June 29th, 2013 - Cardington Heritage Festival What a truly remarkable weekend in the
town of Cardington and the Heritage Festival. I
first did an event there in the summer of 2004
early on in my professional career. My parents
were from the neighboring town just miles down
the road from Cardington. Both sets of
grandparents were in attendance in 2004 and got
to see me skate, sign posters, and just be in my
element. Now, almost ten years later my
grandparents have past away yet I'm still skating
the festival yearly, I'm still living my life to
the fullest. I have so many stories from just the
past couple days. People that came hours away to
meet me, friendships that were developed between
skaters because of me hosting this event. Getting
to hang out with the 95.1 FM crew and judging the
talent competition. Getting to meet a ten year
old boy that before the competition was in
physical therapy for six months and was unable of
simply jumping up, and now after recovery was
able to dance and replicate Michael Jackson's
moves verbatim, essentially stealing the show
with his performance. Meeting all these families,
hearing feedback from a mother that told me in
private how strongly I've inspired their son in
such a positive way. These small stories show
just a glimpse into why I do what I do. Thanks to
all the skaters, spectators, friends, fans, and
everyone with the Heritage Festival. Till next
time!
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June 22nd, 2013 - Hosting Quota Idol 2013 I just got home from hosting the 2013
Quota Idol. What an amazing night! Tonight's show
had a spark for sure, the energy was great.
Congratulations to all the contestants that
participated. And congrats to Curtis Roth for
winning this years event! So many smiles and
memories were created tonight. I was honored to
be hosting Quota this year, many thanks!
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June 21st, 2013 - Go Skate Day Today I celebrated national Go
Skateboarding Day in my hometown of Wooster Ohio
where I started skateboarding back in 1986. It's
become a tradition the last seven years to do the
event with the local skateshop. There were kids
that drove hours to be here. I enjoyed helping
out with the days festivities, nothing but good
vibes and skating, saw some old friends and made
some new ones, a great day. Tomorrow I will be
hosting the Quota Idol finale.
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June 14th, 2013 - Recovery Rocks Fundraiser &
Relay for Life Today was a busy one! Today I spoke at
the Recovery Rocks Fundraiser. It was great to
meet a lot of new faces and support the Oasis
Club's efforts. The Oasis Recovery Club's mission
is to provide a safe alternative social
environment for people in recovery. I even got to
jam with the band. Directly after the event I
hurried over to do my walk for the American
Cancer Society's Relay for Life. I was walking in
my mother's memory. The chilly night ended with
the light down in the stadium and a glow of
candles representing people who have passed from
cancer or who are battling it. It was vert moving
to hear my mother's name during the read through
of those who have past from cancer. Tomorrow I
will be hosting the first of two nights for Quota
Idol at the Performing Arts Center. Click here to get
your tickets here! ------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 9th, 2013 - Featured speaker at the Palace
Theater high school commencement What an amazing day, getting to be the
featured speaker at the graduation commencement
ceremony at the Palace Theater today was great.
The students were very receptive and the
connection was made, the feedback I received was
very heart warming. It was a pleasure to be a
part of this event. I never thought 21 years
after I graduated high school that I would be
standing in front of hundreds of grads sharing my
life story and words of encouragement. Thankful. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
May 24th, 2013 - Melrose Elementary Had a great event at Melrose Elementary
today in my hometown, the kids were so embracing
and receptive to my program, hopefully I've
reached them and planted inspiration and the
power of making good choices. Things have been so
busy, June will be a loaded month with events. I
was on the front page of the Wooster Weekly this
week, Click here to view.
I will be hosting the 2013 International Quota
Idol on June 15th & June 22nd at 6:30PM at
the Performing Arts Center. Click here to get
your tickets now!
