One-line solution summary:
We are a social media platform bringing solutions to the social ills affecting minority communities using Camera & Media Technology.
Pitch your solution.
Global CamUnity is a nonprofit corporation that created a social media platform to resolve the social ills affecting minority communities. You can say GC was founded on May 25th, 2020, when a young lady with a cellphone recorded the killing of George Floyd and uploaded it to social media when the nation saw a man suffocate to death when an officer placed a knee on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. The incident created an uproar in the community and protests in the nation that hadn't been seen since the civil rights movement. With the people no longer being willing to wait for change to happen and the nation's leaders on a search for a resolve, founder Duane Greene said "enough is enough" and began the GC initiative not only to bridge the gaps between the police and the communities they serve but also to bridge the wealth gaps that exist within our communities,
What specific problem are you solving?
The problem within the Challenge, we at Global Cam are working to resolve is creating new public safety systems that ensure racial equity and assist in creating generational wealth in communities of color. At Global Cam, we believe in safety first, and more than 53 million U.S. residents ages 16 and older have some form of contact with the police on a yearly basis. An average of 1,000 people are being killed by police yearly, and black Americans are three times more likely to be killed by police than whites. It's no secret that most of these encounters occur in economically challenged communities, which points out the obvious solution of helping community members start small businesses and earn passive income to change their economic status, which lessens the need for over-policing in the area. Less policing equals fewer incidents.
What is your solution?
We focus on the three key areas of Safety, Education, and Economic Empowerment.
Safety - We provide unique live recording features that allow the user to go live and choose between tagging family members, law enforcement, and Global Cam users in the area. You can even tag all three at once without having to type a single thing. This will help the user stay focused on the interaction while allowing the technology to work for them!
Education - We are creating a "Know Your Rights" section on our platform where lawyers from all 50 states will provide the community with quick “1 minute or less” videos centered on the most common law enforcement encounters
Economic Empowerment - As a non-profit social media platform, we will focus on helping small businesses get their business on solid ground by offering FREE and discounted advertising on our platform. This will allow them to keep money in their pocket and invest those crucial dollars into other areas of the business venture. We are also Influencer friendly and offer the same free and discounted advertising slots to influencers that create programs teaching people ways to earn passive income.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our solution serves frequent social media users that live in underserved BIPOC communities and vulnerable to being victims of racial profiling while living in neighborhoods that are being over-policed. It will impact their lives because we aim to bridge the wealth gap that separates lower- and middle-class communities. When it comes to safety, no longer will they have to decide between calling 9-1-1, a family member, or neighbor when involved in a potentially life-threatening situation. With our live video feature, you can notify each party all at once with just the push of a button. Gone are the days of being unsure about what rights you have when encountering law enforcement; our app features a "Know Your Rights" section giving quick video clips created by local lawyers of what rights we have in the most common police interactions. Why should a small business owner be stuck in limbo on promoting their new business when at Global Cam, we provide free and discounted advertisements to small businesses and influencers? This will allow them to keep money in their pocket and invest those crucial dollars into other areas of the business venture. The bottom line is this we are social media done differently; what once was used only for entertainment purposes is now being used to mobilize The People. We are who we've been waiting on; we are The GlobalCamUnity, “Yes, We Cam!"
Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?
Provide tools and opportunities for equitable access to jobs, credit, and generational wealth creation in communities of color.Explain how the problem you are addressing, the solution you have designed, and the population you are serving align with the Challenge.
The challenge is to use technology to advance communities of color racial equity, economic opportunity, and safety. Our company is developing a social media platform that will bring Safety, Education, and Economic Empowerment to minority communities, all while keeping the aspects they know and love in social media. This challenge and our solution were made for each other, and together we will see the change that we desire to see take shape in the community!
What is your solution’s stage of development?
Prototype: A venture or organization building and testing its product, service, or business model.In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Columbia, SC, USAExplain why you selected this stage of development for your solution.
We chose this phase because we are a registered non-profit corporation with a complete business plan and currently working with a mobile app and web-based development company that is paper prototyping how our app will flow and function.
Who is the Team Lead for your solution?
Duane Greene, Founder, and Executive Director
Which of the following categories best describes your solution?
A new technologyWhat makes your solution innovative?
In order to succeed in our goal of resolving the social ills affecting our communities we cannot just focus on the issues. That is not the primary reason why people use social media. Therefore our innovative approach will be a hybrid of entertainment and empowerment.
1. Customizable Profile Pages . The ability to add wallpapers, change writing fonts and color of the font, allowing each user to create a unique homepage reminiscent of the "Myspace" days. This feature will keep users engaged on the site with activities which creates an environment conducive for businesses, influencers, and celebrities to want to run ads on the platform.
