WYNNE — EAST at Wynne Junior High School welcomed Earle Mayor Jaylen Smith as its latest community guest on Tuesday.
Mayor Smith shared his story of becoming mayor of the Crittenden County city at just 18 years of age, and the importance of leadership in the community.
“I’m hearing amazing ideas and sharing my inspiration to them,” Mayor Smith said. “They’re also giving me feedback as well as to how I can better support my community. At the end of the day, it’s all about community saving community. It’s not about leaders transitioning to make a difference. It’s all about all of us working together to really implement the change and bring the change number one to our community and also to our next generation.”
Mayor Smith said he was impressed by the efforts of the EAST students.
“The EAST program here that Wynne has as far as creating 3D, creating music, creating opportunities for kids with vending machines, with making a product for students who are in the school district I want to take back and implement back in Earle, Arkansas,” he said. “Letting kids know there is an opportunity. You just have to take advantage of it. You can create music. You can create 3D. You can create vending machines. You can create a product. It’s really amazing to get kids really engaged in this experience early so by the time they reach graduation they already have the experience they need to get them a job.”
Chelsea Hudson is the facilitator for EAST at Wynne Junior High School. She thanked Mayor Smith for coming to speak to her students and said he is a great role model for what young people can do.
“My goal after conference was just to bring in people from our community, surrounding communities that just are great leaders and role models for these kids,” she said. “Just to get somebody in front of them so they can see that they really can do big things now, starting now in junior high.
“Mr. Jaylen Smith is a great example of a young leader,” Hudson added. “I want kids to know that it starts now and they can also do those things right out of high school just like he did.”
Hudson said the EAST program is looking forward to a partnership with Mayor Smith and the City of Earle.
“We hope to definitely see lots of future partnerships on projects,” she said. “We’re definitely going to be helping Earle with whatever we need to, whatever he wants us for. It will just do nothing but grow the kids and grow our bonds as communities. I can’t wait to see this great partnership work out.”
