EXPERIENCE
17+ Years
Strategic communications experience spanning public information, public relations, digital strategy, media, major events, and community-centered communications.
UCM Alumni Foundation “10 Under 40” Honoree, 2026
DIGITAL PERFORMANCE
80,777 VIEWS
Match Ready KC / CPR Facebook reel, with 67,999 impressions and 743 interactions.
COLLABRORATIVE IMPACT
$50K Award
Developed presentation scripting and visual communications support for a City team whose Housing Hub concept earned a $50,000 National League of Cities award.
CRISIS + EARNED MEDIA
87 Media Mentions
Rapid-response measles communications; monitored coverage reached an estimated 17.6M media audience.
Selected Work
Mental Health Hub Launch
Behavioral health resource rollout connecting Kansas City residents to free, confidential mental health and recovery support tools.
Role: Developed plain-language messaging, web copy direction, social rollout strategy, resource descriptions, and cross-channel asset needs for ePrevention, Connections App, Companion App, and CredibleMind.
Outcome: 15 media mentions; 14M+ estimated audience; $248K estimated publicity value; 5,768 cross-platform social views; 9,380 CredibleMind users since broader rollout.
Relevance: Shows ability to communicate sensitive public health resources clearly, accessibly, and responsibly.
Fountain Card Campaign
Public-service launch communications for Kansas City’s Fountain Card, a municipal ID/access program helping residents connect to City services, documentation support, and practical benefits.
Role: Supported executive messaging, press event planning, run-of-show support, video scripting, flyer and FAQ copywriting, Spanish-language asset coordination, Working Advantage promotion, and community-partner outreach.
Outcome: 55,923 lifetime views; 36,860 users; approximately 11,000 individuals served; 1,352 cards issued using shelter or agency addresses; 403 birth certificate uses in 2025.
Relevance: Demonstrates civic access communications, multilingual public information, community trust, and measurable resident impact.
Home Resource Network / NLC Award
Cross-departmental housing and public health storytelling supporting Kansas City’s Home Resource Network and Healthy Housing Innovation Cohort work.
Role: Developed communications strategy, presentation storytelling, creative brief development, script support, and visual narrative development for a public-private housing resource initiative.
Outcome: Helped support a first-place National League of Cities innovation cohort win for Kansas City, leading to a $50,000 award connected to housing referral and resident service delivery.
Relevance: Shows ability to translate complex civic systems into clear, fundable, award-winning public impact stories.
Health Emergency & Risk Communications
Rapid public health communications for infectious disease updates, emergency preparedness, misinformation prevention, and urgent resident information needs.
Role: Authored and coordinated press releases, leadership talking points, web/social assets, media responses, public advisories, and multi-platform messaging for measles, hantavirus, mpox, flu, and related public health issues.
Outcomes: Key social media engagement data include:
61,283 Facebook impressions for measles alerts
77,593 Instagram interactions regarding hantavirus bulletins
63,375 Facebook engagements for hantavirus updates
14M+ worldwide reach for mpox disclosures, as verified by Critical Mention
Relevance: Shows ability to communicate swiftly and strategically during high-stakes health moments without creating unnecessary fear.
Additional Selected Work
A broader sample of public health, civic access, emergency preparedness, event promotion, and digital strategy work.
Maternal Health + Equity
KC Doula Services Expansion
Maternal health communications campaign expanding public awareness of free doula services in Kansas City.
Led news release, social copy, bilingual coordination, web/calendar distribution, Neighborhood Direct, and reel scripting.
Proof: Selected campaign proof included 41 documented subtasks, a 10-post multi-platform campaign, Spanish-language rollout, one earned-media mention, 17.36M estimated audience, and about $160.6K estimated publicity value.
COMMUNITY HEALTH EVENTS
Health on the Block
Flagship community event communications supporting expanded attendance and public visibility.
Led marketing and media coordination, including flyer, graphics, promo video, social media, MailChimp, news release, MyKC, and Eventbrite support.
Proof: Attendance increased from approximately 600 to 850 attendees, roughly a 42% increase supported by expanded outreach.
PUBLIC HEALTH PLANNING
CHIP 2026–2029 Launch
Strategic communications rollout for Kansas City’s Community Health Improvement Plan.
Managed news release, web updates, MailChimp publication, social media, shortlink, and cross-platform distribution.
Proof: 16+ documented campaign tasks, a full web/email/social rollout, 4 precise web updates, and a published CHIP article directing residents to kcmo.gov/CHIP.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
HUD Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Event
Executive communications and event support for a $6.4M federal grant check presentation.
Role: Developed media advisory, run of show, creative requests, photography/video coordination, post-event social distribution, and metrics reporting.
Proof: Supported federal partner event coordination, earned media, social/video promotion, and public awareness of lead hazard reduction funding.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Match Ready KC / CPR Campaign
Community safety campaign promoting free CPR and emergency preparedness events across Kansas City.
Role: Developed campaign copy, pitched TV and radio, created calendar events, wrote web copy, and coordinated influencer/video support.
