WASHINTON – The professional soccer team DC United is making a difference both on and off the field with its pioneering initiative, the Twinning Project. Launched in August 2024, this program aims to provide not only soccer skills but also essential life skills to incarcerated adults at the DC Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF) and the Central Detention Facility (CDF). As the soccer season unfolds, the team continues to prioritize social responsibility by engaging individuals who are incarcerated.
A New Passion in a New Environment
Roger Jones, one of the program's participants and currently serving his sentence at CTF, shared his experience with the Twinning Project. “I’ve never played soccer until this cohort, this opportunity came,” he said. While serving his sentence, Roger has discovered a newfound love for the game. “[Soccer] has brought us together,” he emphasized, referring to the bonds he's formed with other inmates through the sport.
Establishing connection among participants is a vital objective of the program. “We have that rapport now, so we do a lot more things together in the unit,” Jones stated. “And when we see each other in passing in these walls, it’s nothing but love.”
Bridging Barriers Through Soccer
Shannell Mosley, the executive director of the DC United Foundation, highlighted the multifaceted benefits of the Twinning Project. “It’s important for us to truly meet people where they’re at, and… sometimes that might mean in settings like this one,” she said, underlining the significance of outreach in unexpected environments.
The program emphasizes soccer as a vehicle for bridging barriers, including language divides. As Mosley noted, “Soccer bridges barriers, it bridges language divides,” making it accessible to a diverse range of participants. The Twinning Project operates in both English and Spanish, ensuring that individuals from different backgrounds can engage and collaborate on the field.
Preparing for a Brighter Future
The DC Department of Corrections (DOC) supports the Twinning Project, believing it will prepare participants for their future reintegration into society. Antoine Pugh from the DOC noted that the skills acquired through the program will have lasting impacts beyond incarceration. “On Saturdays, when there’s no soccer league happening at Anacostia Park, they’re able to go down there now and take pride in it because now they know how to play. They know how to network. They know how to be able to be team builders,” Pugh explained.
This initiative creates a structured environment that promotes teamwork and prepares participants for community involvement upon their release.
Looking Ahead: Expansion to Juveniles
Inspired by its success with adults, the Twinning Project is set to expand its reach to incarcerated juveniles in the District, further enhancing its impact on the local community. By engaging this younger demographic, the program aims to foster resilience, build self-esteem, and provide essential skills that will help them navigate life beyond the walls of detention facilities.
Conclusion
DC United's Twinning Project represents a beacon of hope in the realm of correctional programming, harnessing the power of sports to instill life skills, confidence, and social integration in individuals facing difficult circumstances. Through soccer, participants not only learn to play the game but also form meaningful connections and prepare for a more positive future. The initiative exemplifies how sports can serve as a powerful catalyst for change, making a profound difference in the lives of those involved.