Sincerely, Fran & Teara Brown: Leading with Faith, Family and Purpose

WATCH | LISTEN

FULL TRANSCRIPT

[00:00:00] Melanie Littlejohn: Today’s episode is a love letter to the people who are shaping, uh, Central New York, sometimes in quiet ways, but always in powerful ways. I’m Melanie Littlejohn, and welcome to Sincerely CNY.

Ooh. Today, boy, I, as you know, I’m [00:00:30] not in my podcast studio. It’s because I am sitting with two, um, amazing human beings that I’m looking forward to today’s conversation, Fran and Tiara Brown. Um, thank you. Thank you for allowing me in your space. Um, I wanna talk a little bit about the both of you before we jump in, and this is almost a football-free zone today.

So, um, I hope you, uh, enjoy today’s conversation. But together, [00:01:00] uh, Tiara and Fran, they’re partners in family, leadership, and purpose. Fran serves as the head football coach at Syracuse University, where he is known for his people-first leadership style, recruiting strength, and the DART philosophy: detailed, accountable, relentless, and tough Tiara.

She is his high school love. Um, a long time partner. She [00:01:30] has been a steady presence throughout his journey from Camden, New Jersey, to college football leadership, while also pursuing her own career in healthcare. Together, they have built a life shaped by faith, sacrifice, resilience, and a shared commitment to family.

Their story reaches far beyond football, offering a powerful example of what it, what partnership looks like, [00:02:00] what mentorship looks like, and what it means to lead and serve with purpose. So, thank you Tiara and Fran Brown for being, um, my guests today, so.

[00:02:12] Teara Brown: Thanks for having us. Yeah.

[00:02:13] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah. I’m so, I’m so excited to be here.

And, you know, um, one of the things that for me was so important, that when we do this podcast, it’s about inspiring others. W- we talk about this whole notion of philanthropy. The Community Foundation [00:02:30] is, is centered on philanthropy. And so I often wanna shift the conversation and make philanthropy, um, broad, and to show people what it looks like, and to show what it looks like even through service and through giving, and really just trying to help create a culture of philanthropy, ’cause that’s what we wanna see here in central New York.

And so I could not think of better people to sit down and to talk about what philanthropy and service [00:03:00] means in this moment, and who you are as human beings. Not what you do, but who you are. Mm-hmm. So that’s what today’s conversation’s about. ‘Cause I wanna bring inspiration to those people who have an opportunity to both listen and hear your words today.

So, um, a, a huge, huge thank you. Y- you know, talking, I talked a little bit to Tiara, and, um, the conversation was automatically grounded in [00:03:30] family family and, um, what it, what it means. And family is your foundation, I know. Um, but I have a question for both of you. What is… Who shaped you as a part of your journey, um, in this life so far?

Um, not only from a family perspective, but who else has kinda shaped you into the people you are?

[00:03:59] Teara Brown: [00:04:00] Um, I’ll go first. Yeah. Um, so first and foremost, um, I wanna thank my mom. Um, my mom was such a inspiration to me. She shaped me, um, to the woman I am today. She was a single parent, um, for a little bit of my childhood until she met my step-dad.

Um, but she instilled so much into me, um, the drive, the ambition, um, working hard, um, putting family [00:04:30] first, um, and loving. Um, and then my husband. Um, when we met in high school, um, Francis, like, he just helped complement me in so many ways. Um, and I feel like he made me a better person.

[00:04:48] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm.

[00:04:49] Teara Brown: So, um, those are two people that come to mind right now.

Um, I’m sure if I had much more time I could thank a lot of people for different [00:05:00] things that they’ve helped instill in my life, but, um, those two are very important with who I am as a person.

[00:05:07] Melanie Littlejohn: Good. Thank you. Mm-hmm. Thank you for that. Mm. Francis? Um,

[00:05:12] Fran Brown: quickly, I would say, I would say God, to be honest. I think God has shaped us, um- We’ve been through so much, right?

There’s a lot that you go through in life. So I would say God, I would say, of course, um, you know, my mother, her mother. Um, [00:05:30] y- so many people you can name, but I think, um, a lot of the trials and tribulations we went through, you know, growing up in the city that I grew up in. And really, like, the entire city that I grew up, I learned a lot from a lot of people.

I learned a lot. Like, I watch a lot, I see a lot. Um, I was able to be in a lot of different circles and see things go on, you know. Um, but always just stayed in my own lane, but I was able to see a lot of stuff. So, um, I would say my Lord and Savior, because he kept me safe. [00:06:00]

[00:06:00] Teara Brown: Mm.

