A group of 100 high school boys in black suits and red ties greeted Wilson as she arrived at a Washington conference last week. The young men were participants in the 5,000 Role Models of Excellence Project, a program Wilson founded while serving on the Miami-Dade County School Board. The initiative, now operating across multiple states, focuses on mentoring young men of color.

Wilson attended a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation event marking the ribbon-cutting of the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys. The gathering also served as a tribute to her congressional legacy as she prepared to leave office after eight terms. She stated she would continue working with the Commission and the program after her departure, saying, "I’ll still be working, working with the Commission, working with the 5,000 role models still running around."

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Oliver Gilbert, who won a Democratic primary to succeed Wilson in Florida’s 24th District with her endorsement, praised her impact. "What she’s done is not insignificant. What she’s done is the creation of wise men," he said. He highlighted the Commission’s work examining how policies in healthcare, education, and labor affect Black men nationwide.

Dion Wright, a South Ridge High School student participating in the program, led a tribute to Wilson. "Without her, every single person you see in this room with this red and black tie would not be among you all today," he said. He described the program as teaching young men to become successful leaders who "understand our history, respect ourselves, and others making good decisions."

Wilson noted the program’s alignment with diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, which had drawn attention during the Trump administration. She credited then-Senator Marco Rubio with helping establish the initiative and said it survived scrutiny from the Department of Government Efficiency under Elon Musk. "Did they get rid of it? No. In fact, they strengthened it," she said. "Even the Trump administration understands how important it is to invest in Black men and boys."

Colleagues praised Wilson’s focus on threats facing young people of color. U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson highlighted her history of elevating the plight of Black males into the national arena, beginning with her work as a teacher and local official. U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath expressed confidence in the Commission’s continuity, stating other members would work to preserve Wilson’s legacy in Washington.

The Commission’s work gained added significance amid debates over federal policy impacts on marginalized communities. Wilson emphasized its ongoing relevance, stating federal actions were "destroying our children, our history, and everything that looks like us."

The tribute underscored the program’s dual role in mentoring youth and shaping policy discussions about Black men’s social status, with participants crediting Wilson for creating opportunities they said would not otherwise exist.