Our Story

SOULSTIR is a social enterprise that exists to enrich lives as a premier creator of experiences that inspire empowerment and action.

It is the social entrepreneurial manifestation of the energy, passion, and spirit of its Founder and CEO, Mike Brown, and was born out of a personal journey of discovery during 2020 in which he asked himself the following questions: 

What am I doing to make a difference in the world?
What more can I do?
What are my gifts? 
What’s my purpose?
What are my passions?
How am I putting my gifts from God to use right now? 
What are my priorities? What am I focused on?

 

The deeper within himself he went to discern answers to those questions, the more things were revealed to him. Ultimately, he discovered there was so much more within himself to offer that would enrich the lives of others; and there were many things destined to be done, and he was born to do them.  Next, he took action to execute on a the things in his heart and mind, and those actions, along with a series of events, are what led to the creation of SOULSTIR and can be described as his SOULSTIR Journey....described below.

  • February 2020
    • Mike decides to take action to reignite a single book project he originally began in 2009 to document the stories of the 57+ people who have served as Notre Dame’s Leprechaun mascot.
    • Mike is interviewed by Jetaun Davis for her Journey to Jupiter podcast
  • March 2020
    • Inspired by his reflective Journey to Jupiter interview, Mike begins recording weekly reflections and encouragement messages
    • A global health pandemic ensues
  • April 2020
    • “Survive and Advance” becomes the theme Mike and his wife use to address the multi-faceted day to day challenges of navigating life during a global health pandemic
  • May 2020
    • Mike applies for a management role and doesn’t get it, but proclaims it to be “Open Door Season” in his life and proceeds with a mindset that God closed that door in order to make room for another door that will be opened.
    • Mike coordinates a joyous virtual talent show/graduation celebration with his maternal family and on the same day George Floyd is murdered
  • June 2020
    • Mike delivers a moving statement to the University Relations leadership team on behalf of Black employees within the Division regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion.
    • Mike shares publicly about his relationship with his father during a reflection and encouragement message on Father’s Day
    • Mike and his wife team up with Hall of Fame Basketball Coach, Muffet McGraw, for a neighborhood food drive and collect 350 lbs of food for the Food Bank of Northern Indiana
  • July 2020
    • Mike decides to train to run his first half marathon October 11, 2021
  • September 2020
    • Mike joins the ND University Relations Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Unity Task Force and serves as the Chair of the Communications and Impact Committee
    • Inspired by his late maternal grandmother, Alva Jean Luster-Brown's, favorite song, "Walk With Me", Mike decides to create a virtual walk/run event in celebration and gratitude of the people who have walked with him on his life’s journey. 
    • Mike’s late paternal grandmother, Jeannetta Simpson-Robinson, is honored on her birthday, Sept 17th, by the State of Wisconsin with a memorial highway
    • During a half marathon training run two days after his paternal grandmother is honored, the idea of a children’s book honoring the memory of Mike’s late cousin, Lil’ Jeannetta Robinson (Little Netta), is born, along with an idea to resurrect a program his grandmother started in honor and memory of her granddaughter called Lil’ Jeannetta Robinson Toys for the Children that Santa Forgot but God Remembered through your Gifts of Love 
  • October 2020
    • Mike runs his first ever half marathon 
  • December 2020
    • Mike reaches a milestone of completing 53 1/2 interviews for his Leprechaun book project and submits a draft manuscript to a potential publisher
    • Mike writes 9 chapters of a self-help book
    • After consultation with his writing (and now publishing) mentor, Jim Langford, Mike reaches out to his network in search of an editor for a few other book concepts that have percolated throughout the year and he reconnects with his ND cheer teammate and friend, Cara Krenn.  
    • During what can only be described as a magical 11 day span, Mike writes the first 2 books from the Little Netta children’s book series and he and Cara co-author 3 ND children’s books.
    • With nearly 60 books in the pipeline, Mike decides to start an independent publishing company.
  • January 2021
    • The company name SOULSTIR is revealed to Mike at 5:30 am January 12th.
  • March 2021
    • Soulstir LLC is established
  • April 2021
    • Reflections and Encouragement with Mike Brown produced and published as a podcast
  • July 2021
    • Public announcement of SOULSTIR (company), Little Netta's Gift (book), and Lil' Jeannetta Robinson Gifts of Love (program).
  • August 2021
    • Preorders begin for Little Netta's Gift
  • September 2021 
    • Announcement of partnership with Elder Charles Walton and United Way of Greater Milwaukee for Lil' Jeannetta Robinson Gifts of Love program