The Black Tie Guys of Monroe, a youth leadership and development group sponsored by Tab-N-Action, Inc., completed their “2025 Glory Trail Tour” this week, capping off a year of hands-on education, leadership training, and historical exploration.
Under the guidance of directors Roosevelt and Joslyn Wright, the four-day heritage tour carried a 26-member group through a living history experience spanning Tulsa, Oklahoma, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Hot Springs, Arkansas.
The tour’s mission was clear—equip young men with leadership tools by immersing them in key historical sites where African Americans shaped, struggled, and soared.
The 1400 mile Glory Trail Tour served as the grand finale of the Black Tie Guys’ 2024-25 program year, a journey that has already taken them to the Bush and Clinton Presidential Libraries, nine Louisiana universities, the Bayou Classic, and a five-day leadership retreat known as “Man Camp.” Weekly personal discipline drills and studies throughout the year have centered on personal discipline, non-violent conflict resolution, and academic excellence.
The group traveled to Tulsa’s Greenwood District—Black Wall Street, absorbing the powerful story of Black entrepreneurship, community resilience, and the aftermath of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The young men toured the Greenwood Cultural Center, reflected on the newly announced 2025 Greenwood Trust Reparations Plan, and engaged in mentor-led discussions about economic empowerment.
Their tour also took them to Little Rock, Arkansas, where they explored the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, highlighting Black entrepreneurship and civil rights history in Arkansas and the USA.
They then visited the historic Little Rock Central High School, walking the grounds where the Little Rock Nine made their historic stand for integration. A visit to the Daisy Bates House further illustrated the importance of mentorship and activism, as well as the Clinton Presidential Library where the youth participated in a civic leadership scavenger hunt.
After three days of study into the late hours of night, there was a concluding recreational visit to Magic Springs Theme and Water Park in Hot Springs, AR.
Mentors used the day to foster group bonding through challenges, reflections, and shared experiences.
Armed with notebooks, laptops, and open hearts, the Black Tie Guys posed tough questions about racial history, economic disparity, and governmental accountability. They learned how past leaders overcame adversity and how they, too, are called to lead with courage.
The Save Our Youth Program of Tab-N-Action—named one of the top 1,000 youth programs in the United States by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development—continues to make a national impact through initiatives like this.
The Glory Trail wasn’t just a field trip. It was a living classroom preparing a generation of young men to rise, lead, and reclaim the power of legacy.
2025 Glory Trail Tour