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May 11th, 2013 - Oddmall Art Convention Had a great event at the Oddmall Art
Convention all day then visited Martini Skateshop
then finished the night off visiting a special
patient at the Medina Hospital. A great day,
meeting so many great people. Always grateful. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
May 7th, 2013 - New Pro Model Outbreak Skateboards brings you my 12th
pro model, Doug Brown to the Future,
designed by the talents of the Outbreak team and
Matt Aloma and Tony Leard. The year was 1986 when
I first saw Back to the Future, I saw Marty McFly
soaring down Doc's driveway and my world opened
up to skateboarding. Huey Lewis and the song
Power of Love was blasting from the Lyric Twin
Cinema's speakers and I was engulfed into the
film. One of the greatest movies of all time. I
even met Michael J. Fox a few years back to mark
off a tab on my bucket list. Super stoked on this
deck, it's been in the back of my mind for years
and my faithful deck sponsor Outbreak Boards made
it a reality. So, go back to the future with me
and enjoy this new deck!Order
here.
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May 6th, 2013 - New Pro Model What a great visit to the YMCA/Learning
Academy. Upon arrival the kids ran up to the
fence, "Hi Doug Brown!" and
"Doug!" it was cute, they were very
assertive and had so many questions and fun
comments. They've been talking about helmet
safety so it was good I brought mine and
discussed the importance of using one. Thank you
Wooster Weekly for coming out and doing a story
on the event. I left to a sea of high-fives and
smiles, mission accomplished. People are never
too young or too old to be inspired. ---------------------------------------------------------------------
April 29th, 2013 - Imagine Romig School What a great day, spoke to the wonderful
students of Imagine Romig Rd. Community School.
They were so full of energy and were very
receptive to my program.
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April 23rd, 2013 - Isham Elementary Had a great great time speaking to Isham
Elementary, putting my heart and soul into these
visits like always. Another one in a few days. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 20th, 2013 - Hudson Book Fair and Holly
House Fundraiser What an amazing day of events! Reaching
people, getting to meet so many remarkable
people. Both events today were a blast, the book
signing in Hudson and being the MC for the Holly
House Fundraiser. A great day.
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April 16th, 2013 - Ronald McDonald House What an amazing day at the Ronald
McDonald House. I got to meet with several
families, it was just great. Getting to bring a
smile into their day was so rewarding. Some of
the families didn't even speak English but that
never stopped the smiles from flowing. The Ronald
McDonald House is an awesome resource and they
have huge hearts, was grateful to visit. Thank
you Athletes for Hope for the nice write up. (Click here for info) ---------------------------------------------------------------------
April 14th, 2013 - Movie Casting Had a great day, I've been doing a lot
of auditions for movies and such the past couple
weeks. Today was for Kevin Costner's new movie
Draft Day. I will be on 19 Action News tonight at
10pm. Had an audition for a speaking role last
week and another this week. This is all just for
fun, I did grow up in the theater so this isn't a
stretch for me. Meanwhile, this Tuesday I will be
visiting the Ronald McDonald House with Athletes
for Hope. I'll be speaking to the patients then
speaking to all the families together as an
event. Saturday I have two events, I will be
doing a book signing at the Hudson Library &
Historical Society Book Fair from 1-4pm (Click here for info) then
directly to the Holly House Fundraiser where I
will be the MC for the event from 5-9pm (Click here for info) Much more
ahead, till then! Doug
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April 11th, 2013 - Wooster Township School I had a great time at Wooster Township
school today, they were an awesome receptive
audience with plenty of energy and good
questions. Many thanks to everyone from Wooster
Township school. Next week I will be visiting the
Ronald McDonald House with Athletes for Hope.
I'll be speaking to the patients then speaking to
all the families together as an event. They are
excited, I'm excited, it will be a special event
to reach out, always. I will be the MC for the
Holly House Event next week, there will be live
music, raffles, and so much more. It's for a
great cause. Please come and show your support!
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April 6th, 2013 - Miles for Madison Had an amazing day, Miles for Madison
was a blast! I did a lot of running in place to
stay with my crew but everyone made it to the
finish line, all for Madison! I met Madison last
November at the Akron Children's Hospital. This
event was to raise awareness for Stevens Johnson
Syndrome which is a rare serious disorder. She
has been through so much and it was great to see
her and her family in such high spirits on this
day. So much ahead in the next few months! Stay
tuned.
