In Compton, it’s all about civic pride. Currently back in the spotlight due to the critically acclaimed “Straight Outta Compton” film – which was an Oscar nominee for original screenplay and has taken home numerous awards this year – Compton today is in the midst of an urban renaissance.
We at Church’s Chicken have been in this community for 20 years and we believe the story here continues to unfold, so we commissioned our own videographer to film a documentary that is now available on YouTube to help tell the story of the people who live here day in and day out.
“I’ve been here since 1975,” says longtime resident Denise Davidson. “So I’ve seen it grow from a little bit of something to a whole lot of something. … Good things come out of Compton.”
Another resident, Rodney Lister, explains Compton’s enduring appeal: “It’s often referred to as a hub city. It’s not far from the ports. It’s not far from the beaches. It’s not far from Los Angeles. It’s right in the middle.”
As Americans continue to make the move out of closed-off suburbs and back to established city neighborhoods, Lister’s words strike right at the heart of why Compton means so much to those who grew up there, live there and are returning there for new opportunities.
The city of Compton has changed a lot since we first set up shop on Rosecrans Avenue in 1996. What hasn’t changed is our understanding that it’s the people of this city that make it special. Indeed, the location on the busy major roadway has endured many shifts as one of L.A.’s most transitional inner-city areas, but for many, Compton has simply been “home.”
“Church’s is an icon in this community. It’s stood the test of time. When other chains left or wouldn’t come to Compton, they were here. And so now, they’re just a part of home,” says civic leader Satra Zurita, president of the Compton Unified School District’s Board of Trustees.
As the city’s mayor pro tem, Zurita said, “Compton is about great people, great neighbors. … Compton is about progress.”
We are proud to be a part of this community and urge other brands to invest here, too.
Mark Snyder is executive vice president and global chief marketing officer of Church’s Chicken, headquartered in Atlanta.
