Many people have a lot to say about Compton as a city; comments on its violence and poverty have filtered through history. But Compton Mayor Aja Brown has something new to say for her beloved home.

In 2013, Brown became the city’s youngest mayor at age 31. Her urban planning experience was the foundation that helped build a new image for the city — though she faced scrutiny for being new to politics and the city itself, despite having moved and worked there since 2009.

Brown also faced scrutiny for her age, in a city where the median age of people is 30 years old.

“The majority of Compton is very young. We’re a very young city. So I’m able to relate, communicate, and connect with my constituents in a great way,” Brown said.

Amidst the criticisms, Brown pushed forward and won against 12 different opponents; including the former mayor Omar Bradley and incumbent mayor Eric Perrodin. She continued on to win the love from her constituents for transforming Compton into a safe haven.

“At the height of NWA’s ‘Straight Outta Compton’ in the ‘90s, Compton experienced over 100 homicides a year,” Brown said to Blavity. “In the last several years, we’ve averaged about 20 per year.”

Many credit this reduction in crime to her peace talks with the former Bloods and Crips gang members within her city. Instead of criminalization, Brown encourages negotiation and meditation. 

Although many constituents are happy with the peace, some fear the ongoing gentrification in Compton. Brown addressed this by first saying Compton has received investments in infrastructure from Fortune 500 companies. She then says constituents should not be worried by that.

“Understand what the value is of our property. Regardless of where you live, there is no additional land being made, so we need to understand the power of home ownership, and also, to start having conversations about generational wealth,” Brown said.

According to Data USA, the homeownership rate in Compton in 2017 was 54.3 percent, though it is unsure if those homes will be passed down to younger generations.

Compton's growth goes beyond homeownership. With new revenue from businesses, Brown has been able to repair roads, including the addition of more lighting to improve public safety. The unemployment rate has decreased with the help of these businesses, including a new grocery store called Grocery Outlet that made national news as one of the first black-owned grocery stores in Compton.

Brown has also been connecting with former Compton champions to reinvest in the community and says she is excited to see its growth.

“We’ve done a lot together, so I’m looking forward to the years to come,” Brown said.