December 21, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Miami FC News Release
Miami, FL –
The Miami Football Club announced today a new innovative partnership with the Twinning Project to reach incarcerated individuals at Dade Correctional Institute, teaching critical life skills through soccer. The program, beginning in January of 2024, will “twin” the USL Championship club with Dade Correctional Institute through a 12-week program.
Qualified coaches from Miami FC and Miami FC Academy will visit the facility each week to work with, train and educate low-risk, pre-qualified inmates who are nearing release. The program originating in the United Kingdom and now continuing its expansion to the United States, has seen incredible success in its ability to pair professional soccer organizations with correctional facilities to help rehabilitate those individuals who have been incarcerated.
“One of the things that’s missing for people who are incarcerated is hope. Hope that when they are no longer incarcerated and even while they still are, that there are going to be opportunities for them upon release,” Twinning Project CEO Hilton Freund said. “This program gives them that hope. Soccer is a team sport, and learning through soccer will actually empower those on the course with characteristics they potentially never had pre-serving a custodial sentence. Things like anger management, team building and leadership.”
In addition to soccer instruction, the goal for participants who will go through the program is to continue to build on critical life skills including patience, discipline, team building, sportsmanship, confidence and improve both their physical and mental health.
“The Miami Football Club is incredibly honored to join the Twinning Project and Dade Correctional Institute in this unique program,” said Miami FC CEO Michael Williamson. “Not only is it a critical pillar of our Futbol305 Community Initiative but for a community organization such as ours, it is imperative we continue our outreach to every part of our Miami-Dade community. The Twinning Project has been tremendously successful in its UK partnerships, and Miami FC is proud to join other clubs in the US such as New York City FC and Angel City FC to continue this vital program in South Florida.”
“The Florida Department of Corrections is excited about the upcoming opportunity to partner with the Twinning Project and Miami FC,” said FDC Assistant Bureau Chief Nichole Landrum. “This partnership…