Sport, Growth, and Opportunity: PCA Partners with The Twinning Project and Angel City FC

Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) recently partnered with The Twinning Project and Angel City Football Club to deliver a sports-based program at the California Institution for Women in Chino, California. The collaboration brought together sport and social-emotional learning to support personal development for incarcerated women.

The Twinning Project focuses on “twinning” correctional facilities with local professional soccer clubs to create programs that combine sport and education. The initiative is designed to enhance mental and physical well-being while providing participants with tools that can support them during their time at the California Institution for Women and, in some cases, during their reintegration into society.

Hilton Freund MBE, Global CEO of The Twinning Project, emphasized the importance of collaboration in making programs like this possible.

“Partnership is at the heart of everything we do at The Twinning Project. Real change in criminal justice doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens when organizations, sports clubs, educators, and institutions come together with a shared belief in people’s potential. Collaborations like this one with Positive Coaching Alliance and Angel City FC demonstrate what’s possible when we combine sport, learning, and human connection. Football has a unique ability to break down barriers, build trust, and create environments where people can rediscover confidence and purpose. For many individuals in the justice system, opportunities to grow, reflect, and develop new skills are essential steps toward building a different future. That’s why second chances matter so much. When we invest in people through meaningful programs and supportive partnerships, we’re not just delivering sport—we’re helping individuals see themselves differently and equipping them with the tools to move forward with resilience, responsibility, and hope.”

Through this partnership, The Twinning Project and Angel City FC brought their program to the California Institution for Women, reaching this population together for the first time. Positive Coaching Alliance joined as an educational partner, providing curriculum designed to help participants build positive social and emotional skills.

The program ran for eight weeks, with a group of 15 women selected by California Institution for Women staff to participate. Each week included a three-hour session combining classroom learning with soccer activities. PCA facilitated the classroom curriculum while Angel City FC coaches led soccer drills that complemented the focus of each week’s lesson.

Chris Fajardo, Vice President of Community at Angel City FC, highlighted the impact the program has had on participants.

“Angel City FC is thrilled to partner with The Twinning Project, California Institution for Women, and Positive Coaching Alliance. We first began our partnership with The Twinning Project in the fall of 2023, and we knew this was a special program that could have a deep, meaningful impact on participants. Football is an incredible vehicle for connection and education, and we are excited to bring the program back again, as we have seen an overwhelmingly positive response thus far.”

Throughout the program, participants worked on developing skills that could be applied both within the program and in their daily lives. Areas of focus included:

By combining sport with guided learning and reflection, the program created space for participants to practice new skills and build tools that support personal growth.

This collaboration highlights how sport can be used as a powerful platform for learning and development. Together, The Twinning Project, Angel City FC, and Positive Coaching Alliance are working to create meaningful opportunities for growth through sport.

“Sport has a unique ability to create connection, reflection, and personal growth,” stated Jason Sacks, Positive Coaching Alliance CEO. “We’re proud to partner with The Twinning Project and Angel City FC to bring these impactful opportunities to the women at the California Institution for Women. Programs like this show how the lessons learned through sport—resilience, empathy, accountability, and teamwork—can support people in building a positive path forward.”