“Jamila , I am so grateful for all you helped me on all my problems and challenges I had this year ! You have helped me not to dwell on the past and to move forward to be positive and not to listen to negative thoughts. I am so thankful that when I have my session with you I always feel so much happier to face my problems! I thank God that I picked you to help me along the way . I know when I was searching for help your face came up and i knew then that was the start on moving on ! I could see your spirit that you were the help i needed !! Thank you , I hope to always have you in my life!”
— Pat
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Jamila Banks for almost three years, and in that time, she has become more than just a professional advisor—she’s truly become a friend I can rely on. Through every challenge and growth opportunity, Jamila has consistently pushed me to improve, always encouraging me to step outside my comfort zone. Her unwavering support has allowed me to confront and overcome obstacles I once thought insurmountable. I continue to grow under her guidance, and I am deeply thankful for the lasting impact she has had on my mental health journey.”
— B
“My time I have spent so far with Ms. Jamila Banks has been nothing but helpful. She is a warm and caring person. I continue to learn from her and I always look forward to our sessions.”
— Robin
“I have been working with Jamila as a coach for the past few months and can’t say enough good things about her! Jamila is a smart, soulful and insightful coach who is able to meet clients exactly where they are at and encourage them to move forward. She doesn’t use a cookie cutter approach like many coaches do. Instead, she takes time to understand what you need the most and then develops action plans based on your unique situation. Although she is providing coaching services, her background as a therapist is very evident since she is able to understand and intuit the deeper resistance that a client might be facing as they work towards their coaching goals. She is one of the most positive, encouraging people I know, and I consider it a blessing that I have been able to work with Jamila as my coach!!”
— Alissa H.
“I am absolutely delighted to recommend Jamila Banks. Jamila and I worked alongside one another at the non-profit The Pollination Project. Jamila has always been an effective, adept and strong contributing team player and organizer. Jamila started with The Pollination Project as a grantee. Due to her successful experience with the organization, she was hired as an Applicant Advocate. Jamila excels at every project she is tasked with. She trained me on several aspects of the organization with warm leadership and clarity. Her ability to connect and coach me and other team members always accomplished valuable team building. Her communication skills were timely, meticulous and insightful. Outside of our professional relationship, she’s also an incredibly talented social media analyst and Team Leader for the Fox Leadership Youth Hub. Her positive impact on our communities is empowering for everyone she comes in contact with. I am always inspired to see her continued success as the Executive Director for her own nonprofit, Foster & Banks Walk in Faith Foundation. I greatly admired the creative abilities she generously brings to our communities. She would be a incredible addition to any organization. I hope you have the pleasure of working with her, as I did!”
— Inabel U.
“My name is Eliana Green Esq. I am a movement lawyer practicing in California and Illinois. My practice focuses on working with community-based leaders to advance racial economic justice to close our country’s wealth gap. Mrs. Banks radiates brilliance, dynamism, strength, drive, and an unwavering focus on channeling her talents for the greater good. As the visionary Founder and Executive Director of Foster & Banks Walk in Faith Foundation, and a seasoned California licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with over 14 years of experience, Mrs. Banks has demonstrated exceptional prowess in both nonprofit management/community engagement and Mental Health Services. Her vision, conceived in 2009 while completing her Master’s Degree, has manifested into a reality that continues to positively impact lives through holistic support and services. What distinguishes Mrs. Banks is her resilience and willingness to share her personal hardships, using her experiences to shape an organization of profound impact and change. Since its inception in 2012, her organization’s track record in providing essential social services is impeccable. Mrs. Banks, a humble servant leader, responds to community needs with unparalleled dedication, addressing challenges through initiatives ranging from food drives, clothing drives, back-to-school give-ways, to mentoring and environmental programs. Mrs. Banks is a woman driven to help others be their best and to help improve the quality of their lives. Mrs. Banks is also highly regarded in the Mental Health space, particularly as she is committed to serving populations often overlooked by others. Mrs. Banks had humble beginnings starting out in the addiction treatment space where she worked with adults battling various substance abuse and mental health disorders. Her diverse skillset, honed in various settings, reflects a commitment to providing quality, compassionate therapeutic services. Mrs. Banks is known to provide quality, compassionate, hands-on therapeutic services, using a range of modalities, meeting each person where they, are by providing a safe and welcoming space. Colleagues, peers, and clients universally describe Mrs. Banks as a force of nature – hardworking, loyal, kind, loving, compassionate, giving, and thoughtful.”
