Meet Taleeka Jones | Kindergarten Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Taleeka Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Taleeka, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind the success of KMAC, is the purpose and passion behind it when telling my journey as a mother. I believe I connected more with like-minded individuals who could relate to the vision of Kinsley, Me and Company, who believed in us and wanted to see us grow. I used to prepare speeches and plans to follow when hosting events but, I found that speaking from my heart about my why with Kinsley, Me and Company has led to doors being opened, relationships built, and a community of women who can rely on KMAC. I’m not afraid to speak on my journey, my journey as a single mother and finding myself as a career professional while running a non-profit that serves mothers. It’s important to let others know your story, and not be afraid as it turned out to be the best thing that happened to me . Don’t be afraid to be transparent, you never know who needs to hear your story.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Kinsley, Me and Company started as thought during my pregnancy when I realized that there were a lack of resources for women of color in the area that I lived in at that time. At that time, many classes were accessible but the requirements I failed to meet or couldn’t meet because of different circumstances. I remember feeling alone during the journey while attending parenting classes , and explained to my friends that I didn’t want mothers to feel the same but at that time I was unsure of what I wanted to do. In 2019 I attended a local momprenauer event and I remember writing down my goals, which were at that time to open my own child-care center and to start a non-profit. In 2020, I began Kinsley, Me and Company as a blog, launched my website with a photoshoot and decided to promote a community baby shower. I registered my non-profit with the state and ended up hosting three events that year, ending the year off with a celebratory event on the day of officially becoming a non-profit. In 2021, we received our tax-exempt status and also our first small grant from a local foundation. We had our biggest event in the fall of 2021, serving 50 families alone at our pop-up event . KMAC continued to donate throughout the year to local shelters and maternity homes, as well as adding more programs under our umbrella, such as an evidence-based post-partum support group called Mothers and Babies . We are honored to have been nominated for certain categories in local awards, and we were featured in the local news and newspaper. I am thankful for those who believe in us because I’m simply still trying to figure out my purpose while balancing motherhood, career, business, personal, etc. KMAC thrives on the belief alone, and the work others take to make sure we are successful.

Our biggest challenges are maximizing our outreach efforts and receiving funding to continue to grow. I wanted to stay connected to the population we serve. I wear many hats as the leader of my organization; however I have an amazing board that contributes to the success of KMAC. I joined local non-profit support groups in the community and online to receive support in working on the infrastructure of KMAC. I was able to connect more with local businesses, receive genuine support from the businesses and individuals in various efforts and that has led to more networking and doors being opened.  I have found that it really does take a village and I’m trying to show the community how to lift one another up, especially mothers. We are the beginning of life, and my hope is to uplift, inspire, and encourage one another even during dark times. 

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

My best friend from PA is in town and we are definitely touring the area . First, we would visit Zen Nail Spa for the best mani and pedicure experience (with complimentary wine). If we needed to bring the kids, they would make sure we are extra comfortable .

Then we would get our make-up done by Leslie and then visit Products by Lizzie for my monthly purchase of skin-care products. Later that night we are heading out down-town to eat my favorite crab dip at Cafe Europa before hitting the town.

In the morning we are visiting Hanging Rock (which is a bit of a drive outside of Greensboro in another city) to hit the trails and view the scenery. We would hit up my friends to hang out and go to Luxe Soulfood for dinner. We will hit up a show at the Tanger Center and catch a walk in the park at LeBeaur Park.
We would go hang out with my “teacher-mom” Angel to end our weekend off by visiting downtown Greensboro.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

The Birthright Center in Wilmington Delaware gave me the tools I needed to be successful during my pregnancy. I am thankful for Mrs. Brown at Birthright for providing counseling and free resources , as well as picking up the phone to this day to check on Kinsley and I.

I am thankful for my organizations, National Council of Negro Women-Alamance Guilford Section for supporting our very first community baby shower event, as well as my sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho Alpha Mu Sigma chapter for supporting Kinsley and I as well in various efforts especially when we were sick with COVID-19.

Website: www.kinsleymeandco.org

Instagram: kinsleymeandco

Linkedin: taleeka.jones

Facebook: Kinsley, Me and Company

Youtube: Kinsley, Me and Company

Other: Tik Tok: elle_woodsxo

Image Credits
Credits to Media by Prince