Wow, so cool! Sounds like really great work you are doing! You should definitely check out the EPP website, lots of good info there. As I said, I just volunteer remotely for them-- I had a huge crush on their organization and emailed them about a year ago, they checked out my work, and said they'd love to talk to me more. Long story short, they are having me do some writing for them-- I'm planning to go out and visit in July, so excited! Really though, I'd love to teach in the prisons with them eventually.
I think the California recidivism (return to prison within 3 years) rate is 60%. I know, so cray. Anyway, I believe the stat has dropped to 10% with the inmates that have gone through their program! The government grant was in response to that! So, like I said, I think application and consistent creation of life change is the real proof of validity. That said, it's not just using the Enneagram that achieves this, it's using it
well; not abusing, misusing, misconstruing or idolizing it. How a person understands and facilitates it makes a huge difference in whether people get it, and use it well themselves-- from my experience, anyway.
I'm on my phone which unfortunately won't let me integrate links, so here's the EPP's website:
Enneagram Prison Project | Freeing The Incarcerated from the Prison of Their Own Making | Susan Olesek Enneagram Facilitator
The videos they've done are great at capturing the work they are doing, so I'd definitely watch those!