abOUT CWF
The CWALL® Foundation (CWF) was established in January 2022 by CWALL® Sports & Entertainment (CWSE) CEO, Candi Waller. The Foundation is the philanthropic side to CWSE, and its mission, “Cultivating Change on the Other Side of the Game,” addresses the gap between transferrable life skills and academics within high school and collegiate athletic programs. By design, the CWALL® Foundation will address these gaps. CWF’s goal is to refine the scope of sports programs by incorporating life coaching, workshops and team building activities, effective communication and media etiquette, finance education, academic and technology training, and conflict resolution for student athletes and the staff that support them. CWALL® Foundation programs foster essential life skills which educate, empower, and encourage student athletes to become thriving adults and better leaders.
The Foundation offers other developmental programs in academics, which will also improve interpersonal relationships and communication amongst youth and young adults overall. While the Foundation aims to enhance athletic programs, courses can be tailored to fit any program designed to promote the learning and community of youth overall. What makes our community better is making our youth resilient and teaching them how to navigate the world that awaits them. If you would like more information on how to become a volunteer or to join the CWALL® Foundation team, or you would like to recommend a youth program to us, click here.
Meet the Board
Candi Waller
CEO of CWALL® Sports & Entertainment &
President, The CWALL Foundation
Candi Waller ("CWall®") is the founder and CEO of CWall® Sports & Entertainment (CWSE) and the founder and President of the CWall Foundation, Inc. A native Prince Georgian, Candi is a Bowie High School alumna. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hampton University, Master of Arts in Human Resource Development from The George Washington University, and a certificate in Sports Industry Essentials from Columbia University. Candi is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Women in Sports & Events (WISE), the National Press Club (NPC), the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce and is an ambassador for the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Through Candi’s work with CWSE, she recognized the gap between transferrable life skills and athletic programs. Her vision led her to create the philanthropic side to the CWALL Sports & Entertainment brand. Combining her education, resources, community, professional expertise, and personal affiliations, as a board member, founder and CEO, Candi is leading the CWALL Foundation, Inc.
To read Candi’s full bio, https://www.cwallse.com/about-us
Jamaal Piper
Treasurer – The CWALL® Foundation
Jamaal Piper is a successful Health and Wellness Consultant in Washington, DC and is a longtime resident of Washington, DC Metropolitan area. He has his Bachelor of Science in Finance from Hampton University, and he received his MBA from the University of Phoenix in 2012. An avid athlete himself, Jamaal enjoys sports at all levels. With his background as an athlete, sports and entertainment, coaching, finance and his current work in health and wellness, Jamaal will oversee the life skills, finance education and other program activities, and is the Treasurer and a board member for the CWALL Foundation, Inc.
Mischa Dent
Secretary
Mischa Dent is a Paralegal Specialist with the federal government. Born in Washington, DC. her family moved to Seat Pleasant, MD, a suburb of Prince George’s County, when she was six months old. Mischa, an alumna of Bowie High School in Bowie, MD, is a graduate and alumna of Suitland High School in Suitland, MD. Her professional experience spans across the federal government and private industry. She completed the School of Professional Studies program at Trinity University Washington and received her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 2017. As a board member, Mischa’s legal knowledge, administrative and management expertise, and writing skills are beneficial to the educational and life skills programs at the CWALL Foundation, Inc.
Dr. Dawn Holt
Member – The CWALL® Foundation
Dawn Holt, PhD, is a DEIR advocate in STEM Education working with the American Chemical Society. A resident Prince Georgian, Dawn graduated from High Point High School in Beltsville, Maryland. She is an esteemed alumnus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, North Carolina A&T State University, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Dawn is currently working on her second doctorate, a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree. A revered author of at least six peer reviewed medical publications, she continues to work in academia as Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus. As a board member, Dr. Holt’s expertise in psychology, team leadership, program development and management, and grant writing skills are essential in managing program activities for the CWALL Foundation, Inc.
Transferable Skills Learning
Research studies well document the need to enhance certain behavioral competencies also known as transferable skills to become a more well rounded individual and contributor in all areas of life. The CWall Foundation is bringing their years of experience in a variety of industries to provide this transferable skills training to youth giving them an opportunity to learn and engage in innovative ways and start to leverage the skills they learn in their daily environments.
While the courses are geared toward student athletes, all youth and young adult programs can find value in the tactics and lessons learned in the sessions. All courses can be customized to fit the needs of your youth and young adult program audience and include self and group directed learning. Each course is also created to be taught in both the in-person and virtual environments and length can vary based on your program’s needs.
Engaging with the Press and the Public
When engaging with the press this course helps athletes effectively prepare for the many interviews they will encounter as they journey along their career. Whether the interview is after practice, after an exhilarating game win or devastating game loss, or even at a red carpet event, it is always important to be ready and prepared with the do’s and don’ts of interviewing.
In the age of many social media platforms and numerous ways to communicate virtually, this course is designed to help athletes navigate the challenges of social media and engaging with the public.
This course can be taught as one course or divided into two. Both include scenario based and hands-on learning experiences.
Teaming: A Focus on Learning Types and how to Collaborate in Teams
It’s important to understand the type of learner you are and how you are most effective in teams. This course is designed for participants to identify their learning styles which then leads to how best to collaborate with others. This is a highly interactive session that involves taking a learning personality test and then engaging with other session participants in group scenario based learning activities.
Conflict Management & Mitigation
It is normal to have differing opinions, views, styles etc from others when working with others. Understanding your learning style is also key in understanding how you deal with conflict. This session explains what conflict is and shares a variety of ways to manage and mitigate conflict in a collaborative environment. This session is highly interactive and participants engage in a variety of scenario based activities.
Academic & Media Support to HBCU Athletic Programs
The CWall Foundation understands the importance of equipping athletes with the knowledge, skills, and abilities not just on the field but also in the classroom. The team provides academic advisory support specifically to Historically Black Colleges and Universities athletic programs to ensure student athletes are engaged in their classwork and prepared for life after their respective sport concludes; whenever that may be.
Media Support includes providing superior equipment and training to students wanting to learn more about the content creation and visualization of athletics. From creating highlight videos to encouraging game day excitement, students will learn all aspects of engaging with sports fans using state of the art tools.