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March 20th, 2013 - Visiting the Classroom Today was great, visiting Mrs. Shoup's
class. So much great positive energy. One of the
students a week ago did an essay on me, the mom
emails me with thanks, then emails the teacher,
then a week later I visit the school :) Was
completely worth it. I'm confirmed to speak at
another high school graduation commencement
ceremony. So many exciting events ahead!
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March 18th, 2013 - Connecting with a fan and
updates Tonight was awesome, I was invited to
meet a special fan for dinner with his friend and
adviser. Dusty has Williams Syndrome, a genetic
condition that causes developmental delays, and
learning disabilities. He is 25 and has such a
strong endearing spirit and individualism. He had
been to one of my speaking events back in
September and has been following my career. He
had a slew of questions but I was really caught
off guard on how complimentary he was with me.
With complete sincerity he kept thanking me for
the inspiration including that I had heart when
sharing my life story. Dusty has a spark, a gift
of being in the moment and enjoying all things.
We talked about movies and he had a very large
array of voice impressions he could do spot on. I
haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Right
when I got in the car Dusty spoke of how he saw
me as a warrior and that in life we have to be
warriors and stand up for ourselves and believe
in ourselves. The night ended with the same
dialog, he told me to keep on doing what I'm
doing and reaching people. Dusty is a warrior and
doesn't know it, I assured him he was the
warrior. He deals with a lot, from bullies to
kids that see him and say things. His life has
been filled with struggles. But yet, he
subscribes to optimism and has a shining soul. We
are all battling something. We are all warriors
in our lives and must tackle things with purpose
and positiveness. He inspired me and I inspired
him.I've been doing a lot of book events, check
tour dates for more info. I acquired something
today that is completely AWESOME. An original
1985 Valterra skateboard. I started skating back
in 1986, after seeing Marty McFly skate down
Doc's driveway I was hooked. That movie played a
part in my skateboarding. Till next time, Doug
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March 6th, 2013 - Donations, Skatopia, Idol, Jim
Tressel Wow things have been busy. I've been
donating a lot of items for auctions including
West Hill Baptist Church's benefit to be held
Saturday, March 9th, 2013 at the WHBC Family Life
Center, in Ohio. I had so many people telling me
I was in the movie Skatopia 88 Acres of Anarchy.
Finally got to see it, grab a copy if you get the
chance, support Brewce and his crew! I've been
upgraded from judge to host for the 2013
International Quota Idol should be a great time,
excited. I'll still be a judge on the last two
nights at the Performing Arts Center. While being
on the lecture circle I got to meet Jim Tressel
and attend his event. I'm still writing a lot for
my new book, so many things ahead. Check my facebook for the
latest updates, Doug ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Janurary 23rd , 2013 Boys and Girls Club of
Western Reserve Akron Today I got to visit and speak at the
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve in
Akron with Athletes for Hope for the Martin
Luther King service week. These are the type of
events I live for. Skateboard events have their
place in my life but my heart is in my
philanthropy work. I got the opportunity to meet
some truly special kids and hopefully left a
positive impact on them. Mission completed for
today. Till next time, Doug ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Janurary 21st , 2013 Martin Luther King Day Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, in the name
of love. I love what he represents and his
important achievements. I love that he has
inspired and pumped optimism into the world. His
teachings of nonviolence still ring to
generations of people. I've studied his work, I
have a healthy pile of books and documentaries
that I own about his life, philosophies and
extraordinary accomplishments. As a child I would
play his speeches on my cassette player. Even at
a tender age he left a lasting impression on me
and the importance and weight of words. I've
become a motivational speaker and I speak at
schools, libraries, and more across the nation.
My favorite MLK testimony I share with people are
the three loves. Love yourself, love your friends
and family, and love even your enemies. As
important as all the anti-bullying programs are
in schools we must not forget teaching equality,
the history of civil rights and human rights. Dr.