[00:06:00] Fran Brown: Um, of course my mother. Um, my, my family, her family.

Mm-hmm. Her family plays a major part, myself also. Um, but, uh, and then Tierra, to be honest. Like, her, of, um, just being strong, you know? And, um, not going for anything, just making sure that we gotta keep pushing, we gotta keep doing these certain things. So, um, her, myself. But for me, it’s, uh, it’s just a lot, you know?

I think it’s all the trials and tribulations that you go through in life-

[00:06:28] Teara Brown: Mm-hmm …

[00:06:28] Fran Brown: that really shapes [00:06:30] you into who you are. Not just any one particular person.

[00:06:34] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm.

[00:06:35] Fran Brown: Um, it’s everything, but consistent person would be her.

[00:06:39] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm.

[00:06:39] Fran Brown: Right? That’s what I would say, and then not happening without the man above.

She’s your ride or die. Yeah.

[00:06:44] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah. She’s your ride or die, right?

[00:06:46] Fran Brown: Yeah, yeah.

[00:06:47] Melanie Littlejohn: And, um, and that was apparent even in our earlier conversations. Um, it almost feels like that’s your foundation, right? That’s, that’s the [00:07:00] rock. So-

[00:07:01] Fran Brown: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

[00:07:02] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah.

[00:07:02] Fran Brown: My faith and my family. Yep. That’s, that’s everything.

[00:07:06] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah.

[00:07:06] Fran Brown: I don’t know what I would be able to do.

I wouldn’t be able to move on without either one.

[00:07:12] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm.

[00:07:12] Fran Brown: To be honest, so it means a lot.

[00:07:14] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm. Well, you, you, you are in good company. Yeah. I understand. I understand. When, when the both of you think about the most pivotal moments in your life that have shaped you, what was it?[00:07:30]

[00:07:33] Teara Brown: For me, I would say, um, the birth of our oldest son, Francis Jr. He, um, he just gave me the drive to do what I’m doing today.

[00:07:49] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

[00:07:51] Teara Brown: Yep. He doesn’t know, but he played a big part

[00:07:56] Melanie Littlejohn: See that.

[00:07:57] Teara Brown: Yep.

[00:07:57] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah. Becoming a [00:08:00] parent, right?

[00:08:00] Teara Brown: Yeah.

[00:08:02] Fran Brown: You ain’t gonna be crying though. You gonna toughen up on J. You know what I’m saying?

Yeah.

[00:08:07] Melanie Littlejohn: Girl, let them tears flow. No. I

[00:08:09] Fran Brown: agree with her. She right. Yeah, finally played a major part, um, that the moment with him, and then, um, we had a conversation one time. We were living in Mantua. Um, we lived on apar- a top of this, uh, building. We was living in an apartment building.

[00:08:27] Teara Brown: Our first apartment.

[00:08:28] Fran Brown: Wow.

[00:08:29] Teara Brown: [00:08:30] Yeah.

[00:08:31] Fran Brown: Like, uh, like, the place ended up getting, like, bats coming into the spot- … and stuff like that. But, uh, one day we was just talking in the car, and I was like, “You know what I’m saying? We gotta take this to another level.” Mm-hmm. “Be able to do different things, and we gotta work. You know what I’m saying?

And, and stay focused.” And, um, she was like, “Let’s do it.” And that was, uh, that was a huge moment for me, of just being able to communicate that with her, talk to her. Mm-hmm. Frank was young. He was the only kid, and I was like, “We [00:09:00] want him to see and do way better than we’ve d- been able to do.” Right? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

And create a life for him that he has no idea where we come from to be able to go. Right? Like, my s- kids hear about stuff that we may say. Um, they tease her. “Mom, you’re not from the hood.” Yeah, so we go back and forth with stuff, but they have no idea of what it took to have them where they are.

[00:09:25] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah. Yeah.

How do you, how do we … And, and, and [00:09:30] as a parent, and, and if I talk long enough, you will h- hear my accent.

[00:09:36] Teara Brown: Mm-hmm.

[00:09:36] Melanie Littlejohn: Right? Yeah. That I grew up in Jamaica, Queens. Mm-hmm. And, um, my, my children’s upbringing was radically different than mine, right? Mm-hmm. Um, how do you help even ground them in understanding all of the things that have shaped you and turned you into the human beings?

H- how do we impart some [00:10:00] of those lessons to them? Uh, uh, what’s the best way to kind of land that?

[00:10:05] Teara Brown: Um, well, I would say, you know, we … You never forget where you come from, right? Right. Um, we always go back there. Um, we still, you know, have a place in Jersey.

