Each stage builds on the last, equipping men with the character, skills, and connections they need to thrive after incarceration.
Whether pursuing employment, launching a business, or simply becoming a stronger father, neighbor, or leader, PEP provides the structure and support to turn potential into purpose.
Virtual: write letters to encourage and motivate applicants
12 weeks
Develop character
Adopt core values
Learn conflict resolution
Develop forward thinking
PEP Propriety Character Development Curriculum
Reflect on their past life experiences, personal growth, and aspirations.
Articulate a vision for their transformed future through the writing of their own eulogy.
Demonstrate self-awareness by identifying with the story of another and drawing personal parallels.
Begin internalizing the core values of PEP — integrity, personal responsibility, and vision for the future.
Self-awareness and identification of influences, behaviors and motivations.
1. Eulogy - determine what you want people to say about you from three points of view: community, family and business.
2. Self Assessement - share your version of your story, and other people's version of your story
3. Scenario comparisons and identification of own character in relationship to those in stories.
4. Completion of personal identity vision, values and goals.
Correspondence Course online via TDCJ Tablets
Audit version is available to all TDCJ Residents
For Certificate of PEP Completion, additional requirements are needed
End of modules
In person teaching of entrepreneurship curriculum
Virtual business plan advisor for marketing and finance
In person BPC pitch contest judging (3x/quarter)
16 weeks
Confidence & business basics
Entrepreneurship curriculum recognized by Baylor University
Toastmasters
Entrepreneurial History and Theory
Analyze how to choose a business
Identify a new business’s assets and capabilities
Recognize the fundamental importance of cash flow analysis
Prepare a cash flow statement and a budget
Discuss techniques for measuring performance
List how laws, rules, and regulations benefit new businesses
Explain the importance of copyrights, trademarks, and patents to a new business
Define the role that insurance plays in the risk portfolio of the new business
Discuss the basics of a marketing plan
Explain the need for developing an exit or harvest plan and ideal timing for that plan
Discuss how to create a profile of the target customers for a new business
Explain how to categorize competitors of the new business using external analysis
Written Tests for Each Chapter
Big Idea Pitch: Opportunity for potential advisors to meet each team virtually and select the team(s) they want to advise on their business plan.
Pitch Day: Final rehearsal presentation of business plan. Each team will have 6 - 9 minutes to present their business plan with the top 9 advancing to BPC and the remainder set to present during the 2nd Chance Competition.
Workshops: Opportunity for potential advisors to meet each team virtually and select the team(s) they want to advise on their business plan.
Business Plan Competition: Teams will present 6 -9 minute pitch built around their final business plan. Each member of team will present sections according to their title.
Build sample plan and three public pitches
Must apply
Graduation
In person attendance at Clubhouse as a panelist
10 Weeks + time to release
Teach to others to learn and internalize material
Leadership formation, life balance, relationship building, decision making, habits, active listening, the art of delegation and living/working in community
Honing business leadership skills
None formal
Facilitate open dialogue on life skills and leadership skills topics.
Encourage interaction between participants and executive volunteers as well as interaction with their peers.
Provide a platform for participants to articulate their ideas confidently in a group settng.
Teach others what they have learned, so that they internalize it.
Learn leadership skills among peers and put them into practice with a mindset of service rather than authority.
Topics discussed include:
* Mission, Vision, and Values
* Goal Formulatioon/End in mind
* Talents, Passions, and Performance
* Transformation
* Purpose
* Life Balance Body/Mind/Spirit
* Trust
* Relationship Building
* Belonging
* Being Authentic
* Decision Making
* Habits
* Active Listening
* Art of Delegation
* Community
5 sessions for current students and 10 additional sessions for servant leaders
Admitted with completion of BPC
Release from prison
eSchool
In-person small group weekly mentoring at office (12-week commitment)
Bring dinner to a transition house
12 weeks
Facilitate re-entry
Employment
Re-incarceration prevention
Budgeting, goal setting, interviewing, etc.
Set realistic short-term goals with actionable steps that align with your long-term goals and vision.
Introduce and demonstrate a sample of time management tools to aid users in developing their own time management strategy.
Learn the concept of “building net worth” by making income and expense decisions that build sustaining wealth.
Learn the role of insurance in sustaining wealth in the face of unforeseen emergencies will be addressed.
Receive and understand a typical budget for someone initially released from prison, and how their situation varies from this template.
Receive individual advice on the relative importance of paying off debt and savings on building real net worth.
Set SMART Goals
Build Resume
Develop and present a 45 and 15 second personal "elevator" pitch
Utilize technology and social media to market themselves in a job search
Prepare and wellness plan to live out a healthly lifestyle.
Identify communties and relationship that can support the person you wan to be.
Build an effective resume that shows results for job searches, job interviews, and online professional profiles.
Communicate your story and positively address your background.
Search for jobs, network and market yourself in the marketplace
Networking
Mentor relationship
In-prison graduation or released during program
eSchool graduation
eAspirations
In-person or virtual: review participants business plans and pitches
In person attendance at BAM event to support the men presenting their plans
6 weeks per quarter
Re-energize spirit of entrepreneurship that dwindles as one tries to survive the challenges of release.
Build out key elements of a business plan for those pursuing entrepreneurshi
Problem, solution, target customer, differentiation
Lean business plan
3 minute pitch at BAM for some (determined by eAspirations leader)
Must apply
Formerly incarcerated
End of 6 weeks
In-person or virtual, agreed upon regular cadence:
1 year commitment as Entre Capital coach (to assist when participant is applying and/or has received their loan)
Ongoing
Potential milestone grants to get started (<$10K)
Loan application (>$20K) for those who merit
Long-term business coach
Business foundations
Criteria for funding
Impact of Character
Elements and Determining Coachability
Valid and scalable business idea
Determination of Capital
Determination of Collateral
Cash Flow Projections
Review of Personal Budget
If you’ve been justice-impacted and would like more information, contact our Reentry Team by completing this form.
The Prison Entrepreneurship Program unites executives and inmates through entrepreneurial passion and servant leadership to transform lives, restore families, and rebuild communities.
PEP – HOUSTON
6501 Navigation Blvd Ste. H7 Houston, TX 77011
832-767-0928
PEP – NORTH TEXAS
2435 N Central Expy #150 Richardson, TX 75080
214-575-9909
©2025 Prison Entrepreneurship Program. All rights reserved.
Prison Entrepreneurship Program is a 501(𝗰)(3) non-profit as determined by the Internal Revenue Service
