Conversations with the Inspiring Jameeka Banks-Price (JB Price)

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jameeka Banks-Price (JB Price).

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Originally a New York native, I embarked on my journey to Atlanta in August 2014 with just my son, who was 5 at the time and my new husband. It was a spur of the moment decision as I felt that God was leading me here. I had no idea just how life-changing things would be for me once I got here. As a woman who grew up with a traumatic childhood, I couldn’t have ever imagined the great things and purpose that God has now instilled into my life. I grew up in unstable and abusive environments being that my mother had battled with active drug addiction long before I was born. My father was also a product of the street life so eventually, I ended up with different relatives or family friends and then in foster homes as a child.

During my time in foster care and living with different relatives, I was subjected to many forms of abuse including sexual abuse, verbal abuse, low self-esteem, physical abuse, and emotional abuse. Things that could have completely consumed my life for the worse. I then grew up to become a troubled teen which allowed me to also experience things like group homes and detention facilities including local jails. All of which set the blueprint for my purpose and passion in life. Somewhere along the way, God revealed to me that my testimony was my very purpose in life. With a background in dental and nursing, I moved to Atlanta with my sights set to become a dental hygienist. I began attending West Georgia Technical college before transferring to Clayton State University. I found that Atlanta had so much to offer and the people here were so warm and welcoming. I found myself wanting to pour into others and connect with people who have gone through what I have. I began sharing my testimony on my Instagram page and the feedback and responses I obtained solidified that my story was always to help others and be the shining light of hope and healing.

Organizations started to reach out and ask me to speak at their events and share my story there also. I then joined an organization called Adjust Your Crown Mentoring which allowed me to connect with other women and have a solid support group and mentor. I began hosting annual Sip and Shop events which is a community service event that provides new or gently used clothes to teens in need but we make it like a store shopping experience. I started attending church at Word Of Faith Family Cathedral where I just prayed for God to align me to my purpose and help me to be a servant to others. There, I also became a Harvest Seed teacher in the children’s ministry but I still wanted to reach others. At the beginning of 2019, I had the vision of using my platform to create a podcast with the hope that it would reach many and provide inspiration and encouragement by sharing the stories of other healed individuals and my own story. Birthed from that came “The Transparency Diary”. The Transparency Diary is a podcast where I share insight on who I am and what I’ve been through. At a glance, people have no idea I’ve conquered so much so to share the things I’ve gone through allows others to know they can make it through too. From the publishing of my first initial episode titled “Hope, Healing and Salvation Through Drug Addiction,” my mother and I gave our testimony on her experience and deliverance from drug addiction. From that, I had people reaching out about how our story inspired their similar situations. But I couldn’t stop there. My podcast made me realize that I am simply a vessel and God can use me ANYWHERE I am present.

At my college at Clayton State University, I became what is called a laker orientation leader. which services all incoming freshman and transfer students. From connecting with the new students I discovered that there was a need for support and many college students also faced things they currently needed healing from. God then gave me the vision to create an on-campus organization of my own called “My Sister’s Keeper”. My Sister’s Keeper is an organization for our female college students to have a support system and a safe place to talk about anything they may be going through. They can bond with one another and also make sisterly connections throughout their college experience. My goal is to help them heal, grow and be an example myself that healing is possible for them as well. Since making Georgia my new home, my goal and passion is always to help others and add value to any of the spaces I encounter, including with the launch of my new teeth whitening business called Dentaluxe Studio. Dentaluxe Studio is an online shop providing whitening kits and supplies for a brighter smile. While giving back and servicing others is my main focus, dental is also my passion. A percentage of my earnings from Dentaluxe Studio go towards my community service events.

Aside from being a mentor with Douglas County school district, I currently work full-time as a pediatric dental assistant for the Atlanta School District as well. My overall career goal is to become a dentist but in the meantime I want others to have the opportunity of smiling confidently. Everything I do has the primary goal of servicing others. I am just thankful I do not look like what I’ve been through and that God continues to use me for his glory and grow me. As a mother and mentor, I strive to be the example my children need in my home and also in my community.

