Meet Teka Downer Jenkins | Reinvention Life Coach & Director of non-profit

We had the good fortune of connecting with Teka Downer Jenkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Teka, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Being spirit led. I have always been moved by what I felt and I find time and time again, it is that feeling which serves me well. consistency is also key. I may not always get what I am going after right away, but I have learned the power of staying consistent. lastly, I do believe in the power of doing right by others. I fully believe what you give, will be given back unto you. So I am intentional with my actions and deeds towards others.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Professionally I am the executive director of a non-profit that is a part of a statewide collaborative. I am also the creative of the Re-Me (Reinvent Me) and icoparent communities. I became the executive director of the non-profit organization because it was my first job out of college, I helped my then boss build it from the ground up. Her being an amazing mentor, saw my desire to leave the workforce and create my own lane, she supported me and encouraged me to find my soul’s happiness. I left and created a line of professional leadership trainings centered around positive youth development and diversity. In doing that I hit some pretty terrible lows in my life. I was pushing for a divorce, due to my personal darkness and I lost my home so became temporarily “homeless” do to poor business planning all while having a small child. It was in that darkness that I birthed Re-Me, or the Reinvention of Me. I wrote a 15 day devotional on coming out of the dark place and coming into your reinvented self. I altered my professional trainings to be more person centered and truly lived the message I was preaching. I created icoparent while learning the challenges of co-existing with my ex-husband as my child’s father. I learned to fight against the emotion and pain of so many bad choices I made and see my son’s father for the amazing parent that he was. That fight proved to have methods that worked, so I took all my steps and created a specific life coaching curriculum for people who have the same struggles. I have truly learned that there is a story behind every brand. Well at least mine! I have lived every ounce of the brand that I promote. I have learned that overcoming will not be an easy task, but it is certainly possible. If there is any ounce of encouragement I could leave to those looking to overcome, it would be; don’t give up and it’s more than ok to find the support of your village.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh no! I am such a home body. However, if I had to make a day out of it pre-covid times, I would start with food! Because I love love love good food. I live in the Augusta Georgia area, and there is this amazing Thai spot, Thai Kitchen, that will knock your socks off. Go there, enjoy a freshly cooked meal. After that be sure to take check out one of our skating rinks because skating is life! Then take a walk in our downtown region, don’t forget to go and rest after such an eventful day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Unfortunately, my shoutout can’t go to any one person. I’ve had too many divine encounters and life experiences that have led to this enlightened more soften version of me. So my shoutout goes to the hard times as well as the beautiful times I’ve experienced. The dark pits that felt like they were my forever home and the unbelievably joyous moments that I tried to share with all who would listen. But, there were a book to share, it would be “The Greatest Salesman in the World” by Og Mandino. The book is a beautiful quick read, great gems in that book. However, I am more in awe of how the book was gifted to me. A few years ago as I began my quest of being an entrepreneur, I ran into some financial challenges. Those challenges were enough to keep anyone up at night. So I prayed. I prayed that God would send me all the money I needed to change my life! The next day I was at a bookstore and a random stranger gifted me a brand new copy of this book. Well I just knew that God heard my prayer and sent this person with the money I needed, and he just so happened to put “my” money in this book. I remember hurrying through the book looking for the blank check, which I never found, lol. But I did find the beautiful message of the book and I continue to hold that beautiful act of humanity of being gifted that message as a priceless lesson.

Website: www.remeteka.com

Instagram: re_me_teka and icoparent

Twitter: ReMeTeka

Facebook: Teka Downer

Youtube: Teka Downer