April established Build Institute in 2012 under Downtown Detroit Partnership. Since that time, she guided the organization through significant waves of growth to serve nearly 2000 Detroit-based entrepreneurs – mostly women and people of color – with an annual budget of $1,000,000.

Her current vision for Build Institute includes a mix of strategic planning and general operations, program and resource development, preparing for a move into new space and the launch of Build’s inclusive entrepreneurship hub at The Corner in Corktown, and serving as an ambassador for micro-entrepreneurship in Detroit and beyond. She is driven to remove barriers to entrepreneurship, and help show the benefits and potential of banking on innovators who don’t always fit a standardized mold – all to help make Detroit’s economy stronger and an even more vibrant and rewarding place to live.

April has deep roots in Detroit and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wayne State University. In addition to her role at Build Institute, she is a founding member of D:hive where she served as Director of Small Business Initiatives and helped launch the Build program. She is also the co-creator of a number of grass-roots ventures including the award-winning family Hootenanny kids concert series and the critically-acclaimed Indonesian pop-up restaurant Komodo Kitchen. She sits on the board of Kiva Detroit and the advisory board for Ponyride. She is also co-owner and investor in Gold Cash Gold building and restaurant in Corktown in Detroit.