[00:10:19] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm.

[00:10:19] Teara Brown: Um, we were just there. We, you know, took our kids to our hometowns.

We do that often. Um, they see their cousins, their family. Mm-hmm. Um, they have [00:10:30] friends in these neighborhoods, um, ’cause our kids have friends all over the place. Um- But I mean, you know, our kids know where we came from, um, because we have those roots still- Mm-hmm … ingrained in us. Mm-hmm. Um, so, you know, it’s, it’s just a constant, you know, reminding and taking them back there and sitting down and enjoying the people that we grew up with.

And um, you know, like, [00:11:00] they know that, that they have a, a nice life.

[00:11:04] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm.

[00:11:04] Teara Brown: Um, but they also miss, you know, hanging out with those friends and being in those neighborhoods and- Yeah … walking to the corner store and-

[00:11:13] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm …

[00:11:14] Teara Brown: you know, like, just- Yeah … being a normal kid.

[00:11:17] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah.

[00:11:17] Teara Brown: So.

[00:11:18] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:11:19] Teara Brown: Yeah.

[00:11:19] Melanie Littlejohn: That’s a, that’s an important thing to seed into them, um, kinda where they are now.

[00:11:26] Teara Brown: Mm-hmm.

[00:11:27] Melanie Littlejohn: But really, who their, who their parents are and [00:11:30] what’s up, what’s in their DNA. Mm-hmm. You know, that strength, resilience, um, being tough, detailed, accountable, relentless, right? Mm-hmm. Um, which I know that’s a part of your mantra. That’s what you talk about, DART, right? Mm-hmm. Does DART translate to every part of your life?

[00:11:51] Fran Brown: For me,

[00:11:53] Melanie Littlejohn: yeah.

[00:11:53] Fran Brown: Yeah. It does. It’s, um… ‘Cause it’s simple, and I think that if you can [00:12:00] have those traits, then you’ll be successful in everything, right? If you start with your faith and then you’re moving on to whatever you’re doing, your workplace, things of that nature. Um, can’t say relationships. Just say my relationship is not a game, right?

Right. Um- But just in everything that you do, if you’re detailed, accountable- Yeah … you’re relentless towards it, um, and it’s gonna be tough.

[00:12:20] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah.

[00:12:20] Fran Brown: Right? You’re gonna go through tough times, like things aren’t gonna be easy. So, um, I, I, I try to do that with everything and I try to ask myself, “Did I do that in that [00:12:30] situation?”

Of course, we human, so we come up short sometimes.

[00:12:33] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm. But

[00:12:34] Fran Brown: then at least you understand and you know, and try it again.

[00:12:42] Melanie Littlejohn: I don’t have nothing else to say with that. That’s powerful, right? You lead by example, lead by showing folks what to do.

[00:12:51] Teara Brown: Yeah.

[00:12:52] Melanie Littlejohn: Um, and I think that is, that translates, I [00:13:00] think, to other things that I’ve seen the both of you do. And you, and you just talk… You said something also very powerful, that ego doesn’t get in the way.

[00:13:10] Fran Brown: Yeah. I mean, if you take ego, we got these little words that I use sometimes, it’s like edging God out. Mm. So like, my wife at times, you know, I’ll do something and she’ll be like, she’ll, she’ll get at me. “That’s your ego,” or whatever. It’s like, no, it’s not that. I just have certain things, right? Yeah. We talk about humble [00:13:30] confidence.

[00:13:30] Teara Brown: Mm-hmm.

[00:13:30] Fran Brown: I’m humble enough to understand and know that the man above has given us this talent, right? Like what you have is a talent- Mm-hmm … that’s been given by him. Mm-hmm. But why are you confident? Why do you walk with a sense of I belong here? It’s because I’m confident because I put the work in.

[00:13:44] Teara Brown: Mm-hmm.

[00:13:44] Fran Brown: So sometimes people take confidence as a…

Look at, is, is ego in the way? Are you getting there? Mm-hmm. It’s like, no, I just been working real hard and I-

[00:13:53] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm …

[00:13:53] Fran Brown: these dudes I’ve been also… And I just know it’s, it’s gotta work. It’s gotta work. Like, ’cause I’ve talked to him and I’ve asked God about it. Yeah, yeah. I went through it, [00:14:00] and like, no, it has to work.

And if it doesn’t, I gotta make sure I learn from it, see why, but it’s gonna work the next time. Yeah. Right?

[00:14:06] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah, yeah.