King's image should not be soften through the
decades. I am the exact age Martin Luther King
was when he died. His work is not finished,
together we need to continue to move forward
toward equal rights and to eliminate the evil of
hate that still pollutes the population. In his
words, “Life’s most persistent and
urgent question is: What are you doing for
others?” U2's Bono sings, "Free at last
they took your life but they could not take your
pride, in the name of love, what more in the name
of love."
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Janurary 16th , 2013 MLK Celebration Lecture Tonight I got to participate in
candlelight march at the College of Wooster that
began at Lowry Center and then proceeded to
Scheide Music Center. The event is to honor
Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. on behalf of the 2013
MLK Celebration Planning Committee. It was great
getting to hear and meet speaker/author Rinku Sen
and her MLK Celebration Lecture. --------------------------------------------------------------------- December 29th 2012 - Best of 2012 Happy New Year my friends, It's
been an amazing year. Countless events with
schools, libraries and a handful of visits to
hospitals with Athletes for Hope. My latest book
Looking Glass Self found itself on shelves in
book chains mainly Barnes and Nobles throughout
the nation. I had my 20 year class reunion.
Outbreak Skateboards released my 11th pro model,
the Medallion deck which to date is by far my
favorite deck ever produced. So many highlights
from visiting Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang
camp to being a judge for the Quota
International. TV and radio appearances to having
my Beyond the Board exhibit touring libraries...
all in 2012. This is my 10th year as a pro
skateboarder. My paying sponsors have been
faithful and I continue to ride that skateboard
to my fullest. I figured this ride would last
maybe a couple years but with tenacity and
staying productive I've always kept moving
forward, if one door would shut another would
open. My relationship with my skateboard is an
important one but nothing is more important than
reaching people in a meaningful way and creating
positive relationships both professional and
personal. Lots planned for 2013 so stay tuned.
Thanks truly for the support throughout the
years. Best regards, Doug.
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December 19th 2012 - Merry Christmas Click here to view
the 2012 Christmas video.
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November 17th 2012 - Akron Children's Hospital Today was a special day. For not going
to medical school I sure have spent a lot of time
over the years visiting people in hospitals. This
afternoon I went to visit an eleven year old fan
at Akron Children's Hospital. Upon entering the
room her parents said it was the first time she
had a full smile in over a week. Her illness
wasn't discussed. I only brought words of
encouragement and optimism. She reciprocated and
thanked me over and over for my visit. I never
forget for a moment that my life's journey has
landed me in this room to help this little girl
at this moment. Nothing I do in my career can
carry more weight than reaching individuals like
her. Bringing out that smile is the sole reason I
do what I do.
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October 20th 2012 - Schools and Libraries Last night's event had a spark. What
great energy and an enthusiastic audience. My
highschool counselor Cherlyl Welch was there in
attendance. I haven't seen her since I graduated
20 years ago. She was instrumental in helping me
throughout my highschool years, was a thrill to
see her. I went to bed last night with a feeling
of satisfaction from the event. I had a feeling
of "I'm doing this, I'm out there reaching
people and making a difference in people's
lives." All the schools and libraries I've
been speaking to this fall, it's been unreal. The
emails, the feedback from parents, the look in
the kids eyes when I can tell I've reached them.
I still continue to skate everyday and do skate
events but the power that microphone has in my
hands far outweighs anything I can do on a
skateboard. It was a joyous evening, many thanks
to everyone that came to the event.
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September 20th 2012 - Wayne County Public Library
Hometown Pride Truly an amazing night last evening.
Thank you so much to all the people that came to
the event at the Wooster Library. I couldn't
think of a better place to celebrate my 10 years
of being pro and with such a great group of
people! The after party at Applebees topped it
off. Special thanks to Brandon for the all the
help and Patrick Hoban for all the photography
for the event. Thanks again everyone.
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September 14th 2012 - Athletes For Hope, Boys and
Girls Club, Front page Wooster Weekly Today I visited the Boys and Girls club
in Orrville Ohio as part of Athletes for Hope day
of service week. I've been busy promoting my
hometown visit event at the Wayne County Public
library Thursday September 20th at 7pm. I'm
excited to speak and see some familiar places.
