Join Us for the
State of PEP Conference Call!

Join Catherine Rohr on the State of PEP conference call! Catherine will be sharing about PEP’s 2009 priorities and organizational updates during the call on Tuesday, March 31 from 12:00p to 1:00p CDT. To RSVP, contact Lani Caffey, lcaffey@pep.org

Record Numbers Kickoff Class XI

(Class XI joins their peers and executive volunteers at Kick-Off.)

On Friday, March 6 the Class XI participants were officially welcomed into the PEP family at the Kick-Off event. This was the largest Kick-Off event yet with 85 participants and 59 executive volunteers in attendance. Class XI was encouraged by the many executives and volunteers who took time out of their day to visit the Cleveland Correctional Center and encourage the new participants as they begin their journey with the Prison Entrepreneurship Program.

This event was the first interaction many of the participants have had with free world guests (outside of their families) for quite some time, which can make for an overwhelming and somewhat intimidating experience. Many of the participants have a hard time believing that successful businessmen and women would take the time out of their busy lives to spend a Friday afternoon in prison. Some silly hats, a little dancing and one-on-one time can go a long way to break down the barriers between the free world and prison world.

By the conclusion of the event the participants and executives were freely sharing with each other how meaningful the Kick-Off experience had been for them. Veteran PEP volunteer, Lynn Newman, Senior VP of marketing for Belmont Wealth Management, said, "For me, Kick-Off is one of the most exciting events. The participants see, for the first time, that there are many people dedicated to their future success. Likewise, all the executives get re-energized as we observe God working through the program. PEP changes lives for both participants and the executive volunteers. It all begins at Kick-Off!"
Read "Reflections on Class XI Kick-Off" Here

Interested in attending an event in prison? Contact Lani Caffey, lcaffey@pep.org

Graduate Connection

(PEP participants with executive volunteers.)

In an effort to create a meaningful time for volunteers and previous PEP graduates to stay connected, we’re introducing Graduate Connection before each Friday prison event. This is an optional time from 12:00p – 2:00p before each Friday event that will allow guests time to re-connect with PEP graduates from Classes VIII, IX and X who are still incarcerated at the Cleveland Correctional Center.

Class XI is a large class and we’ve had a record number of people requesting to be on the guest list for each event, which leaves very little space for previous PEP grads during the actual event. Our hope is that the Graduate Connection will give volunteers a chance to stay connected with and encourage their favorite PEP graduates as these men prepare for their release and reintegration into society. If you’re interested in participating in the Graduate Connection before an event, please contact Lani Caffey, lcaffey@pep.org.

Straight from the Inside

As they kick-off their journey, Class XI participants are working harder than ever to start things on the right foot. Hear straight from them about their challenges and victories in our journal archive. Read about their experience at Kick-Off with executive volunteers and much more. Here's an excerpt from Week 1:

"I’ve seen men cry, and men hug one another in a bond so close that no one outside these walls would ever understand. We’ve danced, and laughed, and made fools out of ourselves, surprised at first, but then realizing that it’s been inside of us the whole time. That is, we have the ability to be open and honest, almost like children."

Read More Journals Here