[00:14:07] Fran Brown: So I’m more so that glass, she’ll tell you, it’s always half full. We could just go through something and it could be the worst thing for everybody in the room, but for me it’s like, okay, I see the good in it, and I’m about to take off with it.

Mm-hmm. Like I always see the good in it, to be able to take off because, um, I understand what’s there. I see what’s there.

[00:14:26] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm.

[00:14:26] Fran Brown: I already have that. Why would I dwell on the worst?

[00:14:29] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah,

[00:14:29] Fran Brown: yeah. I’m trying to [00:14:30] dwell on the other part so that way we can move on.

[00:14:33] Melanie Littlejohn: You know, I’m glad you said that. Someone recently said to me, you know- you talk, speaking to me directly, right?

You, you try to find a positive in everything all of the time. Well, sometimes there just isn’t any positive. And I’m, I’m of the opinion, well, you gotta look for it. It ain’t easy, but you have to look for the positive, ’cause it’s very [00:15:00] easy to get overshadowed by all of the negative.

[00:15:03] Fran Brown: Yeah.

[00:15:04] Melanie Littlejohn: You know? Um, so important lesson.

I

[00:15:07] Fran Brown: mean, social media in the world right now shows us that you’re not doing enough. Yeah. You know what I mean? When you just look at it, everybody wants, I want, want, want all at once. Like, okay- Yeah … let me be thankful for what I have, and then I’ma go what, get what it is that I do want, right?

[00:15:22] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah.

[00:15:22] Fran Brown: And as long as my efforts are matching my wants, I’m not really worried about what everybody else-

[00:15:29] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm

[00:15:29] Fran Brown: thinks [00:15:30] and says.

[00:15:31] Melanie Littlejohn: My roommate from college used to have a saying, um, she was a poet, and she said, “Don’t let people live in your head rent free.” Absolutely. “Evict them.”

[00:15:39] Fran Brown: Yeah. Yeah.

[00:15:40] Melanie Littlejohn: And I love it. Mm-hmm. And every time I start, and when… And it, it’s, it’s a dark philosophy, right? Yeah. It’s real. But every time I start getting, “Ugh,” I’m like, “All right.

Remember what Kim said.” You know?

[00:15:54] Teara Brown: Yeah.

[00:15:54] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm. Right? Mm-hmm. Um, so that, that’s my philosophy. Don’t let people live in your head rent [00:16:00] free. Evict them. Um, talk to me about your community work and the, your purpose behind doing some of your community work. You wanna go first?

[00:16:13] Fran Brown: Nah, it’s up to you. Um, I mean, we’re here to serve.

I mean, everything with me, honestly, uh, my grandmother raised me when we was young and did different things, so everything with me, uh, is faith-based. Mm-hmm. Right? Like, we here to serve. You serve, you do [00:16:30] things the right way, you know, it comes back tenfold, right? Yeah. Um, and then I also know all the things that I went without, and I also know if there was a guy around like myself that I would’ve been able to follow as a kid, or I could see like, “Wow, he’s real,” and I didn’t see that later.

I could see that in kindergarten, first, second, third. Mm-hmm. Like, I saw it kinda 12th grade, where you kinda already set who you are and what you wanna do. So, um- I mean, that’s our purpose, right? I mean, [00:17:00] my job is to make sure I leave my household, football team, different people to get closer to the man above, so that way we all can get to heaven.

Um, while I’m on Earth, my flesh, I wanna coach football. Like, I love all that. I do that. But I still know what our purpose is, right, and what we’re trying to do and what we wanna get at. And there’s no greater feeling than being able to serve and help others. And you’re not looking for a reward. Like, most of the time when I do stuff, like, I don’t like, I don’t like [00:17:30] doing the cameras and-

[00:17:31] Teara Brown: Broadcast

[00:17:32] Fran Brown: everybody. Yeah. Yeah. I’m just, like, doing it and, like, “Yo, such and such needed this.” I’ll talk to somebody and they’ll tell me, “Hey, such and such is going through this. They need that.” “All right, cool. I’ma pull up on it.”

[00:17:43] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm.

[00:17:43] Fran Brown: And I get with ’em. “Hey, yo, here.” Yeah. “Like, uh, hey, just don’t tell nobody, though.”

Mm-hmm. Like, it’s just, it’s just between us.

[00:17:50] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah.

[00:17:50] Fran Brown: Mm-hmm. Like, it’s no… Like, if you’re serving, like, I don’t need everybody to know. Right. You know? There’s no need in them knowing that. Like, I know it, He knows it, and cool.

