Member Spotlight: Jei Watkins
What initially inspired you to connect with BlackFemaleProject?
I connected with BlackFemaleProject in search of community, sistahood, and inspiration among professional Black women.
How has BlackFemaleProject impacted you?
My participation in BlackFemaleProject's 8-Weeks of Self-Discovery deepened my appreciation for how I show up as a woman—for myself, for my loved ones, and for my work. Group discussions and share-outs affirmed the part of me that desires to take up space in healthy and helpful ways, and "find" my voice. I was so proud to hear from and be among classy, sophisticated, down-to-Mama Earth Black women who told it like it is and showed such tremendous respect and compassion for one another. I also got a glimpse of their courage, grit, professionalism, and the wisdom with which they navigate stretching work contexts. I was humbled by their strength and vulnerability, and I saw myself (and greater possibility for me) in them.
What motivated you to support BlackFemaleProject financially?
Supporting BlackFemaleProject financially was a no-brainer! The gift of this space to women who need, deserve, and value you is immeasurable. It's an each-one-teach-one, iron-sharpening-iron kind of beloved community that centers reflection, self-awareness, "changing the narrative," dreaming, refinement, and... and... and. The personal growth and professional drive it reinforces incited me to remember the "why" that underlies my passion and re-envision the possibilities for my career. Being in touch with one's divine right to be, to assert herself, to create, to share is something BlackFemaleProject gifted me. I'm hopeful my contribution adds to the sustainability and accessibility of the organization and its insightful, purposeful, healing offerings such that many, many, many more Black women's lives can be touched in such a way.
What do you find most resonant in the BlackFemaleProject content you’ve heard, seen, or experienced?
I hadn't really had or taken an opportunity prior to my time with BlackFemaleProject to be so up-close and personal with women readily sharing about themselves in their professional contexts. I was so moved by the confidence in the "room" as women told their stories and in such life-affirming ways. What resonated with me most, as I am on this journey of recognizing and owning my value, is that my life—my story—matters.
Listening to sistas highlight their sheros, some of whom perhaps oblivious to the magnitude of their words and deeds in shaping the perspectives and ambition of those coming after them and taking them in, provided a sort of "a-ha" moment for me concerning my impact: that is, that I do and will continue to have an impact and I can be intentional and strategic, to the extent in my power, to make it what I want it to be. Hearing ways in which these sistas commit to the forward movement of our communities and to changing the game with regard to how we stand in our power and boldly challenge status quos and perceptions of our "place," and let our creative genius shine, I was again reminded of the necessity (and the challenge) to be and do me my way—to be Self-defined and Self-determined, not walk any prescribed path, and not play small.
JEI ’S BIO
A Bay Area native with 15 years of service addressing the psychosocial needs of infants, young children, and their caregivers in preschool and community mental health settings, Jei Watkins prioritizes a multimodal approach to connect with families and optimize treatment outcomes. Her fundamental guiding principles as a parent-child and family therapist emphasize Self as the therapeutic tool, cultural and general humility as a practice, and the inestimable utility of collaboration as a vehicle for agency, empowerment, cohesion, and sustainable change. For nearly six years, Jei has been employed at Through the Looking Glass, a non-profit organization in Berkeley, CA, where she provides therapy to parenting transition-age foster youth and families impacted by a range of disabilities and medical issues, as well as early childhood mental health consultation to the City of Oakland Head Start program.
In October 2018, moving in alignment with her sense of responsibility as a self-identified Black woman, community agent, and leader, Jei joined in the efforts of the Alameda County Early Childhood Mental Health Workforce Development Task Force as co-developer and co-instructor of a postgraduate certificate program intended to diversify the field of infant and early childhood mental health service providers. In this role, Jei offers a unique pedagogical perspective that acknowledges and nurtures the symbiotic relationship between teacher and student, accommodates diverse learning styles, and promotes critical thinking and consciousness-raising to uproot oppression in all its forms and affect change, in particular, in the delivery of mental health services.
