April Alease Porter was born on April 27, 1972, in Akron, Ohio, to her loving parents Charles and Rose Porter. She attended Copley High School, class of 1990, where she ran track, was co-captain of the Flag Team, and served as Secretary of her graduating class. In 1994, April graduated from the University of Dayton where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing.  April joined the Peace Corp in 1996, serving as a Community Development Specialist in Honduras for 2 years. She received a certification in social work from Loyola University Chicago, before attending The University of Chicago where she received her master’s in social service administration.

Over the span of her professional career, April has worked for The University of Chicago as an adjunct instructor, Director of school social work programs, and Director of Academic and Social Support, as a consultant for Children’s Memorial Hospital, as well as The YMCA of USA as a Senior Project Manager.

After April’s return to Akron, Ohio, she joined the team at United Way of Summit and Medina in 2019 as the Director of Childhood Education, where she spearheaded the opening and implementation of the first Family Resource Centers (FRCs) at Helen Arnold and Robinson Community Learning Centers. April was a fierce advocate for making sure these spaces were more than service. She wanted them to be welcoming and supportive places where families felt seen, heard, and helped. In 2021, April became the Associate Vice President of Education and was responsible for ensuring educational access and supporting educational goals for Akron Public Schools’ third grade students. At United Way, April led with a growth mindset. She questioned the status quo and challenged others to deeply examine the barriers families faced, always tying her work back to United Way’s Bold Goals. She was especially proud to oversee the Imagination Library program because she understood how critical early literacy was to a child’s future.

Most recently, April worked for Waterford.org, as Senior Director of Community Engagement. She volunteered her time as a committee board member for Inspiration Corporation, Erasing The Distance, Imagination Theater, and Early Childhood Resource Center.

April loved the city of Chicago, where she resided most of her professional career. Chicago is also where she met her best friend, and ride or die, Lisa. They laughed together, cried together, and enjoyed fun times and nightlife in the windy city. She loved the cultural offering of city, like riding her bike on the lakefront, attending farmers markets and festivals. She shined anytime the opportunity presented itself to use her Spanish skills, and she could make a great cocktail. April fully enjoyed her experience as an avid pickleball player. She loved to travel domestically and internationally with family and friends, family game nights- especially during the holidays, trips to Lebanon Kentucky for family reunions, refurbishing items, crafting, gardening, movies, podcasts, books, and audiobooks on long drives. She thoroughly enjoyed camping, and spending quality time boating with her big brother Rodney out on Lake Erie. She also really loved everything polka dots.

April is survived by her loving parents, Charles and Rose Porter, brothers Rodney (Valerie, -loving sister-in-law) Porter & Charles “Dennis” Porter, loving aunts Loueva Moss, Ann Crenshaw, and Sudie Glover, loving nieces Erica Porter, Erin (Darrell) Lacy, Mandella Porter, Patricia Porter, and Charlene Porter, dedicated cousins Renee and Rochelle, and a host of loving cousins and friends.