[00:17:59] Teara Brown: [00:18:00] That’s it.

[00:18:00] Fran Brown: Like, it’s not like… So people will be like, “Oh, you shouldn’t do this.” I’m like, like, “Man, God know what I want.”

[00:18:05] Teara Brown: Mm-hmm.

[00:18:05] Fran Brown: I want 100-plus million. You know what I’m saying? Like, I want

[00:18:09] Melanie Littlejohn: everything possibly for

[00:18:10] Teara Brown: right now. Right, right, right, right. But

[00:18:12] Fran Brown: I’ll still do the job that

[00:18:13] Teara Brown: He has-

[00:18:13] Fran Brown: Claim it. Me to do. Yeah, absolutely. I’m gonna get it. Um, but I’ma still do the job that He has set for me to do. Yeah. And for us to do. And we’ve been able to do a lot of stuff together now.

[00:18:22] Teara Brown: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

[00:18:23] Fran Brown: Um, she’s helped me see it from a different perspective. I’ve helped her also. ‘Cause, like, Tierra grew up [00:18:30] in Woodbury.

[00:18:30] Teara Brown: Mm-hmm.

[00:18:30] Fran Brown: Which is a better, it was a better environment to grow up in- Mm-hmm … than I grew up in. And understanding and knowing that people in that environment also need help.

[00:18:40] Teara Brown: Mm-hmm.

[00:18:41] Fran Brown: And be people in my environment. So not just doing community service in one particular place. We kinda branched out and do it everywhere because we can help everybody.

[00:18:51] Teara Brown: Mm-hmm.

[00:18:52] Fran Brown: You know, and that’s important to us, being able to do it, especially with her being in the medical field. She sees so many different things.

[00:19:00] Um, and her heart’s huge, so there’s a lot that we have to do in that field also

[00:19:06] Melanie Littlejohn: You know, I also experienced your wife’s heart being really big in less than 24 hours. Yeah. Just, um, listening to her why of service. Talk- Yeah … share with people your why, and I’d love to hear that. And it- Mm … and, and then I’m gonna talk about y’all’s [00:19:30] relationship, but-

[00:19:31] Teara Brown: Okay

[00:19:31] Melanie Littlejohn: yeah.

[00:19:32] Teara Brown: Um, I don’t know. I just, as a child, I just always wanted to help others. Um, that’s why I became a nurse. Mm-hmm. Um, and I enjoy, you know, being able to help put a smile on someone’s face or when they’re going through tough times, helping them get through those times. Um, like Francis said, um, you know, there’s been times, you know, I’ll just say certain people have gone through tough [00:20:00] times.

They’ve lost family members, and, you know, we’ll just… Or I’ll just say, “Hey, how can I help you? How can I make this situation a little bit better?” Um, they’re, “No, no, no,” you know. Um, I enjoy, um, being able to give people a shoulder to lean on. Um, it’s very fulfilling to me. It makes me feel good. Um, I know that’s what God would [00:20:30] want me to do.

Mm-hmm. Um, and if I have it, I’m gonna give it.

[00:20:35] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah.

[00:20:36] Teara Brown: So I think, you know, it, if others did the same, this world would be such a, a much- Mm … better place than, than what we have now. Um, and I just look at it as it’s only money. Right. So.

[00:20:51] Melanie Littlejohn: It’s only money.

It’s

[00:20:52] Teara Brown: only money.

[00:20:53] Melanie Littlejohn: It’s only money. Wow. Wow. When I, um, was [00:21:00] talking to your beloved- Yeah

right, we were talking about relationships and, and how important it is to be there, and how important it is to be resilient in a relationship. And, um- And having that mutual respect and love and moving in the same direction. Mm-hmm. ‘Cause that, [00:21:30] that was, um, such a huge part of our discussion. Um, but what would you say to young people out there trying to figure all of this out on how to be a family, how to be a couple- Mm-hmm

how to give to community, how to raise and love children? What, what is the advice that the both of you would give?

[00:21:56] Fran Brown: I think for the men, we just gotta mature faster, [00:22:00] right? For the young men, you mature faster. ‘Cause early on she was way more mature than I was, like as a kid. Um, even as a young adult, through having stuff and wanting to see things, she saw it before I saw it.

And then, um, I’ve always had the work ethic, right? My effort. She’s always had the heart and the brains. So as we’ve been able to, um, I guess, form, ’cause we’ve loved each other since we was little. [00:22:30] Um, but as we’ve been able to truly form together and become complete one, it was like her powers and mines end up coming together now.

