His summer camps are designed for kids and sponsored by the Lomas Brown Jr. Foundation. For the man who bears its namesake, with five kids of his own, Brown finds it important that youth are exposed to opportunities they might not have otherwise had while growing up in sometimes-resource-deprived inner cities.
It’s part of the reason why the former Detroit Lions offensive lineman founded the foundation in 1991, as well as his Learn, Earn, and Play (L.E.P.) camps, which open the minds of young people to explore all types of educational opportunities that Brown believes are vital to building a strong metro-Detroit community.
“My sports camp is a one-day camp that meets for four hours,” Brown said. “(Statistics show that) if I have 100 young men at that camp, only seven of them will go on to college. Two out of those seven may obtain a Division 1 scholarship, while the remaining five out of the seven may receive a Division 2 scholarship. However, those other 93 young guys are going to be right back in this community.”
Brown believes it’s imperative to be a positive leading example for youth interested in sports and to show them how to be a positive force for good off the field as well.
That’s part of the reason for his L.E.P. camp, where he spends upwards of 60 hours with youth, showcasing all the incredible educational opportunities young people can explore.
“It’s really impactful with only 30 kids that I work with at a time. Much of it is technology and computer-based, including nutrition. We have drones, a media and broadcast boot camp, empowerment activities, and event planning. We expose them to so many industries.”
The camp costs him $60,000 of his own money, ensuring that the financial burden doesn’t fall on the youth and their families. This makes it possible for the camp to be completely free for the participating youth.
Brown is already planning ahead for a big fundraising dinner on April 22, 2024, the same week that the city of Detroit will play host to the N.F.L. Draft.
“I’m proud of the camp and what we’ve been doing. It’s where my heart and my passion lie, along with my foundation.”
Giving back and being a mentor to youth is a significant part of what shapes his life when he’s not heavily involved in the football season as the weekly radio color analyst for the Detroit Lions.
He’s making on-air calls from the stadium broadcast booth during a time when the team is showcasing one of their most exciting and anticipated seasons in a very long time.
“Not only has the organization changed, but the philosophy of the Lions seems to have shifted. Even the attitude about the Lions has changed among fans and players in the league. In the past, it was difficult for players to say they wanted to come to Detroit.”
“Now, all these guys are eager to get to Detroit to play for Dan Campbell, to be under Brad Holmes, and to be a part of this organization led by Sheila Hamp Ford.”
This perspective speaks volumes, especially coming from Brown, who shares a storied history with the organization. The Miami native was drafted by the Detroit Lions, where he would spend 11 years, starting all but one of the 164 games he played with Detroit from 1985 to 1995.
“It’s easy to become deeply involved in this because you want to see the team do well. The team, to me, reflects the people of Michigan—hardworking, resilient, and never giving up. We’re always ready to fight.”
Brown would go on to play for several teams later, and he was named to the N.F.C. Pro Bowl for seven straight seasons.
But it was only in Brown’s second year with the Lions that he would ultimately call Detroit home. He made an incredible mark on the team, so much so that the Detroit Lions surprised him by announcing they would induct him into the Pride of the Lions during halftime of their homecoming game on October 30.
Roy Wood, the Lions team president, directed Brown’s attention to a video screen presentation that showcased the induction announcement featuring Brown.
“It was just awesome, and then I turned around and saw my family. It was a total surprise to me,” Brown said. “This city is my home, and I’m happy to be a part of it, able to call the games, and stay deeply involved with the team and their hoped-for success this year.”
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