The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), the Twinning Project, and Angel City Football Club (ACFC) completed the second cohort of a leadership soccer program at the California Institution for Women (CIW).
The program concluded with a celebration that included a soccer tournament, speeches, gifts, and visits with participants’ guests.
Shaun Ward, Supervisor of Correctional Education Programs, said the program helps incarcerated individuals build skills to prepare for successful reentry into their communities.
Since 2018, the Twinning Project has partnered with professional sports clubs worldwide to offer coaching and education programs to incarcerated populations. These programs aim to create pathways to employment and reduce reoffending. This project marked the first time the Twinning Project worked with a U.S. football club.
The program uses soccer to help participants develop confidence, resilience, and leadership skills. Hilton Freund, Global CEO of the Twinning Project, emphasized that sport can support rehabilitation by building teamwork and mental strength.
In 2023, Angel City FC became the first professional women’s sports team in the U.S. to launch a Twinning Project program for women. The eight-week program includes weekly three-hour sessions combining soccer training with leadership development, facilitated by ACFC clinicians and the Positive Coaching Alliance.
Chris Fajardo, Angel City FC Vice President of Community, said the club values the opportunity to connect and educate through football and looks forward to continuing the program.
In late 2024 and early 2025, the Twinning Project will expand its collaboration with CDCR and the Golden State Warriors by hosting three cohorts at California State Prison, Solano.
This program supports CDCR’s efforts to prepare incarcerated people for life after release by focusing on rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.
You can learn more by visiting the Twinning Project and Angel City Football Club websites.
How might programs like this change the way communities support returning citizens? What skills do you think sports can teach that translate to life after incarceration?