2. Innovative Camera - One of a kind camera option that enables 3 buttons into the users live videos where they can alert either the police, family members, or the community without having to type anything on the screen allowing the user to remain with their hands visible in case of police stops or a dangerous situation that requires their full focus. the feature will also give the users geo location once activated.
3. Know Your Rights - short video clips of lawyers from all 50 states giving understanding of civilian rights based on different scenarios that can be accessed in an instant.
4. Small Business and Influencer assistance - FREE and discounted advertising opportunities which the amount of advertising assistance will be based on a how active the user is on the site and how well their ad benefits the community.
Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:
Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?
Select the key characteristics of your target population.
In which states / US territories will you be operating within the next year?
In which states / US territories do you currently operate?
How many people does your solution currently serve? How many will it serve in one year? In five years?
Currently the app is not yet fully developed therefore we are not serving anyone at the moment. in one year we plan on having 1 million users using the platform, and in 5 years we plan on having 128 million MAU'S ( Monthly Active Users)
How are you measuring your progress toward your impact goals?
Right now we are in the development phase on the app. We have weekly meetings with our team and in constant contact with the app development company we are partnering with. We are also working with local organizations setting up community building events where we bring the community and law enforcement into one space to help the officers put a face to the communities they serve and for the community to not feel apprehensive around law enforcement giving them a feeling of protection rather than fear. We will continue to work on these initiatives while we work on our primary focus of getting the social media platform developed.
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
How many people work on your solution team?
We have 3 full time staff members and 1 board member
How long have you been working on your solution?
10 months
How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?
Duane Greene -Founder and Executive Director
With ten years working in the sales industry, Management level team-building experience, and currently owning a real estate investment company, Duane is uniquely equipped to lead this company down a pathway of success. He Has an insatiable desire to uplift people and help them get Unstuck and believes that social media is the perfect platform to do so on. He currently serves as an elder at his local church, leading youth groups, men’s groups and hosting bible studies at transitional housing where men and women are released from prison. Duane is originally from Brooklyn, New York, and currently resides in Columbia, SC, with his loving wife and three kids.
Sinclair Salters – Board Chair
Sinclair was raised in Columbia, SC. He graduated from C.A. Johnson High School in 1995. He received his Ministerial License from the Ecumenical Church of Columbia, SC. Sinclair’s overall call to serve focuses on the downtrodden, fatherless, voiceless, and forgotten urban communities. He is the founder of 4 Runners 4 Christ, a ministry that focuses on concerns listed. He currently spends most of his time sharing his faith and making followers of Jesus Christ. His discipleship ministry includes training new believers who can disciple others as well. Sinclair lives in Columbia, SC, with his beautiful wife, Jami Salters, and two wonderful daughters.
Yvette Adams – Chief Financial Officer
Yvette has worked for over a decade in financial services, representing some of the largest financial giants in the industry. Her focus has been servicing small business owners and non-profit organizations. She is also the Founder of Three Generations 321, a non-profit corporation, which is a resource of techniques and information that help women and families that have survived trauma and/abuse in their quest for mental, emotional, spiritual, and financial wellness. As an advocate for victims and survivors, she is especially in tune with those who have experienced trauma at the hands of perpetrators and the legal system itself.
Anthony Allen – Chief Technical Officer
Anthony is a 20-year technology veteran with expertise in DevOps Engineering, Cloud Computing, and Software Development. He has worked with and received awards from some of the largest organizations in the world. As a multi-skilled technology executive, Anthony also has an excellent background in automation and virtualization and is a North American DevOps Group member. Anthony is a strong advocate for equal opportunity in the workplace and an even stronger advocate of equal rights in society. He is also an established author and passionate civil rights activist. Anthony is a United States Army veteran who served through Operation Desert Storm, Operation Desert Shield, and Operation Enduring Freedom (9/11). Anthony currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
What is your approach to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive leadership team?
Social Justice comes in all shapes, forms, sizes, and colors. Racism doesn't happen to one ethnic group; financial literacy doesn't affect one specific community but all communities, whether white, black, or brown. We at Global Cam want to make sure that representatives from each of these communities join our CamUnity! We plan to have a completely diverse workforce showing the "Unity" represented in our name. If you are down for equality for all or get excited about creating solutions using camera and media technology to help Rising Class citizens get ahead, then we consider you a part of the Global CamUnity point blank period.
Do you primarily provide products or services directly to individuals, to other organizations, or to the government?
Individual consumers or stakeholders (B2C)Why are you applying to Solve?
