Young Black Leaders Connect Purpose, Service, and Heritage

For seven days in Ghana, young Black professionals from around the world stepped into an experience that blended leadership, service, and cultural connection. GLF25 Ghana, led by the Young Black Leadership Alliance, offered more than travel. It created space for reflection, action, and shared purpose across borders.

Designed for YBLA YoPros, the experience brought together leadership development, professional growth, and hands-on service. Participants followed focused leadership tracks, engaged with local communities, and explored Ghana’s history and contemporary life. From Accra to surrounding communities, the journey emphasized learning by doing and leading with intention.

A vision shaped by purpose

At the heart of GLF25 Ghana are John and Tammy Martin, founders of the Young Black Leadership Alliance. Their vision is clear. Leadership is not only about personal achievement, but about responsibility to community. Through YBLA, the Martins have built a platform that prepares young Black leaders to navigate college, careers, and civic life with confidence and clarity.

Their approach blends education, service, and global exposure. Ghana was a natural choice. The country’s history, creativity, and welcoming communities offered a powerful setting for young leaders to examine identity, responsibility, and impact in a global context.

Service that meets real needs

Service was central to the experience. Participants partnered with Samaritan’s Feet to distribute shoes to children, supporting health, dignity, and access to education. For many, the simple act of giving shoes became a moment of connection, reminding them how practical support can change daily life.

Another highlight was a well reveal in partnership with Hope for Ghana. Access to clean water remains a priority for many communities, and the well project demonstrated how targeted investment can improve health and opportunity. Working alongside local leaders ensured that the effort was rooted in community priorities and long-term use.

These projects were not framed as one-time gestures. They were part of a broader lesson about showing up consistently and understanding local context before taking action.

Immersion in Ghana’s story

Beyond service, participants immersed themselves in Ghana’s rich cultural landscape. Visits to historical sites offered grounding in the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade and the resilience that followed. Conversations with local professionals, entrepreneurs, and community members highlighted a Ghana that is modern, innovative, and deeply connected to its past.

The experience encouraged participants to listen, ask questions, and reflect. Meals, music, and shared stories became moments of learning, reinforcing the idea that leadership grows through relationship.

Connection across the diaspora

GLF25 Ghana also created a powerful network. Young Black professionals from different countries, industries, and backgrounds built relationships that extended beyond the trip. Late-night conversations, group reflections, and shared challenges strengthened bonds rooted in shared values.

For many, the experience reshaped how they define success. As YBLA YoPro Leah Richardson reflected, “This trip transformed my mindset from success to significance by being culturally immersed and understanding that our small impact can make a huge difference in someone’s life, and that to create an immense impact, you need to make small steps of action to create the effect.”

Her words captured a common takeaway. Leadership is not only about scale, but about intention and consistency.

Building leaders for the long term

YBLA’s work centers on leadership, service, and education as drivers of lasting change. Experiences like GLF25 Ghana bring that mission to life. By combining professional development with global service and cultural learning, the program equips young leaders to act with empathy, confidence, and global awareness.

Samaritan’s Feet and Hope for Ghana play a vital role in this model. Their on-the-ground expertise ensures that service efforts are meaningful and responsive to community needs. Together, these partnerships show what is possible when global organizations and local leadership work together.

GLF25 Ghana stands as a reminder that Africa continues to inspire the next generation of global leaders. Through thoughtful engagement, shared service, and honest connection, young Black professionals are finding new ways to lead with purpose, rooted in heritage and focused on impact.