Class 14 Hosts Etiquette Night

On September 17‚ executive volunteers joined Class 14 for the most exciting event this side of the dinner table – Etiquette Night. Class 14 and their etiquette mentors for the evening worked together on the finer points of table setting‚ meal–time behaviors and the importance of a good first impression. Thanks to our volunteers and the enthusiasm of Class 14 participants‚ the event was a success!

To see photos of this fabulous event‚ visit our photo gallery here.

Thinking it’s time to attend a prison event? We’d love for you to join us! If you are interested in attending‚ please visit our RSVP website.

PEP and Executive Volunteer Celebrated During Church Service

PEP executive volunteer Larry Shafer was highlighted at the September 18 and 19 services at Woods Edge Community Church in The Woodlands for his work with PEP and our graduates. Larry’s work is a wonderful illustration of the ways executive volunteers help transform lives every day at PEP. The church produced a short video that was shown during the service. Many responded to Pastor Wells’ charge to spread hope wherever you are. He read Ephesians 2:10 and encouraged the congregation to step off the sidelines and step into the game of life finding the good works God has planned for his children. A link to the service can be found here.

Pastor Wells also had the congregation read the following prayer that we hope inspires you to take up our call to action:

A Franciscan Benediction

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers‚ half–truths‚ and superficial relationships‚ so that we may live deep within our hearts. May God bless us with anger at injustice‚ oppression‚ and exploitation of people‚ so that we may work for justice‚ freedom and peace. May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain‚ rejection‚ starvation and war‚ so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy. And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world‚ so that we can do what others claim cannot be done.

Getting Ready for BPC

Class 14 is nearly halfway through class‚ and the business plan are shaping up nicely. But as always‚ we need your help to prepare our men for the Business Plan Competition in December. We have prison events coming up that you can attend‚ and we would love to see you in prison!

Selling Night: Friday October 15th‚ 2pm–7pm
Our aspiring entrepreneurs practice their hustling skills while delivering one–on–one sales pitches to you‚ the (frugal‚ distracted‚ impatient‚ difficult‚ attentive‚ etc.) customer.

Business Plan Workshop: Saturday October 16th‚ 10am–6pm
This is a great event for our Business Plan Advisors and volunteers to see the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the written business plan. Get your hands dirty while working one–on–one with participants to provide feedback and help them create a solid business plan‚ this is a great day to make a good business plan even better!

To sign up for any (or all) of the events‚ please sign up here.

PEP Outside the Wire

PEP recently spoke at the North Dallas Evening Rotary Club and gave an update on our progress over the past three years since we last spoke there. PEP Graduates Gregory and Desmond shared their story and the many ways PEP has impacted their lives–and how they have given back as a result. As a token of their appreciation‚ the North Dallas Evening Rotary Club donated a flock of chicks in PEP’s honor through Heifer International.

PEP was also invited to make a presentation about our work at a "Party with a Purpose" also in North Dallas. This networking event helped introduce PEP to 20 Dallas executives and business owners looking for ways to give back to their communities. As a result of their fundraising efforts‚ the group made a donation of $100 to PEP. Thanks!

If you have an executive group you think would enjoy hearing about PEP in the Houston‚ Dallas or Austin areas please email info@pep.org.

Straight from the Inside

Class 14 is well underway, and we’re lucky enough to get a behind the scenes look at what their first few weeks have been like. Read this excerpt from a recent journal entry‚ and then read the entries for every week!

"For the class as a whole, I think we’re all relieved that we’re almost halfway to graduation. Etiquette Night is coming up next Friday‚ and I’m eager to see where everyone is socially. A lot of the graduates have asked me if I’m nervous‚ but I don’t feel nervous. It’s just another event‚ and the executives and visitors are people just like me. So I’m not nervous yet. I don’t know about the rest of my class‚ but I do know this: We will bring our A–Game. We always do."

Read More Journals Here