PPEP : Portable Practical Educational Preparation Inc.

Since its inception in 1967, Portable Practical Educational Preparation Inc. (PPEP) has stood as a testament to the vision and dedication of its founder, Dr. John Arnold. Dr. Arnold's journey began while he was working with the Head Start program, a pivotal period during which he conceived the idea that would become the cornerstone of PPEP's mission. Drawing upon his deep understanding of the challenges faced by Bracero farm workers, he penned a grant proposal, securing $19,000 in funding from the Tucson War on Poverty Program, a testament to the visionary grants initiated by the Kennedy/Johnson administration. With this seed funding, Dr. Arnold acquired a 1957 school bus, which he affectionately named "La Tortuga," and transformed it into a mobile educational haven, stocked with essential books and supplies.

Acting as the singular force behind this initiative, Dr. Arnold assumed the roles of driver, mechanic, and educator, embodying the very essence of PPEP's founding spirit. Having personally experienced the complexities of acclimating to a foreign society with its distinct language and culture, owing to his time in Mexico, he recognized the pressing need for practical education. Thus, he commenced teaching English and fundamental subjects within the confines of his portable classroom, serving the same Bracero farm workers he had previously ministered to. This pivotal educational preparation not only empowered them for a life in America but also laid the foundation for PPEP's enduring legacy, encapsulated by its name - Portable, Practical Educational Preparation.