Jaylen Smith, the 18-year-old mayor of Eighteen-year-old Mayor of Earle, Arkansas to visit Kansas City.
As part of the recognition of Black History Month, Mayor Jaylen Smith or Earle, Ark will make an inspirational and enlightening visit to Kansas City, Feb. 22-25. During his visit, he will address several student groups and community organizations and tour the City.
About Jaylen
Mayor Smith, 18, was elected mayor in December 2022 and is believed to be the youngest African-American ever elected mayor. Earle, population 1800, is located in eastern Arkansas just west of Memphis, TN.
Smith ran on a platform of improving the City that has been losing population, by bringing in a grocery story, improving citizen’s safety by funding 24-hour police coverage, and addressing the city’s troubling drainage issue.
Smith’s interest in politics began with his run for student government in 9th grade. Since then, he’s been actively involved in his community and regularly attended both city council and school board meetings.
Jaylene’s Visit
Mayor Smith will stay busy during his three-day visit. His itinerary includes:
- Address to students, faculty and visitors, with a Q&A, at Metropolitan Community College, Penn Valley Campus.
- He will be a guest at the Kansas City Council meeting, at Freedom, Inc’s membership meeting and at the Urban Summit, Via Zoom.
- Students from area high schools will meet with Mayor Smith at the Gem Theatre, as will the boys of High Aspiration and the young entrepreneurs of the Urban League.
- Mayor Smith and his entourage will tour the Black Archives of Mid-America, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and the American Jazz Museum.
Supporters of Mayor Smith’s visit are Alvin Brooks, Attorney Clinton Adams, Freedom, Inc., Kansas City Public School District, Fr. Don Farnan, William & Bill Dunn, Jr., Brooks Institute, Jermaine Reed and Councilwoman Melissa Robinson.
Mayor Smith will be accompanied by his mother, twin brother and a friend.