April Callen is the Vice President, Narrative Strategy for Purpose Built Communities. In her role, April designs and implements a comprehensive suite of strategies that enable the organization and the Purpose Built Network to strengthen relationships and partnerships at the local level through compelling and affirming stories about people and place.

Prior to joining Purpose Built, April served as a Principal Strategist for the FrameWorks Institute, a Washington, DC-based communications think tank, where she worked closely with national nonprofit organizations focused on important issues like education, early childhood, housing, and health. Before that, she held key communications and strategy roles for Chicago-area nonprofits The Chicago Community Trust, and Chicago Foundation for Women, among other organizations.

April has worked in the space of communications and narrative change for more than fifteen years, authoring articles exploring narrative and its intersection with education policy, health, and other topics, featured in K-12 Dive, Chronicle of Philanthropy, and Education Post. While in Chicago, April was also a longtime on-air contributor to Vocalo Radio, a nonprofit NPR station that blends music, culture, and art.

April graduated from Oglethorpe University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Rhetoric Studies and from DePaul University with a Masters in Media, Culture, and Society.