Her Game, Her Future Fest brings 153 young women to LSU New Orleans

The Marc and Kiki Barnes Foundation drew more than 153 high school and college-aged young women to LSU New Orleans for its inaugural career fest focused on sports, business, media and leadership. LSU New Orleans also offered guaranteed admission to attending high school students, while founder Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes received city proclamations recognizing her work.

Why it matters: - The event created a direct pipeline from career exposure to college access for young women interested in sports and related fields. - LSU New Orleans’ guaranteed-admission offer gave attending high school students a concrete next step after the festival. - Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes used the event to elevate visibility for women and girls in sports leadership.

What happened: - The Marc and Kiki Barnes Foundation hosted the inaugural Her Game, Her Future Fest at LSU New Orleans in New Orleans. - More than 153 high school and college-aged young women attended. - The one-day event focused on careers in athletics, business, media, marketing, technology, health and leadership. - Every student attended free of charge, supported by corporate sponsors and community partners. - LSU New Orleans announced that every high school student at the event would receive guaranteed admission. - Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes received two official proclamations recognizing her leadership and commitment to expanding opportunities for women and girls in sports. - The proclamations came from the New Orleans Mayor’s Office and the New Orleans City Council. - Barnes is scheduled to receive two more proclamations Friday from Louisiana State Rep. Delisa Boyd and U.S. Rep. Troy Carter.

The details: - The day opened with a morning wellness session led by Tai Teamer, founder of Spotlight Dance Studio. - Participants took part in interactive workshops, career tracks, networking sessions and conversations with sports industry professionals. - The Spotlight Zone, powered by Cox Communications, included welcome remarks from Sunni LeBeouf, vice president of Cox Greater New Orleans. - Hahn Enterprises presented a fireside chat led by Tania Hahn. - Faces of Virtue served as beauty sponsor and supported participants’ preparation and executive presence. - Styled for the Game, powered by Lakeside Shopping Center and curated by Tracee Dundas, closed the conference. - Special guests included Jeanette R. Weiland, interim chancellor and chief administrative officer of LSU New Orleans; Councilmember Lesli Harris; New Orleans City Attorney Charline Gipson; Sherae Hunter, chief of staff for Councilmember Aimee McCarron; and Jalin Carter, director of admission and recruitment at LSU New Orleans. - Sponsors and partners included Hahn Enterprises, Cox Communications, USA Basketball Foundation, Ochsner Sports Medicine, Faces of Virtue, Lakeside Shopping Center, Jrumz, Lewis Coaches, Girl Scouts Louisiana East, Louisiana High School Coaches Association, NORDC and Big Brothers Big Sisters. - Event assets were shared through high-resolution photos and video clips.

Between the lines: - The festival paired inspiration with practical access, which is a stronger model than a standard career day. - The guaranteed-admission announcement likely made the event more than symbolic for students weighing college options. - The mix of sports, beauty, wellness and branding programming showed an effort to present leadership as both professional and personal. - Barnes’ proclamations signal local political recognition for her influence beyond the event itself.

What's next: - The Marc and Kiki Barnes Foundation plans to expand Her Game, Her Future Fest into a national platform. - Future editions are expected to keep connecting young women with opportunities in athletics, sports business, education, media and executive leadership. - The foundation says it will continue using the program to build confidence, mentorship and career pathways for youth and young adults.

The bottom line: - Her Game, Her Future Fest turned a sports career showcase into a concrete opportunity pipeline, with free access, college admission and public recognition all wrapped into one event.