Lisa Thompson is actively running for Ward 8 City Council, and she has indeed brought attention to Indian Orchard. We first saw Lisa years ago as she marched with council members and Mayor Sarno at Indian Orchard’s Moxon Housing. Then she showed up for Orlando Ramos, speaking in his defense and knocking on doors for his election.
Lisa Thompson was born in Springfield and raised by a Springfield icon, Esther Mary Thompson, founder of Springfields Head Start, better referred to as “The Mother of Head Start,” in a Point of View article. Her grandparents were well known in the community. For several years, Robert Thompson was the Third Baptist Church Sunday School bus driver and was also the church Deacon, serving under Rev. Paul A Fullilove. Lisa taught Sunday school, married and had two beautiful daughters. She never succumbed to drugs or the social woes of society, and she has remained steadfast throughout her hardships.
Lisa was asked to join the Indian Orchard Citizens Council and had been voted Chairwoman of the Parks and Schools Committee. She immediately organized fundraisers to hold her first Christmas party for the community, the Hubbard Park egg hunt, and the Mall Halloween Parade, serving over 1,000 families. Lisa has shared all her ideas and visions with the council and is excited when they happen. Lisa joined the Indian Orchard Blooms Committee, Food Truck Festival Committee, and the Business Committee, where she worked effortlessly in the background and showed up for the events.
Lisa Thompson’s visions were added to the waterways clean-up proposal used for Loon Pond, “accessibility for kayaking, natural walking paths, solar lights, and park benches.” Lisa is a hands-on grassroots kind of woman, so she walks our streets to list areas needing repair. She talks to our police officers and firefighters. She organized a youth program to address their need for activities and visits the elders in the community to ask about their concerns. Lisa has vision!
Thompson is a board member with Western Mass Tiny Home Initiative, and serves as their Events and Fundraising Coordinator. She is a Member of the Springfield Democratic Committee, and was elected as Ward 8 Outreach Director. She is a member of the Massachusetts Parents United (MPU), a member of the Women in Business Club and Arise for Social Justice. Lisa taught for many years in the Georgia school system, earning awards for classroom management. She is a new children’s book author, writing stories to teach children finance and credit. Thompson has the experience, and she has the fresh vision and drive that we all need. She is not running based on another person’s accomplishments. She is running on her own accord. This is her passion, not her job! She is not in debt with any organization or company! She wants to continue working for the people! The citizens of Indian Orchard asked her to run- a new name with new energy on the November 2 ballot!!
