Aja Brown

“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.”

“I think Dr Dre really evolved and really is a great role model for young people that have had to survive and thrive against all odds. He was able to turn his life around and create an empire and become a successful family person.”

“Gentrification is a problem of poor planning.”

“We all have a social responsibility and have to be mindful of what we do and say.”

“We're asking that the Compton citizens have a zero tolerance policy against violence.”

“I've always understood that, as a woman and as a person of color, I would always have to work harder; I would have to have thicker skin. I would have to be more mindful of my reactions, the way I spoke to people.”

“Children in urban communities suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome in higher proportions than veterans, and they need therapeutic outlets, which arts and drama has proven to provide.”

“I didn't have a traditional college experience. I didn't have a social aspect to it. I was always involved in working and going to school.”

“When we look at the investment decisions into the city of Compton, the small business community and global corporations and retailers and all of those types of services that decide to come into the community to serve it, they look at the perception, how does the brand work with the local community.”

“I really see Compton as a place with a lot of opportunity. It has a rich history, a strong community that has a strong sense of pride.”

“I think - everything just in the political realm - women are usually perceived to be more trustworthy and compassionate. And they usually fare well against their male counterpart.”

“The days of pay-to-play politics is over.”

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

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

“The majority of people, especially young people, know Dr. Dre because of Beats by Dre, not necessarily from him being a rap artist.”

“There's always some difference between your Latino and African-American communities. But we definitely have more similarities than differences.”

“I research best practices and recipes for success and failure to craft personalised policies for my city.”

“I dedicated my career to really working in under-served communities and really just being in the trenches.”

“It's all about making sure kids can have access to educational opportunities... you may not need a necessarily traditional college environment, but access to trades and employment development.”

“Kendrick Lamar represents Compton's evolution, embodying the New Vision for Compton - Purpose, Prosperity, and Progress.”