Amidst the glow of smartphone screens, members of the Black Tie Guys mentoring program gathered Monday night to master an analog challenge: the game of checkers.
Roosevelt Wright, Jr., program director, emphasized the timeless value of strategic board games, telling participants, “You are going to be men who must learn to think, strategize, and focus.”
The session marked the program’s latest effort to equip boys aged 9–18 with critical life skills. Many youths, unfamiliar with checkers, initially turned to YouTube tutorials but soon engaged in hands-on play under mentor guidance.
Wright highlighted the game’s cognitive benefits, noting it teaches players to “anticipate opponents’ moves, plan steps ahead, and sharpen decision-making”—skills transferable to academics and real-world problem-solving.
Award Winning Program
Founded in 1976 as “Save Our Youth,” the initiative rebranded in the 2000s as the Top Gun Leadership Academy. Presently, the Black Tie Guys, is a structured mentoring program under Tab-N-Action, Inc.
Tab-N-Action, Inc. youth programs have earned national accolades, including recognition by the George H.W. Bush administration and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for its impact on youth development, named one of the 1000 best youth programs in America.
Beyond Checkers
The checkers initiative aligns with the program’s broader focus on leadership and education. Recent activities have included a Memphis’ National Civil Rights Museum, where 28 members explored civil rights history, Such trips, coupled with college prep workshops and parenting classes, aim to reduce juvenile delinquency by fostering goal-setting and community engagement.
Mentors and Methods
Mentors like Rev. Damian Coleman and Micheal Johnson blend traditional strategies with modern relevance.
“Checkers is old-school, but it builds patience and logic—tools no app can replace,” Wright said.
The program also awards scholarships to graduates pursuing higher education.
Sponsored by State Rep. Pat Moore, Rep. Adrian Fisher, and Ouachita Parish Policy Jury, the Black Tie Guys continue bridging generations through lessons both timeless and timely. As Wright put it, “Mastering the board is just the first move toward mastering life.”
