Monica Johnson is an awarding winning speaker and the founder/CEO of Helping Everyone Receive Ongoing Effective Support (HEROES), who is focused on improving the physical, economic, and social health of Northeast Louisiana. As Executive Director of HEROES, she has done so much to significantly change and influence the lives of people in such a positive way, that it is hard to list all of her outstanding accomplishments. Programs that Monica has implemented: TIME (Teens In Motivation Education), which is a prevention educational program for teens that help educate, empower, and support African-American women on their life journeys as they participate in workshops that addresses everything from health issues to self-esteem empowerment. MBSU (Mind, Body, and Soul University), is a treatment education service for persons living with HIV infection.
Also, she started an afterschool program housed in a multipurpose youth center named the S.H.A.C.K. (Shaping, Helping, and Changing Kids), that serves seventy youth students, and stresses the importance of well-being, self-esteem, teamwork, creativity, responsibility, dedication, and hard work, so that they too can become successful and productive citizens in our society.
Monica’s work has been featured in POZ magazine, The Body.com, the book ‘A Positive Life, and A Blaze of Light and deepsouth documentaries.
Affiliations and memberships include the National Minority AIDS Council board of directors, The Well Project Community Advisory Board and Monica also served on boards and committees including the Louisiana Governor’s Commission on HIV/AIDS, LSU Community Advisory Committee, and the Region VIII Community Planning Group and GO-CARE board of directors. She also serves as an advisor for many national conferences around the United States.
Ms. Johnson is the recipient of the 2002 Angel Award, The Sapphire Award, The AKA Community Leaders Award, The 17th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Award, and The Dr. Estelita Quimosing AIDS Leadership Award.
Monica holds a degree in Medical Technology from Northeast Louisiana University.
Her 25 years of working in the HIV/AIDS arena has shaped her into a knowledgeable, capable and extraordinary community leader, program developer and business women.
Monica was born in Alexandria Louisiana. She is the middle of three Children. She is also the proud mother of Avery
L. Johnson. Anyone who has had the pleasure of knowing Monica knows her motto..."Not One T-Cell".
