CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Safiyyah Baldwin’s faith is something that’s very important to her. 

Over the years, she's faced a lot of challenges in her life being Muslim and Black. 

What You Need to Know

Freelance Fisabilillah officially launched in June 2021  

The app is designed to connect Muslim artists and creatives together through jobs and events 

Safiyyah Baldwin signed up for an app-making boot camp in 2020 that led her to making this app the following year 

“You want to be where God wants you to be, and you know when you’re not in the right environment,” Baldwin said. 

In 2017, she decided to get a master’s degree in screenwriting, but something didn’t feel right. 

“I love writing, but this environment, even though they have that degree, the environment and the nurturing is just not there,” said Baldwin. 

She ended up leaving school, and a few years later she joined an app-creating boot camp. 

“I’m like, 'OK, I need to create something that’s going to create that environment for other people who are also Muslim, who are also artists and who are also creatives,'” Baldwin said. 

After months of work, in June she released her first app called Freelance Fisabilliah. 

The app is designed to help connect Muslim artists and creatives so they can collaborate on various projects. 

“This is ultimately what I need, and I know others need it as well, so I’m like let's answer that question,” Baldwin said. “Let’s answer this for all of us God willing and create community.” 

It might seem like a simple concept, but it all ties back to the experiences Baldwin has faced. 

“Going back to the school I told my teacher I can’t put pork in my art, and he just laughed, but I’m like I’m serious,” she said. “So he understood that but I’m like literally, I can’t put things in my art that don’t align with my faith. That’s not going to sit well with me, and so I need to work with those who also feel that way.” 

So far, she’s already had people sign up and has had a few events showcased through her app. 

Overall, Baldwin hopes this can be a great tool that can help connect others just like her. 

Baldwin said she’s planning on writing a children’s book next and said she would like to use her app to find people who can help her. 

If you are interested in learning more about this app or want to download it, you can find more information here.