Quotes from Aja Brown

Compton is a much safer Compton than it was in the '80s. People play in parks. People aren't afraid to be out at night.

I actually grew up in the City of Pasadena.

I believe the people of Compton are ready for change. They've spoken. Their voice has clearly been heard that they don't want to go backward. They want to go forward.

Compton is this amazing place with a rich history. I see it as a new Brooklyn.

Seeing people decide to choose love instead of hate is phenomenal.

Some people don't have a home or a place where they can cook a warm meal, and so we're thankful for the generosity of YG and the 4Hundred Waze Foundation to feed the community in the city of Compton.

My heart is really in building coalitions.

The Compton I knew was from my mother, and it was beautiful. It was this close-knit community, and people cared about one another, and it was safe.

I thought I could make change by just working at ground level, but to change a community, you have to change policies.

Gentrification is a problem of poor planning.

Political positions do not belong to the officeholder; they belong to the people that place us in office.

I think we are living in an age where we really need to have bilingual leaders so that we can communicate with our constituents.

I've always been calm, and I'm very good in a crisis.

It's critical to be able to see things in other people that sometimes they don't see in themselves.

Compton looks a lot of different. Residents are now able to go out and grab a bite, go to dinner, go to Target, Best Buy or a gym or Marshall's. We're now able to experience more amenities. I want to see that grow.

I think Compton is a really attractive place for young families.

I think Compton is definitely a part of my, my family history - a part of me.

Kendrick Lamar is a phenomenal artist whose work has served as a catalyst to raise a new level of consciousness for this generation. His message challenges the status quo and motivates listeners to rethink our society's institutions.

People who come from Compton - they're overcoming so many challenges that most people don't have to overcome, but that creates special tenacity and different skills that you just can't manufacture.

Progress comes at a price. You have to be willing to make tough calls and take the hits.

I have always believed women have so many natural leadership qualities. They just need opportunities and access.

I think when people think of Compton, of course, they always think of gangster rap. But if you ever had an opportunity to go to Compton, you would know that Compton is a beautiful city.

The perpetuation of gangster rap has really put a negative image on the city of Compton... So I look forward to addressing that image, changing it and making it more accurate.

An effective leader is able to reach people in their natural environment and extract their experiences and knowledge about the issues that impact them.