PEP at Thanksgiving: What Gratitude Looks Like Behind Bars
A Different Kind of Holiday For most people, Thanksgiving means gathering with loved ones around a dinner table. For PEP participants inside prison units, it’s not the setting that defines the holiday, it’s the perspective. Thanksgiving inside may lack traditional food or family visits, but it’s rich with reflection, brotherhood, and a deep sense of […]
What “One Day at a Time” Really Means in Reentry
More Than a Motto “One day at a time” is a phrase many people recognize, but for someone rebuilding after incarceration, it’s more than a saying. It’s a survival strategy, a structure for staying focused, and a way of life that promotes both patience and progress. At PEP, this mindset shows up in how participants […]
Why We Teach Long-Term Thinking in PEP
Short-Term Choices, Long-Term Impact Many men entering PEP have lived in survival mode for years. Their choices were driven by immediate needs, sometimes to protect themselves, sometimes to get through the day. Long-term goals felt out of reach or irrelevant. That changes quickly once they enter the program. Building a New Mental Framework One of […]
What It Means to Lead Yourself First
Leadership Starts from Within PEP teaches business, but leadership is the heart of the program. Before participants are ready to manage a team, build a company, or serve their community, they have to learn how to lead themselves. This isn’t a metaphor, it’s a daily practice that drives everything they do. Self-leadership is where real […]
How PEP Reinforces Emotional Intelligence
More Than Business While PEP teaches entrepreneurship, its deeper impact lies in personal transformation. At the heart of that transformation is emotional intelligence; the ability to understand, manage, and express one’s emotions with awareness and empathy. It’s one of the most important skills a leader can have. It’s also one of the most overlooked areas […]
What Does Reentry Support Actually Look Like at PEP?
Beyond Release Day At PEP, graduation is not the end, it’s the beginning of a new chapter. Reentry is complex, and no one should face it alone. That’s why our post-release support is as intentional and structured as our in-prison program. The First 72 Hours PEP connects with graduates the moment they step out. This […]
Why We Talk About “Men of Honor” in PEP
A Culture of Accountability and Respect Inside PEP, “Men of Honor” is more than a phrase. It is a standard, a challenge, and a vision for who our participants are becoming. From the moment a man enters the program, he’s invited to step into a new identity, one rooted in integrity, service, and dignity. What […]
The Hidden Power of Business Plans in Prison
More Than a Document At first glance, a business plan might seem like just a tool for starting a company. But inside the walls of a PEP classroom, it becomes something much deeper. For many participants, writing a business plan is their first experience imagining a future that doesn’t involve survival, it involves purpose. Why […]
Volunteering with PEP: What Makes Someone Great at It
More Than Just Showing Up PEP volunteers are more than spectators, they’re catalysts for change. Whether they serve as business plan advisors, character coaches, or pitch judges, their impact stretches far beyond a single visit. But what makes a PEP volunteer truly effective? It’s not about credentials or business experience. It’s about presence, humility, and […]
Inside PEP’s Leadership Academy: Foundations That Last
A First Step Toward Real Change Before participants ever write a business plan or pitch an idea, they start with something far more personal, themselves. PEP’s Leadership Academy is the foundation of the entire program, shaping mindsets, habits, and character. It’s where transformation truly begins. What Is the Leadership Academy? Leadership Academy is a rigorous, […]
