We’re excited to have April join Milagros, Bianca, Charlie Blue, Dai, Emily, Kaitlyn, and Patricia in our Innovation and Research department as a Senior Manager. April “Kayuri” Lat, MS, MPP (they, she, he), is a passionate advocate for adolescent safety, and with a strong foundation in tech policy, civil society partnerships, mentorship, and youth engagement, they bring a unique perspective to fostering positive experiences for adolescents.

As they transition to the adolescent sexual and reproductive health field, April’s commitment to building safe online spaces and advocating for the well-being of young people continues to be a driving force in her work.

With program management experience in both tech and nonprofit spaces, April has empowered communities in over 25 countries, both online and in real life, big and small. As they transition to the adolescent sexual and reproductive health field, April’s commitment to building safe online spaces and advocating for the well-being of young people continues to be a driving force in her work.

As a Senior Manager for Innovation and Research, April manages the In/Tend Incubator Hub, a vibrant ecosystem of dreamers, doers, and change-makers who push the boundaries of imagination to develop innovative approaches to adolescent health. Through In/Tend, April is looking forward to creating innovative solutions that respect young people’s autonomy to dream, fail, and learn together.

In their previous role as the Public Policy Specialist for Global Partnerships and Education at Discord, April led impactful initiatives such as the Safety Reporting Network, Safety Center, and Moderator Mentorship Community. They also served as the Project Manager for TechWomen, a global mentorship program for women in STEM in 22 countries and an initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

When they are not trying to make you embrace failure as part of the innovation process for the hundredth time, you can find April tucked away in their studio, producing music, playing online games with friends, and crocheting little manta rays they lovingly refer to as “pancake fish.”

We asked April what they wished they had learned in sex ed growing up but didn’t, and they shared, “I wish I had inclusive sex education that acknowledged diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and experiences. Coming out and coming into my identity as a queer individual would have been less of a scary and isolating experience if I had known that sex was still possible for me as I am now. But back then, I didn’t know that. Sex was introduced to me in my Theology class by a priest who demonstrated how to put a condom on a banana. That was it; nothing more. Girls weren’t even allowed to ask questions while boys were in the room. It enforced a one-dimensional view of sex to me at a young age. It took me a long time before I learned sex could be enjoyable and encompassed a wide range of experiences.”

April shares that their “chosen family and I have a number of winter traditions we started to keep the cold away and our friend group close! On weekends and late nights, you can find us having hot pot, marathoning the Shrek movies, and having silly (and occasionally deep) conversations over boba.”

Welcome to the crew, April!