Day One

Today was my first day inside a prison – the Cleveland, Texas correctional facility. I’m participating in a program where CEOs help teach inmates how to start a business.

Catherine Rohr is the driving force behind the PEP, which is a faith-based program for prisoners who want to become entrepreneurs. She has a rule for participants: “No perverts, no criminals, no slackers.” Her selection process is rigorous: she is looking for men who are smart, soon to be released, and committed to changing their lives. Out of 89 admitted to the current class, I will witness only 40 graduates.

They frequently have 17 hour days. Today I had a 14 hour day.

If you believe that people cannot change, you should come see this place.

The state releases prisoners with $100 and a bus ticket back to the place where they got arrested (where all their misbehaving friends are). $100 doesn’t give you much of a start.

PEP grabs them when they get out and separates them from what caused the problems in the first place. They are connected with other successful graduates of the program in order to keep them on the right track.

How well does this work? The recidivism rate (re-incarceration) is 4% for this program as opposed to an average 50% nationwide.

Our society is cynical, nowhere more so than in prison. The most cynical of us all end up here. These guys have chosen a new path and they have an amazing woman for a leader. She’s working miracles here every day.

- Curt