Bryan Kelley first encountered the Prison Entrepreneurship Program while he was incarcerated. Today, he’s the organization’s CEO and lives in Houston. He says he works to give men who leave prison the opportunity to play to their strengths by being their own boss.
After 22 Years In Prison, He’s Now Giving Incarcerated Men A Second Chance Through Entrepreneurship
The sounds of Texas.
Courtesy Of PEP
Bryan Kelley, in the blue suit, is CEO of the Prison Entrepreneurship Program.
“I encountered PEP [Prison Entrepreneurship Program] as an inmate. I took a life in a drug deal that went horribly wrong. During my incarceration, actually, early on, I just had an epiphany. I was just tired of being part of the problem; I wanted to be part of the solution.”
“I just started investing myself into the men around me … I ended up doing almost 22 years before I was given a shot at parole. And what a blessing.”
“For many of the men in prison, they probably can’t see themselves going to college, earning a degree. But they do see themselves as an entrepreneur.”
“It’s so difficult to obtain employment as an ex-felon. Essentially, every sentence a person gets is a life sentence because that follows you everywhere you go.”
If you found the reporting above valuable, please consider making a donation to support it here. Your gift helps pay for everything you find on texasstandard.org and KUT.org. Thanks for donating today.
More from 01/05/2021
Asylum-Seekers Stuck In Mexico Hope For Change In 2021
Rationing Care Is On Horizon If Texas Doesn’t Solve Climbing COVID-19 Hospitalizations
Texas Standard For January 5, 2021
Older Texans Are Now Eligible For COVID Vaccines. But Good Luck Finding Someone To Give You A Shot.
One Writer Says Austin Can Avoid Silicon Valley’s Mistakes
‘Negroes’ Sign In Waxahachie Courthouse Leads To Controversy Over Its Preservation And Defacement
Austin Guitarist Sees His Music In A ‘New Way’ After Experiencing A Stroke
Ken Paxton Is A ‘Shining Example’ Of State Attorney General Seeking National Influence
As Certification Of Joe Biden’s Victory Nears, Ted Cruz Leads Senators Calling For An Election Audit
