Positively Faithful and Relentless
By: Kim Fickett
Nissan says she has found comfort knowing that sometimes you have to go through hard moments to evolve and grow.
“I’m a big believer in that,” she shares. “I think everybody should learn from whatever mistake you have or bad thing you go through and take the opportunity to learn from it and move on.”
For Nissan, her path in this world began in the foster care system in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
At the age of three, she was placed with the woman who would become her mother four years later, Earlene.
“I was adopted by my mom at the age of seven. My mom did foster care all of my childhood, so I’ve been around a lot of different nationalities. I’m very accepting of different kinds of people, cultures, and races. I think that’s helped shape who I am today.”
In fact, Nissan would welcome three younger siblings adopted by her mom through the foster care system — Dasean, Moses, and Marissa.
“I’ve always known who my birth mom was. She was allowed to see me, but she could never get her life back together enough to get any of her kids permanently,” Nissan says. “She did almost 15 years in prison and sometimes she would call me from there.”
Today, Nissan’s birth mom has been out of prison for around eight years, and Nissan knows where she’s at but chooses to speak with her through phone conversations.
“A mother and daughter relationship is not something I choose to have. All is forgiven and I wish her the best,” she shares.
Nissan also has an extended family of two biological siblings where she is the youngest including an older sister, Toyota, and older brother, Chris.
“Your trials and tribulations will mean something and they will shape you.” This is how Nissan Brown feels when she reflects on her life.
“As I look back, I feel my experiences in high school helped prepare me for where I’m at today,” Nissan expresses.
After learning lessons growing up in the foster care system and going through adoption, Nissan would continue to be thrust into new elements as she transitioned through school.
It was during this time, when Nissan was exposed to a new culture, so to speak, as she transitioned from an inner-city school in Minneapolis with a large African American population, to a suburban school in Edina with a majority Caucasian student body.
“As I look back, I feel my experiences in high school helped prepare me for where I’m at today,” Nissan expresses. “Now in my professional career, where I’m more in a management role, the majority of people in those roles are white.”
After graduating from Edina in 2009, Nissan attended St. Cloud State to pursue a degree in mass communications with a minor in human relations.
It was during her sophomore year of college, when Nissan would face a bump in the road that only made her more determined to persevere.
“It was during my second year when I found out I was pregnant,” Nissan recalls. “I’m a very driven person and I feel like I’m a more driven person if there’s some sort of struggle or obstacle. I remember going to a resource center to look for assistance to help me get through school and graduate on time and the first thing the woman said to me was, ‘You’re probably not going to be successful having a kid and being in school.’ She was giving me abortion options, and I was very taken back by that.”
While many women would have felt defeated, Nissan remembers walking out of that visit adamant.
“She lit the fire in me, and it became now I’m really going to graduate on time,” Nissan shares.
At the time, Nissan said she and her boyfriend sat down and made a schedule of their calendars to ensure she could finish school, all while making sure the baby was taken care of without having to worry about daycare.
It was in 2010, when her oldest child, Walter was born with a blood clotting disorder that she had to learn to navigate at the age of 19 years old.
“He was born with Hemophilia A, and had to take medicine for his blood to clot. I was a young mom trying to get through school, learning about that, and also finding out I was a carrier of the gene,” Nissan recalls.
With learning that the gene is passed down from the paternal side, Nissan wasn’t aware of her father’s medical history due to the adoption.
“That was a big obstacle at the time and it’s a life-long obstacle for Walter. It was when he went into high school that I had to tell him he could no longer play football because of how hard core football is, and that contact sports probably weren’t something he should be doing. It was hard for me to say no to him but at the same time this is something he’s going to deal with for the rest of his life and he has to know his boundaries,” Nissan reflects on her conversation with her son.
Two years after the birth of Walter, Nissan would welcome her second child, Sienna (CeCe).
“With CeCe I remember it was almost my timeframe for her due date and I had a final. I was really nervous about that, and ended up taking my final, two days later she was born,” Nissan remembers smiling.
“I had Walter when I was 19 and CeCe when I was 20 and I still walked the stage in four years,” she shares proudly.
Fast forward 11 years later and Nissan would have her youngest child, Ja’Sanna.
“The one thing I’m super proud of is the type of mom I am because I was adopted and my biological mom didn’t raise me so I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished with my kids,” she reflects.
With each of her children, Nissan sees a part of herself.
“Walter is very direct and a straight shooter, just like me, but he’s also more reserved with me. I recall being at a Rotary Club meeting and one of the teachers from his school was there. She was telling me he’s so awesome, social, and how people love him, and that just warmed my heart,” Nissan shares.
“With Sienna she’s very goal driven, I want to do well, I have to do well type of person, and that is just like me.”
