Viola Davis, journalist Joy Reid, and radio host Charlamagne Tha God are among the partners that have teamed up with The Grio founder David A. Wilson and tech leader Brandon John-Freso to launch ALTR.
ATLR pronounced ‘alter’, is a personal development app tailored to the Black community.
A Collaborative Vision for Empowerment
ATLR aims to provide short-form audiobooks by Black luminaries and authors. It is currently open for early access sign-ups and is scheduled for an official launch in late 2024.
The development of ALTR is in collaboration with JuVee Productions, founded by Davis and her husband, Julius Tennon.
The partnership promises to bring a diverse array of audiobook titles that cater to the distinct life challenges faced within the Black community.
“There is power in our collective knowledge. Life becomes easier when you can learn from those who’ve been there before,” Davis said.
“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.”
Addressing Unique Challenges
The app is designed to address issues where the Black community is disproportionately impacted, such as mental well-being, isolation, financial stability, spirituality, and personal relationships.
“There is a yearning for solutions and knowledge from our cultural perspectives,” Wilson stated.
“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’s content is created quickly, ensuring it remains relevant and impactful.
“We’re revolutionizing the audiobook experience by introducing a novel approach to creating and accessing short-form content,” said John-Freso.
“Our listeners will benefit from the wisdom of Black leaders in a format that aligns perfectly with their busy lives.”
Feature Image Credit: Vanity Fair
