JOLTCon 2025: Igniting Youth Innovation and Digital Pathways in Baton Rouge

On June 12, 2025, Baton Rouge's Southern University campus buzzed with energy, creativity, and community impact as JOLTCon 2025 took over the Cotillion Ballroom for a one-day youth innovation summit unlike any other. Hosted by The Walls Project, this immersive event connected 93 middle and high school students and 30+ educators, parents, and mentors with digital skills, career exposure, and meaningful mentorship.

Part of a dual-city activation also happening at For Oak Cliff in Dallas, Texas, JOLTCon 2025 represents a growing movement to break digital barriers and unlock economic opportunity for youth ages 12-18. The summit fused gaming, entrepreneurship, and tech empowerment under one goal: to ignite the next generation of changemakers across the South.

Reflecting on the importance of events like JOLTcon, Dr. Ashlyn Harrison, Co-Executive Director of The Walls Project, explains,

“JOLTcon is about exposure, empowerment, and equity. By hosting this event in Baton Rouge and Dallas on the same day, we’re creating a ripple effect of opportunity that bridges creativity, mental health, and economic potential for our youth.”

🎮 E-Sports Tournament: Powered by Southern University EDGE

The highlight of the Baton Rouge conference was the high-energy E-Sports Tournament, hosted in collaboration with Southern University EDGE. This multi-state showdown between Louisiana and Texas youth brought excitement, team strategy, and innovation to life. Players competed for the JOLTcon 2025 Trophy, while peers cheered on their hometown heroes. SU EDGE also led hands-on gaming and tech activations throughout the day, showcasing how higher education and esports intersect.

Achievement Unlocked! Winners of JOLTcon 2025 trophy

One of the conference’s main attractions was a panel focused on Game Design, Technology Evolution & Development. Among the speakers is Adrian Owen Jones, a partner at Success Labs and former world-ranked World of Warcraft player, who now uses her expertise to guide strategic leadership and digital innovation. Joining her is Joshua Newbins, founder of Blue Room Technologies, whose creative approach to coding helps students see technology as both a superpower and a form of self-expression. Rounding out the panel is Dr. Devender Rapolu, a STEM educator and IT leader at Southern University, who integrates virtual reality into science education and leads immersive tech projects like the CAVE groundwater model.

Event Metrics:

• 93 youth participants (ages 12–18)

• 30+ adult attendees (parents, mentors, and educators)

• 3 engaging Panels and 1 keynote

• 1 state-versus-state gaming tournament (LA vs. TX)

• 100+ meals served

• Dozens of tech and gift card giveaways

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Workshops

Workshops at JOLTcon covered topics ranging from esports and video production to music and artificial intelligence. Clourth Wilson Jr., a longtime tech and AV strategist at Southern, will share his experience supporting digital storytelling across campus. Local artist and educator Justin Rendell will lead a session on music and media as tools for cultural connection. Also presenting is AI strategist and entrepreneur Renetha “Ren” Nichols, who developed Inner Compass, a tech platform supporting neurodivergent creatives and underserved communities through storytelling and machine learning.

For youth interested in launching businesses or scaling creative ventures, the conference included sessions on marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship. Nayo Andrews, owner of the Andrews Family Allstate Agency, will share her experience as a second-generation entrepreneur rooted in service and community engagement. Nel Famous, founder of Too Famous Studios, will offer insight into turning storytelling into a business, having led viral campaigns and legacy video productions across the South. Justin Burnett, a serial entrepreneur who runs Dearman’s Diner, a food truck, and Free Agents Comedy, will speak about building multiple brands from the ground up.

Inspiring Keynote from Xbox Leader, Chris Douglas

JOLTCon was proud to welcome Chris Douglas of Xbox as the Baton Rouge keynote speaker. In a passionate and relatable address, Chris challenged students to reimagine their place in the tech world.

Giveaways, Music, Food, and Fun

Throughout the day, participants enjoyed:

• A live DJ and interactive MC

• Free lunch and refreshments

• Snowballs from Ninja Snowballs

• Giveaways, including Beats headphones and gift cards

  
  

Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors

We are deeply grateful to the following organizations for making JOLTCon 2025 possible:

• Southern University: College of Business & Southern University EDGE

• Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation

• Capital One

• UNUM

• Charles Lamar Family Foundation

• Cox Communications

• Dearmans Diner

• And all our community collaborators

Your commitment to innovation, equity, and youth leadership continues to push this work forward.

From building tech skills to sparking entrepreneurial ideas, JOLTCon 2025 reminded us all that our youth are not just future leaders, they are leaders now.