Has it been a smooth road?
The road to who I am today, my growth and running several projects at one time has NEVER been easy. There are times when I think the tasks God has given me are far beyond my capabilities but I then take a look back and take account for how far I’ve come. I used to think “God you want little old me to do this?”. In the beginning stages of owning the woman, I was becoming and walking in my purpose, the hardest part was letting go of who I THOUGHT I was versus who God called me to be. Being that I went through so many traumatic experiences in life at some point, I believed that’s all I could amount to or deserved (broken relationships, abuse, being a high school drop out ect). So for me, the hardest struggle was believing in myself and the purpose God put inside of me. There were times I lacked confidence but had to push through. At one point in my life, I couldn’t even keep a job longer than a few months so the thought of building my own business and then an organization scared me. There were also a lot of mental challenges I had to overcome. Example, making the decision to go back to college and pursue such a large goal (to be a dentist) with individuals who are far younger than me when all I started out with was a GED. That was tough for me in the beginning. But I had to overcome. How could I have established my organization or helped those young women had I never went back to school? How could I mentor other young women if I didn’t take the courageous steps towards my own healing? My advice to other women is to step out on faith, believe in yourself and trust God in all that you do because He will order your steps and fill those needs if you ask Him too. When God shows you who you are in Him, BELIEVE HIM. You are already who you’re called to be. You just have to believe it and then WALK IN IT.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Dentaluxe Studio, My Sister’s Keeper, The Transparency Diary story. Tell us more about the business.
I am previously an LPN but I switched to the dental field in 2012 when I decided to become a dental assistant. I completely fell in love with dental. I wanted to be a dental hygienist at first but expanded my sights to becoming a dentist. I am currently a pediatric dental assistant servicing Atlanta School districts and I am also in school on my journey to becoming a dentist. My whitening business, Dentaluxe Studio, is a way I can do what I love in the field I plan on working in for the rest of my life. There is nothing like the feeling of having a confident smile. On Instagram, my handle is @dental.baee. Dental Baee is usually what people know me as on social media if they’ve never met me in real life because I am always broadcasting my love for teeth. Aside from dental, I am known for being a mentor to others and always doing something revolving community service. In my community, I am known for various volunteer works not only as a mentor through Douglas county schools but also on my campus from my organization, My Sister’s Keeper. On-campus, they call me “mama Meeka” because I am always pouring into others and nurturing everybody around me or giving some type of advice. I am a part of several leadership organizations including the Sigma Alpha Pi chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success. Collectively, I look at myself as a brand. There isn’t one thing I can pinpoint that makes me who I am, and that is what I am most proud of. I’m not just a business owner or a college student or a dental assistant. I am a mom, wife, mentor, teacher, entrepreneur, survivor, encourager, fashionista ect. all wrapped in one. What sets me apart is my versatility, resilience and genuine compassion to serve others. I also like to think of myself as a hidden gem. At a glance, I look one way but once you open the pages of my book it’s a story you wouldn’t know about unless the author told you. Anything I do is also with the intention to service others and add value to their lives in some way with God at the center of it all. Being God based and purpose-driven is what motivates me to keep going. That is also what I am most proud of. Nobody is me, nobody has the same purpose as I do. And that is my power.

It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
My support system and children are what helps me the most to be my best in life. My husband alone is my biggest supporter and encourager. He saw my potential and purpose before anyone else did, including myself and he’s always demanded the virtuous queen in me. He keeps me grounded. Outside of that, I am really in love with podcasts and books that aim towards personal development and growth. Right now, I am currently reading “A Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren and I have the “Elevation” podcast series by Pastor Steven Furtick along with Oprah’s “Super Soul Conversations” in heavy rotation. I also use my bible app every day and I attend church 2-3 times a week. If I can’t make church, I’m usually replaying sermons from my pastor or Bishop T.D. Jakes. I recently also downloaded an app called “Calm” for meditation. It allows me to use strategic techniques for emotional and mental awareness. The key is to personal growth is awareness. I couldn’t be a woman to mentor or run organizations if I weren’t so grounded and growth-seeking or God-centered. Growth is always the goal.

Pricing:

• Teeth Whitening Kits- Starting at 55$

Contact Info:

• Website: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-transparency-diary/id1463912518
• Phone: 678-871-7159
• Email: dentaluxestudio@gmail.com
• Instagram:www.instagram.com/dental.baee
• Other: www.instagram.com/dentaluxestudio

Image Credit:
William Price

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