Black History Boston: Michelle 'Mona' Thompson

Speaker, best-selling author, and founder of RISE (Reaching Into Self-Esteem)

Michelle "Mona" Thompson is the Senior Co-Pastor along side her husband Matthew K. Thompson of one of Boston's largest churches, Jubilee Christian Church. Jubilee is one of the largest churches in the Boston area with over 7,000 members and 5 services in 2 locations with a 3rd campus opening in Fall 2020.

She is a highly sought-after speaker, best-selling author and founder of the internationally recognized program R.I.S.E. (Reaching Into Self-Esteem), a life-changing girls program established October 1994 with a book series that encourages self-esteem & friendship. The first book “Rise”, is an illustrated version of the R.I.S.E. pledge. The second book “Shine” is the story of the girls navigating life from elementary school to graduating from college and in careers, passions, family, conflict, etc. The third book “Grow” is the story of friendship and future books will be published in the series.

In keeping with her mission to empower females of all ages, she was sworn in as a Massachusetts Commissioner for Women & Girls on July 7th, 2018. As the host and founder of The Dash International Women’s Conference, Michelle has used her platform to gather women to equip, edify and educate on a variety of subjects enabling them to strategically use their time wisely to make a difference in their sphere of influence. Mona, as she is affectionately called, was born and raised in the inner city neighborhoods of Boston. She learned to survive and thrive during many residential moves which included attending a plethora of schools from elementary to high, 9 to be exact, before graduating. By the age of nineteen she was a single mom and began working for a number of companies until she landed her first corporate job as a foreign currency teller at the then popular bank Baybank. She used her mathematical skills to purchase and sell foreign currency for 6 branches.

After 2 years she transitioned to Jewelry Promotions INC. To become a fine jewelry buyer for 8 locations and several annual trunk shows. She did this for 6 years before embarking on her dream to own a boutique. As a young girl Mona watched her grandmother and mother start many business ventures (bakery, florist, landscaping, hair stylist, to name a few) so she was aware of the hard work involved in being an Entrepreneur. She operated her jewelry business for two years and birthed her passion R.I.S.E. for girls ages 6-14. Her store location was the impetus that caused her and her now husband to develop a friendship and marry in July 1996.

Shortly after closing her business she began working for Jubilee Christian Church and has remained true to her call to empower others. Committed to her education, Mona took college courses throughout her careers. In December 2010 she completed her course work and graduated from Bridgewater State University with a Bachelor of Science in Early Education and Care. In her spare time Mona loves to create through various mediums, paint, scrapbook, jewelry making, sewing, etc. In addition to her many passions she recently authored 2 adult devotional journals: “Being Me, a devotional from A – Z” and “Being Proverbs 31, a devotional from A – Z”. She is the mother of 2 and grandmother of 3. Mona and her husband Matthew have been married 23 years.