Growing up, April listened to ladies sharing stories in her grandmother’s quilting circle, including stories of Tribal Members who lost their lives in fires and accidents due to the lack of emergency responders in Poarch. After earning her degree in psychology, she was working as a social worker in Atmore when Hurricane Ivan came through. With few resources of her own and unprepared to assist in evacuations, April decided that if she came out alive, she would dedicate herself to ensuring the safety of her community. Today she is the Tribe’s Emergency Management Fire Director, serving and protecting against potentially catastrophic events.