Maureen Martin couldn’t rest. On her mind: the injustice of police violence and the lack of safe alternatives to protect herself and her community. What could be done about it? She had an idea.
What if she created a phone app to help keep people safe in life-threatening emergencies – one that could serve as a “wellness and holistic-based answer to racial equity” concerns – while also improving their quality of life?
From that seed of an idea, the Blaq phone app was born.
Blaq App allows users to discreetly notify friends and connect with service providers when they need help – without police involvement! It shares your location, visual information, and a list of non-police first responder options including clergy, certified allies, ride services, and the location of "safe" zones.
The platform also helps users avoid problematic treatment by racially biased establishments within and outside of the Black community. How so?
“We [also] aggregate customer experience testimonials, reviews, lawsuits, and incident reports to help you select the best service providers for you and your loved ones,” says Martin. “Easily locate hospitals, schools, banks, and retailers who treat [Black people] with respect, dignity, humanity, value, and excellence in customer service.”
The creators and partners of Blaq App are granting access to a select group of beta testers come Spring 2021. If you want first dibs, be sure to sign up for their mailing list at www.blaqapp.org!