Juanita Banks-Whittington is an award-winning children’s book author, Army veteran, social worker, and diversity practitioner. Her recent book, “I Love My Daddy,” is a touching and relatable story about the special bond between daughters and their fathers. She hopes with her writing to put a positive spotlight on relationships. Let’s meet her…
At your core, what fuels your passion to help others?
My grandmother, Nehi (pronounced ‘Knee High’), significantly shaped my desire to help others. As well as witnessing the challenges my parents faced due to mental health issues, substance abuse, and incarceration further deepened this drive. Nehi’s unwavering compassion and willingness to help anyone in need left a lasting impression on me. Her influence and my parent’s struggles have molded me into the empathetic and caring individual I am today. Helping others is ingrained in me, and I hope my passion resonates with those in need, positively impacting their lives. My goal is to inspire others to continue the cycle of kindness and support.
Your knowledge covers mental health, wellness, diversity, and inclusivity. Tell me why those areas of interest are important to you?
My interest in mental health stems from personal experiences, particularly witnessing my mother’s lifelong struggle with an undiagnosed mental illness. It wasn’t until she was in her 40s that she was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, then later diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Her struggles influenced my decision to pursue a master’s degree in social work to better equip myself with the skills and knowledge to support her and others facing similar challenges.
My commitment to wellness was ignited when my therapist highlighted the foundations of wellness: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual, specifically, how they all play vital roles in shaping our daily lives. This realization prompted me to prioritize my wellness journey while recognizing the opportunity to assist others on their paths to well-being.
Finally, diversity and inclusivity are essential because I have been in rooms where I didn’t feel I belonged or valued. Overall, these experiences have aided in my passion to ensure I have a voice and knowledge regarding-mental health, wellness, diversity, and inclusivity in my personal and professional life. All of these drive my dedication to supporting individuals in navigating challenging circumstances and promoting well-being.
You did not let the obstacles of your childhood keep you from being successful or from having empathy for others. Who instilled those traits into you growing up? Did you see other women who looked like you growing up who you aspired to be like?
Thank you for recognizing that I didn’t allow the obstacles of my childhood to hinder my success or my ability to empathize with others. Indeed, my grandmother Nehi played a significant role in instilling those traits in me while I was growing up. One of her favorite sayings was, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” I remember her saying, “You never know what anyone is going through, so why treat them badly? That can be you.” Her kindness, compassion, and resilience served as my guide my entire life.
Other women I saw growing up who inspired me were aunts, cousins, school teachers, family friends, and even individuals portrayed on television who exuded strength, empathy, and determination and became my role models. Their examples showed me that regardless of background or appearance, empathy, and success were attainable through perseverance and kindness.
Ultimately, a combination of my grandmother’s teachings and the influence of diverse role models from different facets of life shaped me into the empathetic and determined individual I am today. Their collective impact continues to drive me to overcome obstacles and make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Was there ever a time, personally or professionally, where fear and doubt almost won?
After proudly serving 11 years as a Human Resource Sergeant in the Army, I decided to pivot and pursue a career in social work. I was excited to transition to something that I was passionate about while being able to help others. I wasn’t prepared to struggle to pass my licensure exam to become a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). This is when fear almost won because I started to question my choice to pivot to social work, but giving up was never an option. Finally, after four attempts, I passed my exam and received my license. My resilience and self-determination proved invaluable as I pushed myself and never gave up.
Did you have any organizations or resources as a child or young adult that helped nurture your dreams?
Believe it or not, I wasn’t involved in many extracurricular activities or organizations growing up. Spending time with my family, going bowling, and attending church helped me keep my mind off my parent’s struggles. These things helped keep me grounded and provided stability during tumultuous times. The love and support I received were invaluable in shaping my upbringing and nurturing my resilience.
Tell us about what led to you founding Nehi Cares, what its mission is, what services it provides and how it has evolved from it’s early start-up days.
My mother, Charlene, is the why behind Nehi Cares. Growing up, seeing her suffer from substance abuse and undiagnosed mental illness contributed to my desire to help others. After her unexpected passing in 2018, I founded Nehi Cares to provide safe and affordable housing for low-income families struggling with mental illness. I provided two families with safe and affordable housing in Baltimore City, MD, during that time. In 2023, I revamped Nehi Cares and founded Diverse Children’s Books Matter (DCBM) to continue my dedication to helping others through wellness and literacy.
