Aja Brown: Compton’s new mayor. Photograph: Rory Carroll. (Source: the guardian.com)
Oct. 21 — Last week, the Community Programs Office held its 5th annual Welcome Event. More than 100 students came out to watch the excellent performances, to dance to the music, and to eat the food. The highlight of the evening, however, was the keynote speaker. The newly elected mayor of Compton, Aja Brown, came out to address the attendees. “You are not at UCLA by chance, but because there is work to be done, [and] doors to be opened,” declared Brown. She is correct. We are here for a reason.
College is a stepping-stone; for some, it is a profile enhancer for business portfolios. For others, it is the first leg on a long journey to stethoscopes and scrubs. Whatever goals you may possess, you recognize that higher education is the key to those aspirations. As we move toward our own dreams, it is crucial that we appreciate how fortunate we truly are to be here. Right here in Los Angeles, less than twenty minutes from campus, there are thousands of young people that have no access to such opportunities; most doors are closed to them. It is our responsibility to change that.
Mayor Aja Brown has begun the challenging process of turning the door knob. As a University of Southern California graduate and a successful urban planner, Brown could have easily forgot her roots. Instead, she moved to Compton determined to rebuild one of our nation’s most notorious cities. Brown asserted, “Let us not use our degrees as a badge of honor, but as a tool to build our communities.”
True to her words, she immediately became active in using her education and experience to transform the community; she launched the Urban Vision Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit foundation that focuses on providing community members with the tools they need to attain an education. She soon realized that the city needs new leadership in order for true change to become possible; as a result, she lobbied numerous city leaders to enter the mayoral race. They turned the proposition on her—why didn’t she run? Too often we wait for someone else to take a stand or to make a difference, when that “someone else” is ourselves.
Brown did run, and she did win. She is that change she was looking for. When Mayor Aja Brown spoke at the Welcome Event, she stated that she hoped her words would “inspire us to make a difference.” In my eyes, she had already succeeded in that prior to taking the stage. To see a young woman, a black woman, leading one of our nation’s most notorious cities is beyond encouraging. Let us look to her as an example. As college students, particularly students of color, we are in the perfect situation to assist underprivileged youth and their communities.
We know the way— let’s pass on our knowledge. Yes, we have ambitions in mind for ourselves, but what about our brothers, sisters, cousins and friends who were not fortunate enough to make it this far? As Brown stated, “It is not enough for me to get mine or you to get yours.” We are all here because someone cared enough to give back to us. No one can succeed alone. All it takes is a small amount of our time. A single word can change an attitude. A simple action has the ability to transform a life.
Author: Sharila Stewart
Nommo Staff