[00:22:39] Teara Brown: Mm-hmm.

[00:22:39] Fran Brown: And now let’s go in the right direction-

[00:22:41] Teara Brown: Mm-hmm …

[00:22:41] Fran Brown: and not be having these forces against each other, right? Mm-hmm. It’s like I was young and immature. We’ve been together since we was kids, and it’s like, okay, I understand and I see exactly what you’re saying, what we need to do, how we need to grow these kids.

Um, I also think prayer, right? Whoever it is that has their connection with [00:23:00] the man above, um, it’s important that you do that, and then they see the consistency in it, because that household will stay protected. Mm-hmm. Right? There’s so many people out here that come at us about so many different things, and hatred- Mm-hmm

and lies- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm … and stuff like that. Mm-hmm. It’s a lot of stuff that go on, right? Like lies and things, and um, well, you just gotta, you gotta stay grounded together with your family. Yeah. And just everybody believe and be on the same page. And um, for [00:23:30] me, it was more so listening, ’cause I didn’t get to follow someone else who was married and done it right.

Mm-hmm. So I wasn’t like understanding. I think women naturally- Mm-hmm … know what you want and kind of know growing up. So me, it was like, “Okay, cool. I got you. Let me hear the things that she’s saying. Let me understand this.” Mm-hmm. “Let me listen more.” And then I got around more men that were, um, that were married-

[00:23:54] Teara Brown: Mm.

Mm-hmm …

[00:23:55] Fran Brown: and then different pieces, and I seen how good marriages, bad marriages, different pieces. Mm-hmm. I was [00:24:00] like, “Well, we want.”

[00:24:00] Teara Brown: Mm-hmm.

[00:24:01] Fran Brown: Right? And then it’s just things that we would talk about and go through, and um, it’s just helped us grow. Like, we’ve grown… I mean, we’ve been together since two thou- 1999.

Wow. Right? Like we’ve been together- Yeah … since ’99, so we was kids. What, how old were y’all? 16, 15. I was 15.

[00:24:15] Teara Brown: 14.

[00:24:16] Fran Brown: Yeah.

[00:24:16] Teara Brown: Mm-hmm. Yep.

[00:24:17] Fran Brown: So, like turning 17, I’m 17 years old, 18. We’ve

[00:24:21] Teara Brown: grown up

[00:24:22] Fran Brown: together. And like we literally been together- Mm-hmm … since we was kids, so.

[00:24:25] Teara Brown: Yeah.

[00:24:25] Fran Brown: Talking about immature, imagine me at 17. And 16.

[00:24:28] Teara Brown: Yeah. Right? [00:24:30] Yeah.

[00:24:30] Fran Brown: You can tell now that ego was huge then.

[00:24:31] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah,

[00:24:32] Fran Brown: yeah, yeah. Right? It was then, right. Um, so you just learn and you grow. And um, honestly, our children- Her being as strong as she is-

[00:24:43] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm …

[00:24:44] Fran Brown: and my Lord and Savior.

[00:24:46] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm.

[00:24:46] Fran Brown: Just being honest. Like everybody- Mm … else, it’s all the stuff. ‘Cause she don’t really care about money.

I care about money more than her.

[00:24:53] Melanie Littlejohn: Wow.

[00:24:53] Fran Brown: Right? Like, I’m a little bit different. She talking about it’s just money.

[00:24:57] Melanie Littlejohn: Okay.

[00:24:57] Fran Brown: You know what I’m saying? It’s, uh … But I [00:25:00] care about it to the point of it being able to help my kids’ kids.

[00:25:04] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah.

[00:25:04] Fran Brown: Right? Yeah, yeah. And then other people. We, we got a opportunity now for generational wealth, right?

We have a opportunity now- Yeah … um, to have trusts and different things of that nature- Right, right, right … that we weren’t taught. I had to go learn that.

[00:25:16] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm.

[00:25:16] Fran Brown: No one showed us that. Like, it was things that we had to learn. So, um, but all of it, man, I take my hat off to her. Um, my children And, uh, my Lord and Savior.

And, and I was [00:25:30] also tell you two other people that play a major role in our marriage and our success is my, uh, my brother-in-law, George, and my mother-in-law.

[00:25:44] Teara Brown: Mm-hmm.

[00:25:45] Fran Brown: Like yeah, they, they real close. Like I’m her son. My mother passed away.

[00:25:49] Teara Brown: Mm.

[00:25:49] Fran Brown: And, uh, when my mom passed, she talked to me one day. You know, she was like, “I’ma be here for you.

