On May 6, 2015, the North Texas Commission was joined by Natalie Baker and Bryan Kelley from the Prison Entrepreneurship Program to discuss life after prison. Our country has a prison problem. One out of 100 Americans is in jail or prison today—a total population of 2.3 million, which is equivalent to the size of Dallas, Fort Worth and Plano combined. One out of 15 Americans will go to jail or prison in his lifetime. For many, prison is “out of sight, out of mind.” But it becomes everyone’s problem when prisons continue to bloat with repeat “customers” who understand their role in society—steal, kill and hustle. For those who would rather focus on preventing crime by working with at-risk populations who have never committed a crime, consider this: prisons are the largest concentrated pools of future criminals. That’s a conversation starter for real crime prevention solutions. The driving passion of PEP manifests itself in a progressive nonprofit solution that is single-handedly changing the way private institutions and state governments view correctional facilities. This passion is based on the idea that prison inmates—especially former gang leaders, drug dealers and those with violent offenses—have a massive reservoir of untapped potential. PEP seeks to redirect these men into legitimate enterprises, leveraging their proven entrepreneurial skill-sets to inspire an even deeper change.

1. RETHINK
PRISON

2. North Texas Commission
Webinar
May 6, 2015

3. The Problem
Over 50% of all released felons
return to prison within 3 years.

4. Nearly 90% were unemployed
at the time of their re-arrest.
A Leading Cause

5. Equip inmates with the ability
to create their own jobs.
Our Solution

6. Offer rigorous “mini MBA” in prison
followed by post-release support.
Our Approach

7. Our Curriculum
3-month character development course &
6-month Business Plan Competition

8. Introduce them to a new
network that provides
expert advice.

9. Graduates earn Certificate of Entrepreneurship
from Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business
Our Certification

10. Our Re-Entry Support
Housing… Case Management… Education…
Mentoring… Job Placement… Start-up Support

11. Fun . . . And a New Network!
11
Lake Day 2014
PEP Softball
Team
Thanksgiving Dinner
with MDPC

12. Our Results
PEP
3-year recidivism
avg ~ 7%
TEXAS
~26% in 3 years
NATIONAL
~50% in 3 years
PEP
165+ businesses
launched by 1,000+
released graduates
At least 2 with $1MM+
in annual sales
PEP
100% employment
within 90 days of
release from prison
NATIONAL
Only ~60% within
12 months
RECIDIVISMENTREPRENEURSHIPEMPLOYMENT

13. 13
Step Up …
1. Executive Volunteer
• Excellence in Etiquette June 12
2. Business Plan Advisor (email)
3. eSchool Instructor
4. Employer

14. Won’t you join the
PEP Revolution?