ALTR: Viola Davis, Joy Reid, Charlamagne tha God, Team Up For Self-Help App  – urbangeekz

Viola Davis, Joy Reid, and Charlamagne Tha God are among the partners backing David A. Wilson’s launch of ALTR, a mindset App—for the Black community.

ALTR is a personal development and learning subscription app that will launch later in 2024 and feature short-form audiobooks by Black cultural icons and authors.

New York-based ALTR was co-founded by CEO David A. Wilson, creator of Black news site theGrio (now part of Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios), and CTO Brandon John-Freso, who previously worked as a software engineer at WeWork and OkCupid.

ALTR provides audiobook miniseries that will tend to “the distinct life obstacles faced in the Black community,” Variety reports. These audiobooks will include mental well-being, feelings of isolation, financial stability, spirituality, personal relationships, and more.

“There is a yearning for solutions and knowledge from our cultural perspectives,” Wilson said. “Our authentic voices are lacking in the existing self-help, wellness, and educational platforms, which is why we’ve been able to galvanize broad support from trusted voices in our community.”

Unlike traditional audiobooks, which can take months or years to produce, ALTR will focus on short-form audio to let creators share condensed and timely knowledge “in a snackable format that perfectly aligns with our listeners’ fast-paced consumption habits,” said John-Freso.

In addition to offering personal development and motivational content, ALTR will foster active engagement and community interaction through Q&A sessions, discussions, and assignments.

ALTR (pronounced “alter”) was developed with Davis and husband Julius Tennon’s JuVee Productions. The company is curating a diverse array of audiobook miniseries that cater to “the distinct life obstacles faced in the Black community,” according to ALTR.

What ALTR’s Investors Are Saying

Viola Davis, the Oscar- and Emmy-winning actor, said, “There is power in our collective knowledge. Life becomes easier when you can learn from those who’ve been there before. Julius and I are excited to take part in building a platform that will enable millions of people to find guidance for personal growth and see themselves in a space where we’re not usually represented.”

Joy Reid, host of MSNBC’s “The ReidOut,” commented, “From my purview as a cable news host covering the tumultuous political and social landscape, there is a growing sense of uncertainty amongst Black Americans on what it all means for their future. I love that ALTR provides clarity, comfort, and community for those looking to master their own destinies.”

Charlamagne Tha God, also said, “In a booming $75 billion audio-based media market, audio content stands out as a powerful tool for engaging our community. ALTR will be a game-changer by tapping into this market and making a much-needed positive impact.”

ALTR (altrmindset.com) is open for early-access sign-ups and is expected to launch in the third quarter of 2024.

The company emphasizes that free trials of the app will be available. ALTR is “designed to provide answers and uplift the Black community in spaces where they are disproportionately impacted by challenges such as mental well-being, feelings of isolation, financial stability, spirituality and personal relationships, among other categories,” it says.

Photo Credit ???? : Viola Davis speaking at the San Diego Comic Con International, for “Suicide Squad”, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Photographer Gage Skidmore