Regardless what whatever happen to you and my daughter, even though I know y’all will be together forever, [00:26:00] I’ll step in the place of your mom.” And she talked to my mom before my mom died, and, um, that meant a lot to me. And she’s, uh … That’s my mom, Mom Shakes. Uh, go.

[00:26:11] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm.

[00:26:11] Fran Brown: So like, it’s been Tiera, to answer your question in a small way.

Her and God and our kids, you know, they’re my- Your God

[00:26:18] Melanie Littlejohn: and your kids.

[00:26:19] Fran Brown: Yeah.

[00:26:19] Melanie Littlejohn: And service and community. Yeah,

[00:26:22] Fran Brown: yeah. That’s just- Community service second nature. Right.

[00:26:25] Melanie Littlejohn: That’s just what you do.

[00:26:27] Fran Brown: Yeah, like I, I like doing it. Yeah. Like I like- Yeah … I don’t know. I [00:26:30] enjoy that. Like I, I enjoy, for me, I enjoy playing cards.

Like- Wait, wait, wait,

[00:26:35] Melanie Littlejohn: wait, wait, wait. What kind of cards?

[00:26:37] Fran Brown: Oh, I’m, I’m nice at everything. I play tonk, dome. Um-

[00:26:40] Melanie Littlejohn: Okay. What about spades?

[00:26:41] Fran Brown: Yeah, I can play spades. What

[00:26:42] Melanie Littlejohn: about bid whist?

[00:26:43] Fran Brown: Say that again?

[00:26:44] Melanie Littlejohn: Oh, see. That might be

[00:26:44] Fran Brown: different. I’m, I’m

[00:26:45] Melanie Littlejohn: dating myself right

[00:26:46] Fran Brown: there. No, you ain’t dating yourself. That’s some South Side Jamaica, Queens game.

That’s a game that, that everybody play. But, um, I learned how to play poker. Okay. Um, so-

[00:26:54] Teara Brown: Thanks to Austin, right?

[00:26:55] Fran Brown: No, no, no. Austin was on that. He didn’t teach me. Okay. Okay. No, it’s Steve Angeli. Oh. Oh, Steve. Yeah, Steve, Steve, Steve. Okay. All right. Steve and Austin would play. Okay. So Steve,[00:27:00]

Steve Angeli taught me how to play that. And then, um, I like go- I like playing at the cas- I’m not a gambler. Mm. But I go to the casino. Mm-hmm. I might have $200 and, um, I play blackjack, which I’m gonna win a whole lot.

[00:27:15] Melanie Littlejohn: Or you’re gonna lose. But

[00:27:16] Fran Brown: I’m los- But I’m losing 200.

[00:27:17] Melanie Littlejohn: That’s it.

[00:27:17] Fran Brown: And that’s about it. That’s right.

Now I might not eat that night- … because I lost the money- Oh, stop … I was supposed to eat. You

[00:27:24] Melanie Littlejohn: frugal. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you frugal. He, he, he counts, he counts

[00:27:28] Fran Brown: the-

[00:27:28] Teara Brown: Yeah. Well, he is very frugal. [00:27:30] Can’t say

[00:27:30] Fran Brown: that paper, man.

[00:27:31] Melanie Littlejohn: Yes. He, he, look. Yeah. That’s called generational-

[00:27:34] Fran Brown: Yeah.

[00:27:34] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm, generational wealth. That’s right.

That’s right.

[00:27:37] Fran Brown: So like that’s, that’s kinda where it comes … But I do love community service. Me too. Um, I love that our team likes it now. Um, my kids, my family, like everybody’s- Mm-hmm … involved in it. We did a book bag drive, and my daughter, um, it was pretty cool just watching her set all the book bags up- Mm-hmm

yeah … and doing stuff, and then wanting to give it out to everybody. Um, so it’s just starting [00:28:00] her at four years old, understanding and knowing there’s nothing better than serving-

[00:28:05] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm …

[00:28:05] Fran Brown: being able to give back. Mm-hmm. So it was pretty cool.

[00:28:07] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah. Oh, I, I, I love that, and I love that you require 2,000 hours of service.

[00:28:14] Fran Brown: Oh, yeah. It’s just kinda- I

[00:28:15] Melanie Littlejohn: mean, that’s … It’s unheard of.

[00:28:18] Fran Brown: Well, when you have as many people as we have on the team right now, we have 100 something, I told you, everybody’s doing an hour per week So we kinda-

[00:28:26] Melanie Littlejohn: I love it …

[00:28:27] Fran Brown: it’s, it’s really simple to get that. We’ve probably, [00:28:30] we’ve been past that probably. Yeah, like we’re way past that.

