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Watch: Twinning Project, Angel City FC at CIW

November 21, 2025

CDCR, the Twinning Project and Angel City Football Club (FC) teamed up to launch two new cohorts of a leadership soccer program at the California Institution for Women (CIW).

The first session kicked off Oct. 21 and runs through Dec. 16.

“CIW is proud to expand its partnership to help women build communication, fitness, and teamwork. (These are) skills that support their transition home,” said Heidi Wippel, CDCR Headquarters Athletic Coach.

Watch the video (story continues below):

Twinning Project connects prisons with sports teams

Founded in 2018, the Twinning Project connects prisons with professional sports clubs. The project is global, offering coaching and education programs.

Its mission is to open doors to employment, confidence, and reduce reoffending through the power of sport.

“Sport is a powerful tool for rehabilitation, building confidence, teamwork, and resilience,” said Hilton Freund, MBE Global CEO of the Twinning Project.

First time connecting women’s football club

Soccer drills with the Angel City FC and Twinning Project at CIW.

While the organization has partnered with clubs in Great Britain and the United States, this marks its first collaboration with an American women’s football club.

Angel City FC’s involvement brings new energy and focuses on empowerment and leadership to the program.

“Football is an incredible vehicle for connection and education,” said Chris Fajardo, Angel City FC Vice President of Community. “We are excited to bring their program to a facility equally invested in the program’s success.”

In addition to Angel City FC soccer clinicians running the soccer portion, Positive Coaching Alliance will facilitate the program’s leadership portion.

By using soccer as a tool for personal growth, the program helps participants build confidence, resilience and teamwork skills.

These lessons extend beyond the field, supporting success in life after incarceration.

Earlier this year, the Twinning Project partnered with CDCR and the Golden State Warriors. In this partnership, they hosted three cohorts at California State Prison, Solano, in Vacaville.

The new partnership with Angel City FC continues CDCR’s commitment to rehabilitation, providing opportunities to prepare individuals for positive futures once they return to their communities.

Leadership class work as part of the Twinning Project at CIW.

Video and photos by Kolapo Soretire, TV specialist
California Institution for Women
Story by Todd Javernick, information officer
Office of Public and Employee Communications

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