Speaking & Training
April Leonard, MA speaks and trains on strategic communications, public trust, public health messaging, government social media, branding, media relations, and high-visibility communications moments. Her presentations blend practitioner experience, public-sector communications leadership, and practical guidance for mission-driven audiences.
Speaking Topics
These talks are designed for government communicators, public health leaders, public affairs teams, mission-driven organizations, universities, and leaders navigating public trust, visibility, accessibility, and high-stakes communication.
Public Health Communications & Public Trust
Clear messaging strategies for health departments, civic agencies, and mission-driven organizations communicating complex information to the public.
Crisis, Risk & Public Information Strategy
Practical approaches for urgent public information, sensitive issues, misinformation-aware messaging, and high-pressure communications moments.
Government Social Media, Accessibility & Digital Service
How public agencies can build trustworthy, useful, accessible, and measurable digital communications across social media, video, and web platforms.
Brand Protection for Public Agencies
Maintaining a clear, consistent, human agency voice across departments, platforms, public criticism, crisis moments, and decentralized communications systems.
Media Relations & High-Visibility Event Communications
Lessons from public information, media rooms, red carpets, media tents, press events, major civic moments, and national television environments.
Wellness-Centered Communications Leadership
Practical communications guidance for organizations navigating accessibility, employee well-being, invisible burdens, workplace dignity, and trust-centered leadership in high-pressure public-facing environments.
Speaking & Training
April speaks and trains on strategic communications, public trust, government social media, accessibility, crisis/risk messaging, brand protection, media relations, high-visibility events, and wellness-centered communications leadership.
Selected presentations, trainings, panels, and professional speaking engagements have been delivered through GSMCON, Ragan Communications / PR Daily, Social Media Strategies Summit, RAPIO, International Social Media Club, Global Ties / U.S. Embassy / U.S. Department of State exchange audiences, and Carter Broadcast Group Music Conference.
Wellness Strategies for Busy Communication Professionals
Conference: Government Social Media Conference / GSMCON 2024
Focus: Burnout mitigation, mental health boundaries, self-care advocacy, workplace ergonomics, and sustainable communications practices for busy public-sector media managers.
GSMCON 101
Conference: Government Social Media Conference / GSMCON 2024
Focus: Strategic networking, accessibility, conference navigation, and practical guidance for first-time attendees and solo public information professionals.
GSMCON 101: Foundational Kickoff Roadmap
Conference: Government Social Media Conference / GSMCON 2023
Focus: Conference navigation, strategic networking, and practical playbooks for single-person communication departments.
Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Government Social Media
Conference: Government Social Media Conference / GSMCON
Focus: Inclusive language, equitable representation, diverse community outreach, accessibility, and public-sector digital engagement.
Expert Publicity Panel
Organization / Conference: Carter Broadcast Group Music Conference
Focus: Publicity strategy, entertainment industry relations, media engagement, and audience-facing communications with professionals from Hot 103 Jamz and Gospel 1590.
Public Trust, Post-Pandemic Messaging & Two-Way Government Communication
Conference: Ragan Communications / PR Daily Speechwriters & Public Affairs Virtual Conference
Focus: Rebuilding public trust, managing post-pandemic municipal narratives, and building two-way communication systems.
Messaging Blueprints for High-Security, High-Footprint Civic Events
Conference: Ragan Communications / PR Daily Flagship Social Media Conference at Walt Disney World
Focus: Structuring messaging blueprints and real-time community engagement for high-security, high-footprint civic events, drawing from communications experience with the 2023 NFL Draft, Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Parades, the FIFA World Cup 2026 Host City Announcement, and a presidential civic visit.
Panel: A Framework for Building Your Brand Voice & Tone
Organization / Conference: Social Media Strategies Summit / SMSS
Focus: Finding the balance between informative, authentic, compliant, and human-centered messaging for public agencies.
Hyper-Local Communication Crises & Emergency Public Health Updates
Organization: Regional Association of Public Information Officers / RAPIO
Focus: Hyper-local communication crises, emergency public health updates, public information strategy, and interdepartmental collaboration.
Ask the Experts: Managing the Virtual and Cultural Workplace Transition
Organization: International Social Media Club
Focus: Remote work, pandemic response, community unrest, racial tensions, workforce change, public-sector digital communications, and KCMO LinkedIn growth from 3,984 to 10,529+ followers in under a year.
Municipal Communications, Public Trust & Public Diplomacy
Organization: Global Ties / U.S. Embassy / U.S. Department of State
International media professional exchange audiences through the Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists
Focus: Multiple-year presentations for international media professionals on municipal communications, civic engagement, government social media, public trust, community-centered public relations, and the role of local government communications in public diplomacy.
Let’s Connect
Seeking a speaker or strategic advisor for public health, government, or social media? I am available for keynote speaking, consulting, and high-impact project-based work. Please share your mission and timeline details below.