Soon. But it’s important that they do that, and it’s important that, but they have to get 30 hours a year. Wow. So, like, the players making sure they do that. Yeah And it becomes second nature. As men, right, we wanna be men of faith. Like, the mission here is to be faith-driven- Mm-hmm … educated, a good husband, father, and community man.

[00:28:50] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm.

[00:28:51] Fran Brown: And so, like, being able to do those things are, um… just gotta start with the faith, make sure you wanna help that community, because you’ll be in some [00:29:00] community. And I’m expecting that community to grow because one of the guys that I’ve coached are there, and they’re lifting everybody up.

[00:29:07] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm.

[00:29:08] Fran Brown: You know?

[00:29:08] Melanie Littlejohn: Mm-hmm. I love this. I could, we could go on- … for a long time, um, just talking. I, it’s, what you’re saying is resonating with both my spirit and my heart. Yeah. Um, because it’s all about standing in service to others, to our family- [00:29:30] Mm … to our faith. Um, and it’s always about lifting each other. And, um, boy, the two of you are such an inspiration on that just by being you, you know?

I love the no fluff, no muff kinda stuff. Oh, I, I w- did I just rhyme there- … for a minute? You know, um, but it’s the Jamaica Queens in me. Yeah. What can I tell you? But-

[00:29:59] Fran Brown: There’s a lot of good [00:30:00] rappers from there.

[00:30:01] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah. We talk about that off camera, but there’s- Yeah … a lot of good ones. Good ones. And, um, thank you for all that you are doing to shape community and people.

Thank you for your heart.

[00:30:15] Fran Brown: Mm-hmm.

[00:30:16] Melanie Littlejohn: Right? Thank you for your heart, because it’s evident that it is real, right? ‘Cause sometimes people are in these roles and it doesn’t feel real. This [00:30:30] feels genuine. I can feel it.

[00:30:33] Fran Brown: If it’s not, we’re not doing

[00:30:35] Melanie Littlejohn: it. Right.

[00:30:36] Fran Brown: Yeah. If it’s not genuine, it’s not real, we’re not doing it.

I mean, that’s why we out here, like, helping Miss Mary Nelson.

[00:30:42] Melanie Littlejohn: Yeah.

[00:30:42] Fran Brown: Because we feel that she’s-

[00:30:44] Melanie Littlejohn: Yes, Miss Mary … genuine. Mm-hmm. Yeah, and you, if you did her backp- you did the backpack drive with Mary.

[00:30:49] Fran Brown: With Mary,

[00:30:50] Melanie Littlejohn: yeah. Yeah. M- yeah. Mary has, Mary’s soul and spirit is folded into this community. Community. Yeah.

Right? Mm-hmm. And, um, but that’s what all [00:31:00] of this is about. It is about community, and it’s about heart. And thank you for loving people through some of their darkest moments as a nurse anesthetist. Mm. Right? You see them at their most-

[00:31:16] Teara Brown: Vulnerable …

[00:31:16] Melanie Littlejohn: vulnerable moment

[00:31:17] Teara Brown: Mm-hmm

[00:31:18] Melanie Littlejohn: And your spirit and kindness comes through.

So yes, football brought us to this conversation, and football is a vehicle-

[00:31:27] Fran Brown: Mm-hmm …

[00:31:28] Melanie Littlejohn: to allow the both [00:31:30] of you to keep doing, um, what you’re, what you’ve been called to do. I usually ask people what’s your why, but this whole conversation has been a demonstration of your why. Mm-hmm. So from me to you and from the Community Foundation, just thank you for what you’re doing.

Um, thank you for inspiring others to figure out how they give, how they live. Um, I can’t wait for people to see [00:32:00] this conversation. So thank you.

[00:32:02] Fran Brown: Thank

[00:32:03] Teara Brown: you, Allison. Yeah.

[00:32:03] Melanie Littlejohn: Thank you.

[00:32:03] Teara Brown: Thanks for having us.

[00:32:04] Melanie Littlejohn: Thank you. Yep. Thank you. So when I think about this conversation is four things I think about. First, I think about faith, I think about love, I think about community, and I think about what it means to go the distance.

[00:32:30] And Fran and Tiara Brown are examples of that Living through odds, loving through odds, and giving of yourself, your time to make the world better. So let’s take a, a, a, a page out of coach’s playbook [00:33:00] and figure out how we make our community, our world as strong and as loving as we can. It starts with us.

Thank you. Go out, encourage others, and keep this conversation going.