The New Social Mama APP

Social Mama Ambassador Megan Pastor

Gladys Alexander Photographer

Social Mama:

THE MAMA MATCH - WHERE LINKEDIN MEETS TINDEREMPOWERING MOTHERS THROUGH MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS

BY ANIKA JACKSON

Having a child can sometimes be isolating without the right resources. Even if one joins a Mom’s group on MeetUp or finds other Moms through church, school, and other well-meaning activities, the match may not be one that fits specific interests or needs.

Imagine an app where you can match with other Moms right on your phone - one that takes away the stigma you may feel when trying to find another Mom who understands your struggles and your same stage of ‘Mommy-hood’ in order to partake in similar activities to YOU. Think Mom Friends that aren’t just based on your child’s age, but instead matched and based upon your own precise needs.

SocialMama is the new game in town - created exactly to make these matches happen!

Founder Amanda Ducach was inspired by her friend, Alicia, who was struggling to make connections with other Moms who could relate to the unique needs of having a child with a new medical diagnosis. Launching in Spring 2019, SocialMama was created to give Moms like Alicia a space to network with like-minded females that strive to have a deeper connection around a similar, unique need - be it autism, divorce, a new baby, or the like.

A recent SocialMama user that wished to remain anonymous stated, “I’ve been waiting since my kiddo was born to have an app like this! No matter what your life as a Mom looks like, one thing is almost universally true: It’s hard to make new

Founder Amanda Ducach and son Leo

friends. Can’t wait for this network to keep growing!”

Mothers often feel isolated and confused during the changing stages of motherhood. By connecting with a similar Mom, a Mother can often alleviate this loneliness in a fun way. The app strives to connect like-minded Mothers for friendship and mentorship. The app also matches like-minded Mamas nearby (think friendship “dating”:). Three main factors are taken into consideration

when compatibility matching: location + lifestyle preferences (healthy, extrovert, etc.) + unique needs (i.e. autism, divorce, military). Users are also linked with personalized resources and recommendations within the online community.

Ducach exclaims, “Through mentorship and friendship, a Mama has the power to change the world! We simply facilitate the meeting. Social- Mama is in Beta phase (in iOS and Android) and took 2.5 years to get this far. Through countless hours of sweat, tears, and interviews with women, SocialMama has created the perfect recipe for MamaMatching, and we’re so excited to launch this new functionality soon!”

SocialMama empowers women through connections. The community strives to be a safe space for women to connect and support their fellow Mamas. Functioning similar to a dating app (except for friendship), matches are recommended based on the user’s specific profile information. The user is then able to review their matches and start chatting with other Mamas that they like. Mamas also discuss important topics in the Newsfeed, meet like-minded Mamas in Matches, and explore Events nearby on the Live Map.

Creative Director Karishma Patel states, “We are also proud of SocialMama’s zero-tolerance policy on Mom shaming. Motherhood is hard enough without that, and we want Moms to feel safe in our space.”

Download SocialMama on the App- Store for FREE, starting Spring 2019 (Android coming soon). It’s as simple as creating a profile and viewing all of the like-minded women and resources in your area. Every post, match, and mentor could change a mama’s day - or life!

Mamas rule the world, and Social- Mama understands this. SocialMama will make the world a better place - or at the very least, give a Mama a new friend to have a glass of wine with!

Gladys Alexander Photographer

Anika Jackson is a mother, community volunteer, philanthropist, and brand strategist. As Founder/CEO of Social Graces Social Club, Jackson fosters friendships, business opportunities, and community activism for her members through events and via the Social Graces Social Clubhouse in downtown Houston, while maintaining a thriving PR, marketing, and event company.

In her role as VP of Strategic Partnerships for Real Beauty Real Women, Anika creates collaborative opportunities for brands and non-profits, and she co-hosts Real Beauty Real Women Entertainment

- a popular Monday night Facebook show that highlights socially conscious men and women.

Among her philanthropy endeavors, Ms. Jackson serves as an advisory council/ founding family for the Greater Houston Community Foundation’s Center for Family Philanthropy. She’s also Chairman of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, and she is a founding steering committee member of the national Planned Parenthood Affiliate Board Leader Council, as well as a founder of Houston Children Give Back and Learn Grow Lead.