Error correction - I misunderstood the email I write about in the story that follows.  I am NOT telling their story.  I was invited to listen to their story be told.  So as you read remember I composed this under the impression that they asked me to tell the story of Millie's. :)

Last night I received an interesting email, one that I never expected.  Craig Brown and his wife Toni are the owners of St. Louis' own Millie's BBQ Sauce.  Craig and I talked many months ago about selling his Sweet & Tangy and Sweet & Spicy sauces at It's a St. Louis Thing but for some reason it never materialized.  My best guess is I dropped the ball being the scatter brain I am.

You see, Craig and Toni were once homeless after being displaced from their jobs. They struggled, clawed their way from desperation, and are now successful business owners.  The Browns are a true inspiration for anyone who lives thru the motto "can't".

We never talked on the phone and only exchanged a few emails last Winter.  Last night's email caught me off guard and actually helped me realize the kind of impact a business like mine can have for a city so loved by those of us who are lucky enough to call St. Louis, a dramatically underrated city, home.

My dream when I started It's a St. Louis Thing was to make money.  Plain and simple!  Along the way I developed a deeper, more St. Louis socially driven purpose and that purpose is to spread the word not only of the great many products and creations made right here, but to get St. Louisans to actually learn something about the people and inspirations behind those creations.  In my mind nothing brings a community, people, together better than knowledge of themselves. I didn't know where to start. I had no idea!  Craig's email showed me the way!

Remember, I never met them in person, so I was very surprised when Craig asked me, a struggling Realtor just 15 months ago spending more money advertising my services than I was bringing in, to tell their story in front of an audience at the Missouri History Museum wrapping up the series "Stories of Resilience and Hope in St. Louis".  Wow!  What an honor!  Of course I accepted and look forward to spending time with Craig and Toni in the days leading up to the event to learn about their lives and how they persevered when things surely looked bleak.

Please join us for this free event on December 6th at 7:00pm in the AT&T Foundation Multipurpose Room at the Missouri History Museum located at the intersection of Lindell and DeBaliviere in Forest Park. Stories Of Resilience: The Story of Millie's BBQ Sauce.  Free tastings of Millie's BBQ Sauces available.  How can you say no to that!