Class 12 Business Plans Take Shape

As Class 12 moved into their 8th week of PEP, the Venture Capital Panel and Concept Day provided an opportunity for participants to pitch their preliminary business ideas and gain valuable feedback from top executives from across the country.

The Venture Capital Panel proved to be the first of many difficult steps in PEP, as participants faced a panel of executive judges to show what they have learned thus far. The judges, successful businessmen and women, were encouraged to challenge the participants on feasibility of ideas and to present tough critiques before the participants committed to writing their actual business plans.

Despite their nervousness, the participants stepped up and delivered with confidence, authority and presence to prove that time behind bars will not prevent them from achieving their dreams. Many of the participants have never delivered a formal presentation in public, but they spoke confidently of the hope and change their businesses would bring to their families and broader communities.

To read more about Venture Capital Panel and Concept Day click here. To see more photographs from these events, check out our photo archive. If you're interested in attending an event with our Class 12 participants, visit our RSVP website.

Executives Share Their Impressions

Businessmen and women from around the country joined Class 12 for Venture Capital Panel and Concept Day. Here are some of their thoughts on the experience.

"For me, this was one of those very rare life experiences that fundamentally changes your outlook on something you may not have ever given much thought to before." -- Mark Strode, NewComLink

"Prior to coming I had a preconceived attitude. These were prisoners, murderers, drug dealers, thieves, etc. They scared me. Visiting the prison I got to know them as men. Men who matter to God and now to me. Men who made a mistake in life who desperately want another chance. I am changed forever from this trip." -- Richard P. LeBrun, NAI Hiffman

"I didn’t know if I really had much to contribute. I didn’t expect to hear as much originality as I did in the business ideas that were presented. I think, though, that the thing that surprised me most was the impact that the individuals made on me. I came away with the faces and names of many of these men implanted in my mind and heart. I came away knowing that maybe it was only a few circumstances that separated their situations from mine. I came away with prayers and hopes for their success and for their future happiness." -- Paul Sullivan, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Outside the Wire

Updates on PEP graduates as they make their way in the free world, outside the wire.

Jason, one of the younger PEP members, began prison life at age 15. He met Ms. Rohr during her information gathering visit to the Texas Youth Commission. With an intent to expand the reach of PEP, her influence educated Jason and others on how to qualify for the program in the free world. Jason became involved post-release in Entrepreneurship School (eSchool) and has visited the Cleveland Unit to show support for other participants.

Read Full Story Here

Straight from the Inside

Class 12 participants are busy creating business plans, learning proper etiquette, and supporting one another through the most trying parts of the five month class. Every week, they share their thoughts in weekly journal entries - read an excerpt below and then click through to read the full archive.

"When we walked into the PEP classroom this morning, we could still feel the residue of love and smell the indescribable scent of compassion left from last weekend’s Venture Capital Panel and Concept Day events. The love shown to us by our guests has left a permanent mark upon our souls. "

Read More Journals Here