With her youngest, Nissan said she’s been able to enjoy her more due to her personal circumstances.
“Because I had my other two children so young it was always go, go, go. I was always trying to get through it and figure it out,” Nissan says. “I feel like I can enjoy her more. I’m more mature. It’s just a different phase of life. Ja’Sanna was a good surprise though because she has brought me a different kind of joy and she’s so vibrant and alive.”
After graduating from St. Cloud State, Nissan moved to Sioux Falls for a year and commuted back and forth to work at KTIV. After finishing out her contract, and learning that TV wasn’t the right career path, she took on a position as Promotions Coordinator with WinnaVegas.
Nissan quickly realized she needed to look at another career avenue for the ideal work-life balance for her family’s needs.
And what she found, is a passion she didn’t even know lied within her.
“I took a job as an activities director for a nursing home because it sounded like a fun job and I was able to work my way up to the sales director position at Northern Hills,” Nissan says. “What changed it into a passion was when a resident sat and told me they didn’t have a purpose. I believe as long as you’re breathing, you have a purpose here. And that changed my passion and made me realize I am here to give them a purpose.”
For Nissan, that one comment for a resident changed the way she looked at senior citizens.
“A lot of seniors are depressed. Some of them have outlived their kids and a lot of their friends are gone. For them, they wonder why they are here, and it’s understandable. I feel as a staff member, as a sales director, I have to show them what their purpose is, and we need to figure that out.”
“I’m like the senior whisperer,” Nissan laughs as she defines herself in her role.
“Maybe their purpose is leading a group for other seniors, maybe their purpose is to give me advice, because I have had that happen where they have significantly impacted me, but they don’t know how they’re fulfilling my life and changing me.”
Outside of her duties at Northern Hills, Nissan has followed another passion - being a voice for Hemophilia A.
Since 2025, Nissan travels the Midwest on behalf of Sanofi to pharmaceutical events for speaking engagements.
“I’m being serious about having a voice because one thing I wish I would’ve known being a younger mom dealing with a son who had Hemophilia A is speaking up. I was really big on whatever the doctors told me I would just follow it. I didn’t have a voice, because they’re the professionals and I just followed what they told me. Sometimes you have to speak up and ask questions such as what does this do and are there any other treatments. I really want younger moms to have a voice because they are an advocate for their child,” she adds.
In addition to speaking for Sanofi, Nissan has recently signed another contract with Hemlibra to also speak on their behalf, noting it is her goal to travel nationally to be a voice for the blood clotting disorder.
“I believe everybody should give back to the community in some type of way whether it’s volunteering, or donating money somewhere, I just think you should do something,” she says.
When Nissan isn’t busy with her family, career, or speaking engagements, she is actively involved in volunteering in the Siouxland community taking a role in Junior League, Rotary, Siouxland Foster Closet, the NAACP, Sunnybrook Church, and Heelan’s PTA.
Throughout the different bumps on Nissan’s journey, she has always come back to one thing - her faith.
“My faith has evolved over the years. I always knew it was there, but I had moments when I didn’t turn to that and now, I always go back to it because when I experience a bump I know I can rely on that,” Nissan shares.
Most recently that turning point back to her faith happened a couple of years ago following a breakup.
“I knew I had to go back to God and restart that path over. I had to find a different type of happiness and that was a turning point for me.”
Since redirecting her life back to Christ and going back to church, Nissan attends a bi-weekly women’s Bible study, where she has met some of her greatest mentors.
“I feel like the women in that group are really great motivators for me because everyone is on different paths and yet they motivate me to keep going. We don’t all have the same goals, but we all have a goal that we’re trying to reach. Sometimes it’s just hearing their stories. You don’t know how much the power of testimony can affect somebody,” Nissan smiles as she talks of the special camaraderie.
At the end of the day, Nissan has one goal.
“I want to be remembered as a genuine person. I’m a naturally happy person and I feel happiness is something you have to choose. Everyone is going to have a bad day or time, I just don’t live in it, and I feel everybody should live their life like that,” she concludes.
More About Nissan
Nissan used to compete in bodybuilding competitions in the Women’s Physique category. She says it is her goal to do one more show.
In high school, she participated in student council and public speaking, and loved her Spanish classes.
During her freshman year of college, her friends talked her into joining rugby. “That did not last long,” Nissan laughs. “I am not an athletic person.”
She loves food including Takis and fried chicken. She loves the blue Takis the best, as do her kids, and especially loves Popeyes or authentic southern fried chicken from down south.
Nissan binge watches reality TV shows including a reality real estate show on Netflix. “I think it’s because I could never imagine my life being like that and I find myself asking ‘Why is this even a thing?’” Nissan shares. “So I like to watch it.”