Being able to offer an innovative solution to such an enormous problem is only as good as the ability to get it into the hands of people. Our team is new to the tech world and sees incredible value and opportunity in not only receiving funding but assistance from those who have the knowledge and resources to advance our solution.
We have spent a year on market research, our business plan, and conferring with tech consultants on what it takes to make this vision a world-changing platform for positive change. Humility is required to realize that nothing great happens without other people who know and understand the things we may not know to take this to the next level and beyond.
We literally believe this opportunity was what we were praying for and needed.
In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?
Please explain in more detail here.
Our team is comprised of four members so far. With our vast and varied knowledge, it would be extremely presumptuous and a recipe for failure to believe that we can be the experts in all areas for a successful and impactful venture.
- Human Capital - the core of success is qualified talent in executive, administrative, marketing, sales, and board members.
- Financial - the most effective and proper accounting is crucial for any organization, especially because we are a non-profit corporation. We are new to pitching our idea and would like to hone this skill expeditiously.
- Legal and Regulatory Matters - as a new venture, not having an attorney on board, we are aware that this is also a necessity to the viability of our venture.
- Public Relations - Brand awareness, media, and advertising are the lifeblood of any venture. This is a critical component to taking the dream solution to real and tangible results.
- Product / Service Distribution - At present, we have no client base. We want to provide a global solution.
- Technology - We are aware of much of what it takes to get our social media platform into a working model, but we are also aware that this will be an ever-evolving and growing venture.
What organizations would you like to partner with, and how would you like to partner with them?
We are still in the process of looking for partners. This is becoming aware of this opportunity. We would love celebrity endorsements, social influencers, MIT staff, and initiatives, as well as Solve Members to partner with. We need Centers of Influence and Philanthropies who are also committed to the cause.
Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.
Yes, I wish to apply for this prize
Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Prize to advance your solution?
As evidenced by recent protests, live streams, and the outcry for racial justice, not only are the victims and their families experiencing Post Trauma Stress, but there seem to be societal Post Trauma reactions within our society. Poverty, injustice, and being uninformed or unsure about your rights and where your place is in society are also traumatic. Hopelessness and feeling powerless breeds anxiety and depression and is a strain not only on individuals but also on society.
Good mental health is as crucial to individuals and society as physical health is. A healthy society is a strong society. Racism has negative effects on self-esteem, self-efficacy and inhibits healthy growth for families and the next generation. An intervention offering solutions is crucial to changing the trajectory toward positive outcomes for those who are on the receiving end of disparities, injustice, and opportunity.
We live in the digital age, and social media has become the means for people to express anger, fear and fuel the trauma. Our platform is uniquely designed to educate, empower and provide economic advancement to those who feel unheard, underrepresented, and disenfranchised. Post Trauma Growth is the ability to thrive despite and sometimes because of trauma. Our society needs to begin to heal, and we provide a tool toward that end.
Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The ASA Prize for Equitable Education? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.
No, I do not wish to be considered for this prize, even if the prize funder is specifically interested in my solution
Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The Elevate Prize for Antiracist Technology? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.
Yes, I wish to apply for this prize
Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use The Elevate Prize for Antiracist Technology to advance your solution?
During the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, we witnessed people from all over the world protesting in response to the killing of George Floyd. We also witnessed militias, civil unrest, disinformation, and the storming of the US Capitol. We saw positive effects and were overwhelmed by the negative uses of social media. Our platform is intended to be a Global solution.
Just as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, to name a few, started local and became global. Our intention for Global CamUnity to become a global platform with a purpose for growth and positive change. Unifying people with a platform that educates, empowers and offers economic advancement is critical in advancing equity and justice for humanity.
Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The GM Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.
No, I do not wish to be considered for this prize, even if the prize funder is specifically interested in my solution
Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The HP Prize for Advancing Digital Equity? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.
Yes, I wish to apply for this prize
Explain how you are qualified for this prize. How will your team use The HP Prize for Advancing Digital Equity to advance your solution?
One one of the key parts of our platform is economic opportunity. Social media is one form of digital exposure that is available to people across socio-economic statuses. Many third-world nations may not have computers, but they access social media through their cell phones. Our platform allows disenfranchised communities to engage, learn and become part of economic solutions for themselves and their communities.
Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for the Innovation for Women Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.
No, I do not wish to be considered for this prize, even if the prize funder is specifically interested in my solution
Do you qualify for and would you like to be considered for The AI for Humanity Prize? If you select Yes, explain how you are qualified for the prize in the additional question that appears.
No, I do not wish to be considered for this prize, even if the prize funder is specifically interested in my solution
Solution Team
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YA
Yvette Adams Cofounder and CFO, Global CamUnity -
DG
Duane Greene Founder, Global CamUnity
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Solution Name:
Global CamUnity