— Eliana G. Esq.
“I’ve been working with Jamila Banks and the Foster & Banks Walk in Faith Foundation since July of 2013. During this time Jamila has led our Friends of the Library Vermont Square Branch group by faithfully recruiting new members, taking on the paperwork that every nonprofit has to file and selling used books at the book sales to raise money for the youth programs at our library. That money has enhanced our programs for the children and teens in our area. We provide a safe, learning and fun environment for kids and their families. Without the support of our Friends of the Library, it would be much harder to do the special programs that we want to do here at the Vermont Square Branch Library. For three years Foster & Banks Walk in Faith Foundation sponsored an annual literacy event at the library. They emphasize reading and taking care of the environment. The kids participated in reading and writing activities and learned how to better recycle, reduce and reuse. We had very good attendance at these events and know the community appreciates the efforts also. It’s been a very positive experience working with Jamila and her organization. She has a big heart to help this community and is a positive role model and inspiration to all those around her.”
“Jamila Banks is a Community Hero. She not only talks about how much she loves the community that raised her, she has dedicated her life to making her love evident through acts of service and training her children to do the same. We met about 15 years ago. She walked into my office to enroll her daughter in the school where I was principal. During our first meeting, she talked about her beginnings as a student in South LA and how she wanted her oldest child to be in a school that nurtured her leadership qualities. From day one, it was evident that her daughter was indeed a leader. She even led her classmates in school and community service activities. She made it clear that her mom was a community advocate and she was following in her footsteps. About a year or so after meeting, she began to tell me about the organization she was starting. She showed me an outline and told me that a part of her program would be working with students after school to teach them about the environment and lead them in completing projects to help the school and community. She followed through. Through her actions, they were learning leadership skills through lessons about the environment and projects. I was extremely impressed by professionalism and follow through. What started as an idea is still living as her organization, Foster & Banks Walk in Faith Foundation. Jamila is a force, and she is raising even more leaders in her own household.”
— Glenetta Pope, Ed. M.
“I have had the privilege of knowing Mrs. Banks for 17 years, during which time I have had the opportunity to witness her remarkable academic achievements, intellectual curiosity, and dedication to the field of mental health and wellness. Mrs. Banks is an exceptionally talented individual with an insatiable passion for Trauma Focused Mental Health and Wellness. Her performance in micro and mezzo projects has consistently demonstrated a high level of intelligence, critical thinking skills, and a deep understanding of complex needs of the community. In addition, Mrs. Banks has consistently shown a strong work ethic, exceptional time management skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with others. In the time I have known Mrs. Banks, I have come to see that she has worked tirelessly long hours often to organize community events, mentor at-risk youth, supported non-profit organizations/programs obtain funding and support, embark on speaking engagements related to mental health and wellness, as well as develop curriculum to help those managing their responses to trauma. While Mrs. Banks holds several professional titles, she is known as a great friend, mother, wife, and sister. Mrs. Banks ability to think creatively and solve complex problems sets her apart from her peers. She also possesses strong interpersonal skills and is a great team player. Mrs. Banks is able to collaborate effectively with colleagues, advisors, and partners, while fostering a positive and productive work environment. Her commitment to academic excellence and professionalism is truly commendable. She continues to be an asset to the communities in which she serves and has created programs to help mend families and produce future entrepreneurs in our youth. I have no doubt that Mrs. Banks will continue to make significant contributions to the field of Mental Health and Wellness. She is a motivated and ambitious individual who is always seeking to expand her knowledge and skills. I am confident that she will continue to thrive in her academic and professional endeavors.”
