More than a decade after Michael Brown Jr.’s death, his family launched Legacy Week to remember his legacy and unify a grieving community.
How have you been since we last connected during our Dear Fathers Night panel discussion with the St. Louis Cardinals?
Man, I’m blessed. I don’t look like what I’ve been through. This week alone carries a lot of weight for me and my family, but I’m still standing. I’m determined to keep going, keep healing and keep doing the work. I’ve learned that perseverance doesn’t mean you don’t feel the pain, it means you keep moving with it.
It’s been twelve years since you lost your son, Mike Brown Jr. How do you handle the grieving process?
I allow myself to sit in it. I don’t run from grief anymore. I let myself feel it so I can understand where I am and where I don’t want to stay. I go to therapy. I stay active. I pour into other families who are dealing with loss because helping them navigate their grief also helps me understand mine. Grief doesn’t disappear. You learn how to carry it differently.
What would you like people to know about your son that they may not be aware of?
Mike was a lover, not a fighter. He loved animals. He loved seafood. He loved God. And that boy was a real prankster, he loved to laugh and make everybody else laugh too. I want people to know the human being behind the headlines. He was somebody’s son. Somebody’s brother. Somebody’s friend. He was loved.
How has your fatherhood journey been while raising your additional children?
Man, I’m overprotective. After what I’ve experienced, that comes with it. But more than anything, I’m present. I’m intentional about breaking generational curses and tearing down some of the barriers that once had me stuck. I want my children to experience a father who is there, not just physically, but emotionally. And now, I’m enjoying watching them grow, become themselves and find their own paths. That means everything to me.
Tell us about the inspiration behind Legacy Week.
My son is a legend to me, and I’m going to fight until my last breath to build a legacy worthy of his life. Legacy Week gives us an opportunity to remember who Mike was, but it also creates space for healing, justice, community, and action. I don’t want his story to end with what happened to him. I want people to see what has been built because his life mattered.
What does legacy mean to Mike Brown Sr.?
Legacy is building something solid enough that the people coming behind you have a path to walk on. It’s creating something so meaningful that it cannot be duplicated, erased, or forgotten.
For me, legacy means making sure my son’s name continues to create change long after I’m gone.
Why is it important for you to continue telling your son’s story?
Because on August 1, 2014, after graduating from high school, Mike said something that our family still carries today:
“The world will know my name. I’m gonna shake the world. I might have to go away for a while, but I’m coming back to heal my city.”
Those words mean something different to me today.
He was right, the world learned his name. Now I feel a responsibility to make sure the world also knows who he was, not just how he died. I live those words every day by trying to make a difference in my city and helping other families heal.
Describe your son’s legacy in three words.
Forever. Change. Action.
Forever — Mike Brown Forever. His name, his life and his love will always be with us.
Change — Together, we are Chosen for Change. Pain can become purpose when we decide to do something with it.
Action — You must do the work. Healing, change, and legacy require action.
What’s next for you and The Chosen For Change Foundation?
The vision is the Michael Brown Jr. Center of Change, a place where people can come face-to-face with the person in the mirror and begin doing the work necessary to become the best version of themselves. A space for healing. Mental wellness. Grief support. Families. Fathers. Young people. Community.
Until then, we keep doing what we’ve always done:
Wiping tears. Healing hearts. Serving communities.
The work continues.
How can people follow and connect with you?
Come see the work for yourself.
Visit ChosenForChange.org to learn more about our programs, donate, volunteer or partner with us.
You can also email us at info@chosenforchange.org or call 314-384-6332.
But I always tell people: don’t just follow us, get involved.
If you believe in healing families, supporting communities, and turning pain into purpose, there is a place for you in this work.
Legacy Week 2026: ‘What Does Justice Look Like to You?’
To mark what would have been Michael Brown Jr.’s 30th birthday year, Chosen for Change is hosting a series of community events focused on faith, artistic expression, and healing:
- Friday, Aug. 7 -Panel Discussion (R&R Marketplace, Dellwood) – A community forum titled “What Does Justice Look Like to You?” featuring five local pastors and faith-based leaders examining the role of clergy in community healing.
- Saturday, Aug. 8 – Black Ball 2026: Rip the Runway for Justice – The foundation’s largest annual fundraiser, featuring 20 models expressing justice through style. Attendees are encouraged to wear expressive attire to raise funds for grief support services.
- Sunday, Aug. 9 – Annual Moment of Silence – The family and community will gather at 11:55 a.m. at Ground Zero on Canfield Drive for a solemn moment of silence marking his final moments.