This week I graced the front cover of the Wooster
Weekly. Click here to view
article. I'm still skating all the time but as
always my arena is to reach others and inspire. Click here to view
new video. Lots of events this fall till then,
Doug
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August 22nd 2012 - 10 Years and Strong Some may or may not know that this is my
tenth year anniversary of being a professional
skateboarder. A title I was never really
comfortable with as it was a heavy one I never
set out to have. I'm beyond humble on the
position I've landed in. This is my full time job
along with being an author and motivational
speaker. A chance meeting at the Gravity Games in
the summer of 2002 has planted the seeds of my
career that has spawned a plethora of events and
adventures across the globe. Landing my first pro
model, touring arenas with bands, my first full
page in Transworld Magazine, being on thousands
of posters, the AST Dew Tour, Fuel TV, having my
books published, a signature wheel, eleven pro
models to date, paying sponsors, TV appearances,
joining Athletes for Hope, becoming the founder
of Skate Straight, even gracing the front of
X-Air deodorant sticks in stores across the
nation. I figured this ride would last a year or
so. I've had lots of money, I've had no money.
I've been loved, I've been hated. Through it all
I remained true to myself and continued moving
forward. No matter what happens in the upcoming
years I've been blessed to have this decade of
self discovery and purpose. For those involved in
my career and the friends and fans I thank you
from the bottom of my heart. Best Regards,
Doug
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July 26th 2012 - Connecticut Children's Hospital
and PIAS In-store signing Today was great, truly. My time in
Connecticut has been awesome. The schedule has
been insane but completely worth it! Reaching all
these kids at all the hospitals and camps. Today
started off by visiting the St.Marys Children's
hospital in Waterbury then on to the in-store
signing at the Play it Again Sports store. Thanks
to everyone who came out to the signing, it was a
blast! Having a final dinner with everyone
tonight really was a great finish to my stay
here. Thanks to 104.1 FM for the radio ad today
about the signing. Click here to view
video diary. Special thanks to Matt, the PIAS
crew and Janet for everything. I gotta be up at
6am I have a flight to catch. Till next time - Doug
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July 25th 2012 - Boys and Girls club, Channel 3
Kids camp, Hole in the Wall Gang camp WOW where do I begin? Today was truly
amazing. I just left Paul Newman's Hole in the
Wall Gang Camp. I got to meet so many amazing
kids. We did so much here. This was our last stop
today. I got to do a skate demo for the kids, got
to juggle pins with Mike from the Big Apple
circus who toured with Britney Spears. First stop
today was the Boys and Girls club of Waterbury
CT, amazing crowd. When I arrived they had photos
of me on the front door and through the hallways.
After I spoke in the gym it was on to photos and
autographs. Next stop was the Channel 3 Kids
Camp. Great place, great audience signed 180
posters. Got a tour of the grounds by Amber then
back in the PIAS van to the town of Ashford for
our final event today. We ended up spending five
hours at the Hole in the Wall Gang camp. Paul
Newman's son in law was our guide for the last
part of the day. I got to go to their theater and
on stage where many famous actors had been, the
list was amazing. Lastly I got to talk to the
kids. Big day tomorrow!
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July 24th 2012 - New Haven Children's Hospital CT I just left Yale New Haven Children's
Hospital. Bringing a smile to these kids faces is
number 1 in my book. I met some truly remarkable
people. The toy donation went great thanks to
Southington's Play it Again Sports. Thanks
everyone at New Haven for having us. ------------------------------------------------------------------
July 23rd 2012 - Connecticut - Kiwanis Summer
Camp and My City Kitchen Just flew into CT last night. What a
great day. Started the day talking to a great
group of kids and teens at the Kiwanis Summer
Camp in Waterbury CT. Great people, great vibes,
and we reached a lot of these kids. Next we got
in the PIAS van set for the city of Meriden to
visit "My City Kitchen" to cook with
the wonderful Chef Kashia Diaz-Cave and her
students. What an amazing program she has. Was
fun cooking with them and meeting their crew.
Heading back to the hotel for some rest. Busy
week of events ahead!
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