Proof: Selected campaign metrics included:
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80,777 Facebook/Meta Reel views
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67,999 impressions
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743 interactions
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media mentions
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64.6K estimated TV audience and about $9.96K estimated publicity value.
CIVIC ACCESS
Pop-Up Pantry Communications
Public-facing communications supporting a monthly free food pantry and resource fair.
Role: Promoted pantry access across social media, Neighborhood Direct, and recurring Facebook event listings.
Proof: 52 recurring Facebook event listings and multi-platform posts documented.
Digital, Social Media & Web Leadership
Building public-sector digital systems that make government more accessible, responsive, and trusted.
GOVERNANCE
CITYWIDE
Established and guided social media practices supporting 17 City departments, including administrator training, strategy and platform standards.
BRAND STEWARDSHIP
@KansasCity
Managed the City’s flagship digital brand across eight platforms and coordinated verification, platform support and brand integrity efforts.
DIGITAL SYSTEMS
KCMO.gov + Teams
Managed the public-facing department webpage and internal digital communications, and contributed to the transition of the City employee intranet site to Microsoft Teams.
ORGANIC PERFORMANCE
226K+ Views
Health Department Instagram generated 226,200+ organic views and reached 64,600+ accounts during a 90-day reporting period.
Integrated communications strategy, campaign planning, brand storytelling, audience engagement, message development and cross-channel communications.
Core Capabilities
April Leonard helps organizations communicate clearly during complex, high-visibility moments across public health, government, media, social, crisis, and launch environments.
Strategic Marketing & Communications
Public Information & Public Trust
Public-facing communications, public health messaging, community engagement, plain-language information and strategies that strengthen understanding, credibility and trust.
Media Relations & Executive Messaging
Media strategy, press materials, spokesperson support, executive talking points, speeches, presentations, interview preparation and leadership communications.
April planned a media week for an event. April is on set for a live interview with J. TIERNEY from Jeanne Nuage, a Designer from the Show. April planned a media week for an event. April is on set for a live interview with Jennifer from Jeanne Nuauge, a Designer from the Show.
Crisis & Risk Communications
Rapid-response messaging, emergency communications, reputation-sensitive communications, misinformation response, message development and high-stakes public information.
Digital, Social & Web Strategy
Digital communications leadership, social media strategy, web content, audience growth, analytics, platform governance and multi-channel campaigns.
Events, Launches & Visibility
Launch communications, media rooms, red-carpet and experiential communications, event publicity, talent and media coordination, live-event communications and high-visibility brand moments.
April Leonard, MA, is pictured with media representatives and Fran from FabUtainment at the West 18th Street Fashion Show. April planned and facilitated a media experience featuring two media tents, a branded step-and-repeat, a personalized backdrop, and a for media guests.
Creative & Experiential Range
April’s communications career also includes deep roots in television, fashion, entertainment, publicity, and live-event communications. That experience continues to shape her approach to brand storytelling, visual communications, media experiences, creative collaboration, and high-visibility moments.
Fashion + Entertainment PR
Communications, publicity, brand storytelling, media relations, campaign support, and audience engagement.
Media Rooms + Red Carpets
Press operations, media flow, talent coordination, event publicity, media materials, and branded media experiences.
Production + Creative Direction
Television and media experience, live production, creative briefs, visual storytelling, and collaboration with creative and production teams.
Speaking & Training
Selected Expert + Trainer
Selected platforms: Government Social Media / GSMCON • Ragan Communications / PR Daily • Social Media Strategies Summit • RAPIO • Global Ties / U.S. Department of State-related international exchange programs
Selected for professional conference programs and training engagements serving government communicators, communications leaders and international media professionals.
- • Public trust, public health + strategic communications
• Government digital leadership, accessibility + social media governance
• Crisis + risk communications and brand/reputation protection
• Media relations, major events + high-visibility communications
• Communicator leadership, resilience + wellness
April Leonard, MA, is a nationally and internationally experienced communications speaker and trainer, selected to teach professionals on public trust, government communications, social media strategy, crisis and risk communication, accessibility, brand voice, and high-visibility communications. Her conference experience includes professional programs featuring C-suite executives, senior government leaders, directors, public-affairs professionals, and nationally recognized thought leaders.
Selected to speak, train, and share communications expertise with professional audiences ranging from government communicators and public-affairs leaders to directors, executives, and international media professionals participating in U.S. Department of State-related exchange programs.
NATIONAL + INTERNATIONAL THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Recognition & Credentials
University of Central Missouri Alumni Foundation “10 Under 40” Honoree, 2026
Recognized through UCM’s alumni recognition program celebrating young alumni achievement, leadership, service, and professional impact.
NLC Housing Innovation
$50K Project Outcome: Provided presentation scripting, visual communications planning and creative coordination supporting the City team’s winning National League of Cities housing innovation presentation. presentation scripting, visual communications planning and creative coordination supporting the City team’s winning National League of Cities housing innovation presentation.
National & International Speaker / Trainer
Selected to speak, train and share communications expertise through leading professional conferences and international exchange programs.
Digital Communications Credentials
Hootsuite certifications and training in platform tools, social marketing, and enterprise social media strategy.