At age 30, Catherine Rohr is the CEO and founder of the nonprofit Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP). Under her leadership, the program recruits volunteer senior business executives who provide training, mentoring, and support to prison inmates. The participants in this one-of-a-kind program have achieved a 98 percent employment rate and have launched 40 entrepreneurial businesses. Currently PEP is refining resources to replicate its model in facilities nationwide.
Notes from this session follow.
How did you end up in prison?
- Took a missions trip to Romania, worked with orphans… asked “Why did God give me so much so early?” … got an invitation to one of Chuck Colson’s donors to go to a Texas prison… started flying back and forth to Texas each month… had to do more.
Talk about the cost of the call?
- This is my calling. There is nothing I wouldn’t risk… My favorite prayer is “Bring it on God!”
- Used all of our money including 401k
- Called to move to TX
- My life is on the line, but so is everybody’s every time we get into a car.
How did you find the courage?
- One act of obedience after another.
- The toughest and most joyful, fullfilling years.
Talk about the prison system
- 1 of 15 Americans go to prison at some time. 50% go back.
- Men are released with $100 back into the same bad environment and then have title of ex-offender that sticks with them for life.
- We are as Christians don’t extend grace to prisoners.
Tell us about PEP.
- 3 categories to what we do
- Recruit the best entrepreneurs in prison. Train them.
- Re-integration – Provide them with housing, benefits, help them start businesses. (98% employment rate. 70% of graduates are doners to PEP. Goal of graduating 1,000 men a year.)
- third?
Tell us about the “crucible moment.”
- Texas prison system shut down the program while investigating it for 4 weeks.
- Just show up in the morning, get your orders for the day, and execute.
What have you learned about leading up?
- Large institutions are made up of individual people.
- My mentality is the prison system is a customer, they’re allowing us to do what we do.
How do you instill character in prisoners?
- Don’t want to teach a dope dealer to become a better dope dealer.
- Give them a character assessment. She does the character assessment herself to show her weaknesses, be real about them.
- Also do peer assessment.
How do you handle criticism?
- Don’t let my emotions over criticism prevent me from getting my job done.
- Assess whether the criticism is legit. If something needs fixing, I want to know to fix it.
- Dismiss rumors.
- I don’t make excuses for being a woman.
Talk about self-leadership, accountability.
- If I’m not in good shape (physicially, emotionally, spiritually) it hurts everyone.
- Have people who hold me accountable.
- Assistant schedules “don’t touch me” time.
How do you ask for money?
- Ask people to connect their hearts to the ministry. Come to prison with me.
- Gives to PEP herself.
- 46% of closing situations end without the person asking for something.
- People like to own something. Sponsorships.
- Good followship.
What’s the future?
- People want us to run PEP for the homeless, women, other states.
- We won’t bring PEP to you, but you can come see us and start your own ministry.
- Looking for someone to apprentice who will eventually start PEP in another state.
It’s not start a ministry and then find the leader, find the leader and then start the ministry.
Tell us about your philosophy of hiring from within.
- 9 of 26 staff members are PEP graduates.
- PEP is in their bones.
- This is not a hand-out ministry. Not pitty, but compassion.
- Not here to feel sorry for you but to treat you like a successful person.
- High expectations.
- Jesus picked a bunch of losers, teenagers, so do we.
Speak to us
- I’m not a superstar, just a person who gave what I have.
- I’m on the greatest adventure.
- I dare you to pray “Bring it on God!”
Hello Catherine Rohr I pray that all is well with you. I am sending this letter on behalf of my husband. Altone P.St.Romaine#655484 whom is in prison in the Bill Clements Unit in Amarillo Texas. He sent me an article from a magazine on you and wanted me to send him information on how he can contact you.They do not have access to computers, so i’m asking is there any other way he can contact you? He is very intelligence, he writes music, as well as poetry. He just made bad choicest, but with a lot of prayer i truly believe he’s back on track. Thank You
Trapagnier t.Romaine
egypt@cableone.net
What a great idea however I can’t help feeling some anger because you have working class people like myself and my family who want to start our own business and are capable but we don’t have any breaks.
And yet here you are giving these people – criminals, no matter how you package it up – a break where you could do far better giving this break to working people – people with no criminal record.
Am I being jealous? Nope, but I’m being pratical and with limited resources and finances you could easily help people who are more deserving.
Hi Les,
I don’t believe resources are limited. We live in a country of abundance. The only think that is limited is our generosity, our creativity, and our courage.
I’ll tell you what, how about if we try a creative idea… You tell me your story – tell me about yourself and your dreams of starting your own business and about the obstacles you’re facing – and I will post it on my blog. Then we’ll see if the people who read the blog are generous and creative enough to help you overcome those obstacles.
What do you say?
– Paul
She has resigned as CEO of PEP after being banned from TDCJ:
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2009/10/15/prisons_ban_program_founder_fo.html
Sounds like Catherine and PEP are in need of prayer and God’s grace. I hope the recent news doesn’t derail PEP, as it seems like a very good organization.
I feel I have a calling for prison ministry.I would like to be involved in helping prisoners in any way we can please contact me.
Hi Angela, that’s awesome! I suggest you contact PEP (http://www.prisonentrepreneurship.org/) or Prison Fellowship (http://www.prisonfellowship.org)