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Government
Aja's journey in
highlighted service
Mayor of
Compton
2013-2021
As the youngest two-term Mayor of Compton, California, Aja Brown led a historic transformation of the city from 2013 to 2021. Grounded in a people-centered leadership approach, she prioritized trust, community voice, and equitable outcomes.
At a time when Compton’s national image had long been defined by disinvestment and stigma, her leadership helped reposition the city as a hub for growth, opportunity, empowerment and innovation. Her Vision for Compton strategy drove more than $3 billion in new investment, reduced unemployment by 50 percent, significantly lowered crime, and rebuilt the city’s financial foundation, creating lasting opportunity for residents.
Vision For Compton
Milestones
Aja Brown’s Vision for Compton was the driving force behind the city’s transformation. This data-informed, community-driven 12-point strategy anchored her mayoral leadership and provided a clear framework for progress. Developed with direct input from residents, the plan addressed the city’s most pressing challenges while aligning policy, investment, and partnerships across key priorities, including economic development, public safety, infrastructure, and community well-being. More than a plan, it served as a roadmap that enabled a coordinated and measurable turnaround.
Reduced unemployment by 50% in 3 years
Cut homicides to lowest level in 20+ years through Compton Empowered
Eliminated a $43M deficit and restored city finances
Delivered
$9M+ in infrastructure investment
Repaired 20,000+ potholes and repaved 100+ streets
Launched a $9.2M Compton Pledge GBI Program
The People's Playbook
The People’s Playbook is a visionary space that amplifies the transformative power of people from all walks of life by showcasing what truly works in government, business, culture, education, and technology powered by Aja Brown.
Highlighted
Media in Gov.
Specialties + Impact
Aja's Impact in Gov.
Aja Brown inherited a city facing a $43 million general fund deficit and structural financial instability. Under her leadership, Compton restored fiscal discipline by passing balanced budgets for three consecutive years, repaying $8 million in state debt, and reestablishing its creditworthiness. Her administration also implemented a long-term debt repayment strategy and created a rainy day fund to ensure sustained financial health and resilience.
Aja Brown led a new era of economic reinvestment in Compton, catalyzing more than $3 billion in new public and private investment. During her tenure, unemployment was cut in half, dropping from 18 percent to 8 percent in just three years. Major developments brought new jobs, retail, and infrastructure, while policies like a 35% local hiring requirement ensured that growth directly benefited residents.
Investing in the next generation was central to Aja Brown’s leadership. Her administration launched and expanded initiatives such as My Brother’s Keeper, Girls Fly! Compton, and citywide youth leadership programs, reaching hundreds of young people annually. These efforts focused on education, workforce readiness, mentorship, and leadership development, creating new pathways to opportunity for Compton’s youth.
Under Aja Brown’s leadership, Compton experienced a significant shift in public safety outcomes. Homicides dropped to 13 in 2015, the lowest level in over 20 years, supported by community-based strategies like the Compton Empowered Gang Intervention Program. These efforts contributed to a 50% reduction in gang-related homicides in early implementation and established a new model centered on prevention, partnership, and community trust.
Aja Brown rebuilt trust between residents and city government by prioritizing transparency, access, and engagement. Her administration introduced town halls, public workshops, a citywide newsletter, and direct community forums like Coffee with the Mayor, reconnecting residents to their local government and increasing civic participation. This renewed confidence helped reshape Compton’s national narrative and drew investment and support from globally recognized leaders and hometown icons born and raised in Compton, including Dr. Dre, Serena and Venus Williams, and Kendrick Lamar, reinforcing pride, ownership, and belief in the city’s future.
Aja Brown leveraged cross-sector partnerships to accelerate Compton’s transformation. Collaborations with federal agencies, private developers, workforce organizations, and philanthropy unlocked millions in funding and resources. From securing over $9 million in infrastructure grants to advancing federal initiatives like the Violence Reduction Network, these partnerships expanded the city’s capacity to deliver results at scale.
Aja Brown helped pioneer one of the nation’s largest guaranteed income efforts through the Compton Pledge, delivering $9.2 million in direct cash support to residents over two years. This groundbreaking initiative provided consistent, no-strings-attached income to families, advancing economic stability and serving as a national model for reimagining social safety nets and direct community investment.
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