong in. Personal devel-opment is kind of like science; the hypothesis is our beliefs, our actions and behaviors can be the experiments. Our thoughts and internal emotions are the data that we are able to start comparing to what we already do or believe, and then we can start to put the results into the understanding we have for our needs and for the future of our personal growth.

Our personal development is understanding when we are wrong and how we are able to improve what we are wrong in tomorrow. Being wrong in life is a good thing because being wrong means change being wrong means you can improve. Personal development is being able to check your progress of where you are at the moment from where you were and where you are trying to go.

The Prison Entrepreneurship Program has helped me in many areas such as speaking in front of people and identifying my own life val-ues. TDCJ also offers another great personal development program called changes which stands for Changing Habits and Achieving New Goals to Empower Success. A person named Ken Keys Jr. said ‘You are not responsible for the programming you picked up in childhood. However, as an adult, you are 100% responsible for fixing it.’

Personal development is also understanding which type of beliefs and principles you picked up while you were being raised and realizing you need to change and how you can make those changes.

Being a person of character to me is also part of personal development. The six parts of char-acter starts first with being trustworthy, being respectful, being responsible, fairness, caring for people and also being a respectable citizen. Cognitive self-system is part of your personal growth and personal development, as well as developing your coping skills, your interpersonal relationships, motivations and emotional regu-lations. Understanding your personal patterns like thinking, relationships, behavioral, criminal, expectations, avoidance and your personal motto are all parts of your personal develop-ment.

Personal development also includes what is called a self-system; which includes your self-image, self-esteem, self-worth, self-control, self-confidence, your regards for others and also your personal goals.

A person can not accomplish any type of per-sonal growth or personal development if unwill-ing to put in the work. It takes placing one foot in front of the other; as well as wanting to make a major change in life.