April Frazier Camara, President & CEO, National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) Founder of Women of Purpose | Co-Founder of the Black Public Defender Association | Change Agent for Justice & Wellness
April Frazier Camara is a visionary leader, attorney, and change agent who boldly and unapologetically walks in her purpose. As President and CEO of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA), she champions equal justice, racial equity, and wellness-centered leadership.
For more than two decades, April has been driven by bold dreams and courageous ideas. Inspired at a young age by civil rights icons like Thurgood Marshall, she has dedicated her life to building systems of equity for people of color. A graduate of Howard University School of Law and Tennessee State University, April began her career as a public defender in Memphis, Tennessee, and later at the Public Defender Service (PDS) for the District of Columbia.
At NLADA, she has held multiple leadership roles, including Vice President for Strategic Alliances & Innovation and Chief of Lifelong Learning. She also co-founded the Black Public Defender Association (BPDA), advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in public defense. In 2020, as Chair of the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section, she spearheaded national policy initiatives on race equity, juvenile justice reform, reparations, and the abolition of private prisons.
Beyond her professional leadership, April is the Founder of Women of Purpose and a Founding Family member of the Freedom Community School in Southeast DC—both rooted in her commitment to empowering communities and reimagining systems of justice and education.
Through her own journey of loss, grief, and healing, April has redefined what success means as a leader. She is passionate about breaking the myth that Black women must sacrifice their joy and wellness for leadership. Her message is clear: true leadership begins with wholeness.
April continues to inspire others to embrace their full selves and pursue their dreams with courage. She believes that the strength, power, and brilliance of Black women are exactly what the world is waiting for.
Connect with April:
Instagram: @aprilcamara
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