5 Services We All Must Use In The Wake Of Ferguson.

In times of unrest and uncertainty, these apps and services can help us build and maintain stronger communities and stronger resistances.

Place A Vote

placeavote.com / Via placeavote.com

Place A Vote could change the way we do politics, and give citizens back the power to govern themselves.

The idea is simple, and powerful. In a nation with startlingly low voter turn out and massive wealth gaps between candidates and the average citizen, most of us have been left feeling helpless. However, with this service citizens can be given a new voice. Each candidate would work purely as a mouth piece for the people, anyone who has access to a computer or phone would be able to dictate the way each issue is voted on, placing a stranglehold on the billion dollar corporate lobbies that seem to weld infinite power in our political system.

Place A Vote

Peacekeeper

peacekeeper.org / Via peacekeeper.org

Too often citizens only come together after a tragedy impacts their community. With the Peacekeeper app, citizens can be prepared for and respond to problems the moment they arise. With a dismal emergency response time in poor and minority neighborhoods, Peacekeeper is a fantastic solution that can bring communities closer together, and act as a deterrent to excessive use of force by law enforcement in instances of confusion and unrest. When properly used, Peacekeer can ensure that members of any community are well prepared to deal with any situation that arises.

Peacekeeper

The Dash

thedashed.com / Via thedashed.com

One of the biggest things that separates people in our communities is wealth and financial independence. Just because politicians and corporations don't seem too fond of the idea of raising the minimum wage or fighting a rising level of poverty, doesn't mean we can't take it into our own hands. The Dash seeks to give everyday people a way to augment their income with realistic returns. In a time when many of us struggle to decide between rent and groceries, a few extra dollars in our pockets can make a huge difference. The developers envision a future social network, where members of a community can work together and ensure that everyone has the means to survive beyond a daily struggle, share information, and pool together to cut reliances on predatory lending services.

The Dash

Vote Smart

votesmart.org / Via votesmart.org

Vote Smart is a massively ambitious project that removes our reliance on 24 hour for profit news outlets when it comes to politics. Swearing to take no money from special interest groups, Vote Smart wants to be a one stop shop for every possible piece of information you will ever need about a candidate, free of mudslinging and political spin. It covers a massive range of candidates on a multitude of issues including where they get their funding, where they stand on a wide range of issues, previous voting records, biographical information, and how they are viewed by hundreds of special interest groups. Cutting our reliance on massive news outlets and corporate messages is a huge step towards creating a more informed voting base among all citizens no matter their social or financial standing.

Vote Smart

Five-0

bkmag.com / Via bkmag.com

Although it has received a great deal of press recently, the Five-0 app can not be ignored as an amazing tool for our communities. Police agencies are often difficult to work with and are rarely forthcoming with information that is vital for people dealing with Law Enforcement. Offering the ability for users to submit detailed reports concerning interactions with police, Five-0 finally offers us the ability to have true oversight over police activities and hold police accountable. It should also be seen as a massive benefit to police, who often have trouble handling community relations. With enough users, police agencies can instantly judge public perception, reward officers who have positive interactions, and punish those whose actions breed distrust and animosity among members of the community. This is a vital tool for the millions of us who are often ignored and trodden upon by overzealous law enforcement agencies . It gives an equal voice to everyone, and that is the greatest tool a community can ask for.

Download Five-0