They’re between their teen years and their 40s, they’re Black and they’re running entire communities.

This is the profile of a new parade of young Black mayors in America who are blasting through the negative stereotypes of young Black men. They’ve handled nationally followed events, such as campus shootings, and managed budgets. Perhaps most notable among them is Mayor Jaylen Smith of Earle, Arkansas, who made news when he was elected last year at the age of 18.

Smith, who ranks as the youngest mayor in America, governs with a foundation of faith, often posting about scripture and God on his social media accounts.

“I didn’t run to make a name for myself,” Smith told CNN. “I ran because I wanted to help my community and move my community in the direction that it needed to be moved in.”

Mayor Brandon Scott of Baltimore, at age 39, has effectively been pushing down numbers of homicides and nonfatal shootings in his city. He was elected at age 36, making him the youngest mayor to lead the Charm City.

Other young Black mayors of note: Mayor Randall Woodfin of Birmingham, Alabama, and Mayor Justin Bibb of Cleveland.

The young mayors’ colleagues are proud of their work. 

“The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) is proud to honor the young, Black mayors who have joined our ranks, from Mayor Jaylen Smith of Earle, Arkansas, to Mayor Brandon Scott of Baltimore, among others,” the organization said in a statement to NABJ Black News & Views.

“These bright visionaries are blazing trails in their respective cities, pushing for fiscal responsibility, deftly handling national emergencies, and thoughtfully responding to the needs and concerns of their constituents,” the statement continued. “At AAMA we know it’s keenly important to mentor and guide the next generation of young leaders. We are empowering our young mayors to fight every day for what they believe in and continue our rich legacy.”