06/04/2026
“My name is Monei Thomas, a 34-year-old woman whose life has been shaped by resilience, faith and determination.”
Thomas’ story begins in Carbondale, Illinois. The youngest of seven children, her world shifted when her mother passed away. At just a year and a half old, she moved to Detroit to be raised by her grandmother, an experience that instilled strength and perseverance at an early age.
“Years later, just before starting high school, I faced another turning point when my grandmother became ill,” Thomas said.
She returned to Illinois to live with her eldest sister, and shortly after graduating high school, she joined the United States Army to serve as a Military Police Officer.
“Basic training taught me more than physical strength. It built mental resilience to push through challenges I once thought impossible,” she said. “My deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan strengthened my discipline, teaching me the importance of vigilance and the dangers of complacency in both high-stakes environments and everyday life.”
Her time in the military began her formation as a leader.
Read more at https://ow.ly/VOXo50Z7yz4