Nehi Cares’ mission is to empower and educate individuals to live their best lives while achieving their full potential by practicing daily healthy habits to attain better physical, social, emotional, and mental health outcomes. Our services include: Wellness and Diversity Training, Social-Emotional Learning Workshops, and Career and Youth Mentorship. Nehi Cares envisions a world where everyone has access to the tools and resources they need to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
I founded DCBM when my husband, Ian, told me he saw a lack of diverse fathers in the books he read to our daughter, Zuri. This led me to write children’s books that highlight positive relationships and bridge diversity gaps. I aim to introduce young minds to a future where they feel seen and represented within the pages of my books. Nehi Cares looks different from when I first started, but I love that as I have grown personally and professionally, I have been able to continue helping people along the way.
If money and resources were of no hindrance, what program would you launch next week, and what problem would it solve?
If money and resources were no hindrance, Nehi Cares and Diverse Children Books Matter would launch a comprehensive program called “Empower Minds, Enrich Lives.” This program would address the intersection of mental health and children’s literacy by providing free access to diverse children’s books accompanied by mental health resources and support services.
The program would involve the following initiatives:
Free Book Distribution: We would distribute diverse children’s books to schools, libraries, community centers, and underprivileged communities worldwide. These books would feature diverse characters and themes to promoteempathy, understanding, and inclusivity among children.
Mental Health Resources: Each book distributed would be accompanied by resources addressing various mental health topics relevant to children, such as stress management, emotional regulation, resilience building, and self-esteem enhancement. These resources would include activity guides, worksheets, online workshops, and access to mental health professionals for counseling and support.
Author Visits and Workshops: We would organize author visits and workshops where diverse authors and mental health experts would engage with children, educators, and caregivers to discuss the importance of representation in literature and the connection between mental health and literacy. These events would allow children to interact with authors, ask questions, and participate in activities promoting literacy and mental well-being.
Community Engagement: We would collaborate with local communities to host literacy and mental health-focused events, such as book fairs, storytelling sessions, and mental health awareness campaigns. These events would serve as platforms for promoting the program’s goals and encouraging community involvement in supporting children’s literacy and mental health.
This program would address the critical need for accessible and culturally relevant children’s literature while prioritizing mental health support for young readers. By combining literacy promotion with mental health resources, “Empower Minds, Enrich Lives” would empower children to navigate the complexities of their emotions, develop empathy and understanding for others, and foster a lifelong love of reading and learning.
Tell us about your books, I Love My Daddy and the Joy 365 Devotional.
“I Love My Daddy” is a heartwarming story that explores the special bond between a little girl and her father. It promotes diverse characters, emphasizes positive relationships, and advocates for the celebration of fathers daily, beyond the confines of Father’s Day. Joy 365 Devotional is an anthology featuring 365 co-writers who share their stories. “Who Am I” is my devotional within the book. I highlight my struggles growing up, the stigmas of not seeking mental illness assistance, and how generational curses can plague families.
Why is diversity and inclusion in children’s books important?
Growing up not seeing many characters in the books I read promoted a view of not feeling valued. This pushed me to ensure I provided a different experience for my daughter Zuri. So, when I decided to write children’s books, I wanted to highlight positive relationships and bridge diversity gaps so that I could introduce young minds to a future where they feel seen and represented within the pages of my books. Children need to see themselves represented in literature to foster a sense of positive identity, belonging, understanding, and empathy towards diverse cultures.
How can bookstores, libraries, and schools collaborate with you?
Bookstores, libraries, and schools can collaborate with me by stocking my book on their shelves and promoting it to their customers, parents, and students. They can also arrange author visits where I can engage with students and share my book with them directly to promote early literacy.
How does your daughter inspire and motivate you to continue to be of service to others, and what steps do you take to pass that legacy on to her?
When my daughter Zuri was born, my entire life changed. She has been my greatest inspiration and motivator in my journey of service to others. Seeing the world through her innocent eyes reminds me of the importance of instilling values of compassion and generosity in her. I plan to do this by leading by example and involving her in small acts of kindness, whether donating toys to children in need, helping a neighbor, or simply being kind to others. By modeling a life of service and involving Zuri in these activities, I will pass on a legacy of kindness, empathy, and making a difference to her, just like my grandmother Nehi did for me.
Tell us how our readers can connect with you online and find out more information about you and your endeavors.
To stay updated with my work or get in touch, follow me at Nehi Cares LLC on the social media accounts listed below, visit my website. I love hearing from people inspired by my journey, including readers and lovers of diverse children’s books.
Contact Info:
- Websites:com& nehicares.com
- Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nehi_cares_llc/
- Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089402230852
- LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/nehi-cares-llc
- Other:“I Love My Daddy” is available online at Amazon.
