Real conversations about peer pressure, social media, mental health, and life decisions took center stage Monday evening as youth, parents, mentors, and community leaders gathered for the inaugural IRL (In Real Life) Experience at the Minden Civic Center.
Hosted by the Sneed Reach 1 Foundation in partnership with 22 Hands Up and Aetna Better Health of Louisiana, the event focused on equipping youth with practical life skills through discussion, mentorship, and personal interaction.
The turnout was strong for the first-year event, with both adults and youth actively participating throughout the evening. At the conclusion of the program, Minden native and NFL cornerback L’Jarius Sneed looked ahead to the future.
“This is just the beginning,” Sneed said.
Serving as the evening’s host, Alisha Martin explained the purpose behind the event.
“Our young people matter and their future is worth investing in,” Martin said. “The In Real Life Experience was created because life doesn’t come with a playbook. Every day, young people are navigating decisions about friendships, social media, relationships, school, mental health, peer pressure, and the direction they want their lives to take.”
“Tonight is about real conversations, real perspectives, and real-life situations that prepare you all for what happens in real life.”
Martin said Sneed believes success is built through character, resilience, wise decisions, and the people who choose to support someone along the way.
Mayor Nick Cox thanked the event’s organizers and sponsors before recognizing Sneed for returning to invest in his hometown.
“I especially want to thank one of Minden’s own, L’Jarius Sneed,” Cox said. “It is one thing to achieve success, but it’s another to come home and invest in the next generation. That says a lot about your character … thank you for giving back to your hometown.”
Addressing the young people in attendance, Cox added, “Kindness, respect, and good decisions really make a big difference in your life.”
Sneed’s mother, Jane “Mama” Sneed, said the foundation intentionally shifted its focus this year from a football camp to a life-skills event.
“This is more important than a camp,” she said. “This is sowing seeds into the minds of the youth. This is what the youth need in their lives, to see mentors and all those who are helping them better themselves with life skills.”
The evening centered around a panel discussion featuring local community members who answered questions on topics including what gives them hope for today’s youth, becoming a leader, building confidence without seeking others’ approval, and helping friends who may be making poor decisions.
Following the panel, participants broke into small groups, with each table led by a panelist who facilitated conversations about real-life situations and how to respond to them. Sneed visited each table, asking participants what they had learned and encouraging them to apply those lessons in their daily lives.
Executive Director Darrell Hampton thanked attendees and emphasized the mission of 22 Hands Up.
“22 Hands Up is empowering our youth to make positive changes in their lives,” Hampton said. “Everything that we do and the Sneed Reach 1 Foundation does, we do it for you guys. You guys are the future. We invest into the future so you guys can carry on when we’re no longer here.”
One panelist also encouraged families to utilize Louisiana’s 211 resource line, which connects residents with information about community and social services.
Later in the evening, Sneed answered questions submitted by participants before the event.
Asked what motivates him most, Sneed said his children. When asked how football was going, he smiled and replied, “Great! I’m back with the Kansas City Chiefs.”
He also stressed the importance of education, telling attendees that without it he would not have achieved the success he has today. Asked whether he believes everything he sees on social media, Sneed said he does not.
“It used to get to me,” he said, adding that he has learned to “cancel that noise out.”
Throughout the evening, Sneed encouraged youth to think carefully before making decisions.
Growing up, he said, he often felt like he had something to prove but eventually learned not to seek approval from others.
“In that moment I took time, thought about the situation and what was going on before I did anything,” Sneed said. “If you stop and think, it can save you from a bad decision.”
He also encouraged youth to seek guidance from trusted adults.Even though Sneed had many mentors growing up, he said he wished he had even more to advise him along the way. He added, “If you include God and Christ in your decision making, you will not be wrong.”
Asked by the Press-Herald what decision as a teenager had the greatest impact on his life, Sneed said distancing himself from negative influences changed his future.
“When I got away from certain people,” he said. “When I made that decision, I realized who I was and where I could go in life. I think that changed my life.”
The evening concluded with participants completing “My Promise to My Future Self” cards before lining up for autographs and photographs with Sneed, ending the event with encouragement, reflection, and a reminder that the choices made today can shape tomorrow.
