There is no shortage of parenting apps in the digital universe. Itโs not hard to find a place to get advice on everything from diapers to discipline. But if youโre a Black parent or caregiver, you may feel like the content just isnโt for you. A Black entrepreneur and mom of three hears you loud and clear and has developed a digital village for Black parents and caregivers at every stage in the process. And sheโs got some celebrity help to spread the word.
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Leigh Higginbotham Butler knew that most parenting apps werenโt inclusive of Black caregivers, and she wanted to create a space where they felt welcome and understood. โAs moms of black children, we navigate a special set of circumstances. From doctors to caregivers, to teachers, to principals, police, and other parents โ we have to advocate for our children in a unique way,โ said Butler. โThe truth is that it takes a village to raise a child โ and every woman deserves access to that type of community.โ
She started Akina, which means โstrong family bondโ in Swahili, as an online community for Black moms to deal with the unique challenges they face while raising their children. The idea evolved into Meet Akina, a multi-functional app available for download on Apple and Google Play.
When developing the app, Butler says she wanted to create a space where every Black mom or caregiver felt included. โWe were really intentional about making sure the app touches on wherever you are in your experience, whether youโre thinking about becoming a parent to grandmotherhood and all of the stops in between,โ she said. โBecause at the end of the day, whether you have kids or not, at some point, you are supporting a Black child. She says what makes Meet Akina stand out from some other social platforms is that it is an uplifting and empowering community where moms feel supported rather than judged. โWeโre not here to judge or tell you youโre doing it wrong,โ she said.
In addition to connecting with other parents and caregivers, Meet Akina users also have access to the exclusive courses found in the app. The classes range from mental health support, advice on starting a business and exercise videos, all to add value to the user experience. And Butler says all of the courses are expertly produced with Black women in mind. โYou know what you are getting here is tried and true because we have vetted everything. We wanted to make sure that everything was specific to the Black motherhood experience. Weโre the Wakanda for Black moms. Whatever youโre looking for, weโve got it,โ she said.
Since its November 2021 launch, Meet Akina has experienced rapid growth. Theyโve even secured their first celebrity brand ambassador, actress and singer Deborah Joy Winans.โAs a Black woman, I believe in the mission of Meet Akina. Too often, we are ignored; our needs, our challenges and our concerns are dismissed by those we entrust with our health, our education and our children,โ Winans said. โMeet Akina is on a mission to empower Black moms and moms of Black children to advocate for themselves and their families. We deserve to do all that we can to not only make sure we are living our best lives but that our children are thriving and becoming incredible, productive adults that will continue to shape this world and make it a better place.โ
Meet Akina is free for users, which is something Butler says wonโt change. โWe want to make sure users can always have access to whatโs available,โ she said.
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