Four mayors along the Route 1 corridor were recently named to a national list of notable black women across the country.

Essence magazine compiled the second-annual list of the “Woke 100 Women” to highlight black women who are “proven change agents.”

“These women continuously fight the good fight by inspiring us and igniting movements—from the healthcare field to the Hill to Hollywood,” the magazine wrote.

The list typically includes a mix of celebrities, activists, government officials and writers, though the inclusion of four mayors from neighboring areas was exceptional.

The four local mayors honored for the 2018 Woke 100 Women are: Petrella Robinson, who was raised in the area by her great aunt and has been mayor of North Brentwood since 2007; Edmonston Mayor Tracy Farrish Gant, originally from Philadelphia, Penn., who has been in office since 2014; Colmar Manor Mayor Sadara Barrow, who grew up in town and has also been in office since 2014; and Takisha D. James, mayor of Bladensburg, who is originally from Lansing, Mich., and attended Howard University, was sworn in last year.

The list was hardly surprising for the Route 1 corridor, which has a diverse roster of local politicians. Hyattsville Mayor Candace Hollingsworth is the first African American and the second woman to hold the office. College Park recently re-elected its first openly gay mayor, Patrick Wojahn. And Brentwood recently re-elected Maryland’s first Latina mayor, Rocio Treminio-Lopez.

Here’s what Essence had to say about each of the four Route 1 corridor women highlighted:

Petrella Robinson, mayor of North Brentwood

On the benefit of having a strong network of Black women mayors: “We’ve always been strong, and we’re getting stronger. We can make a powerful change like our ancestors did. The more women who come out and do what they’re doing, the more we can keep our families together.”

Tracy Farrish Gant, mayor of Edmonston

On how she paved the way: “I ran for [city council] in 1992… It was a little different because I was the first Black councilwoman in my community. My point when I got in was to just stay there so I could be a presence. Like others during that time and before me, we made a way for [women who are] running now.”

Takisha D. James, mayor of Bladensburg

On the 2016 presidential election: “The Trump effect was eye-opening. It showed me I had to get out of my head. Seeing Trump for who he is helped me realize if he can do it, so can I. I kept hearing in my spirit, You have to step up.”

Sadara Barrow, mayor of Colmar Manor

On why political representation matters: “I want people to see me with my trials and tribulations and things that I’ve gone through to be able to still stand up and be a mayor. So people who look like me and girls who look like me will know that they can do the same thing.”