Gina Brown Brings mySUlife to Coming Back Together
When Gina Brown ’89 produced a line of mySUlife slogan clothing in April 2022, she had a goal in mind: to raise money for the Our Time Has Come Scholarship (OTHC) Program and to sell her wares at the next Coming Back Together (CBT) Reunion.
Brown is about to fulfill that dream—mySUlife pop-up shops will be located across campus during CBT. “We will be moving around, located where the action is—at registration, at the Saturday afternoon cookout and in front of the bookstore,” says Brown. “We’re planning on having multiple locations that vary day by day.”
Brown created mySUlife as an offshoot of myBKlife, a brand created with her husband, Steve, as an homage to their hometown and the social media following they built chronicling their love story. Brown initially produced a batch of mySUlife shirts and hoodies, hoping to sell them to friends and other alumni as a creative way to support OTHC.
The response was so great that she kept it going, expanding product offerings. For two years, the line was sold at the Syracuse University Bookstore. But now Brown focuses on online sales (myBKlife.com) and pop-up shops at events such as the CBT Business Conference and student send-offs at Lubin House, at Orange Central homecoming and at regional alumni holiday parties.
“We’re thrilled by the response to our products and hope the brand will be able to continue and grow,” she says.
A portion of all sales continue to support the OTHC program. “That was the purpose when this all started and I am thankful the support of alumni allows me to continue giving back in this way,” she says.
Brown’s flagship business, myBKlife, has also grown. She and Steve opened a brick-and-mortar store in Brooklyn in August 2022, where they sell their own merchandise and serve as an incubator for other small Black businesses. They also host events, which have included a Conversation with Kevin Richardson H’20 and, more recently, a book signing featuring Cecily Cooper ’99, author of The Transformative Power of a Name. On Sept. 10, they host a signing with Sunny Hostin, co-host of The View and author of three novels set in historically Black summer vacation enclaves.
While on campus for CBT, Brown will serve as a judge for the Blackstone LaunchPad Ideas Fest for student entrepreneurs, sponsored by the School of Information Studies (iSchool). She’ll also be interviewing students for an intern position with her company. “We plan to announce our selection during CBT,” she says.
As always, Brown is most looking forward to connecting with fellow alumni. “Look for us on campus,” she says. “I love to see old friends, meet new ones and to support OTHC.”