THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

"We're excited to have April and Ryan lead a great group of local community members that believe in Lambda Legal's mission and want to help build our support in Chicago and Illinois," said Jim Bennett, Regional Director for the Midwest Regional Office of Lambda Legal. "As our civil rights movement changes, it's important to have fresh ideas and invigorated energy from connected and active individuals looking to help others."

As a communications strategist and cultural critic, April Callen has spent the last several years developing ways for organizations and individuals to understand and address gender, economic, and racial inequality. She has recently worked as the Director of Communications at Center for New Community, a Chicago-based civil rights nonprofit and has also contributed to on-air broadcasts and outreach efforts for the WBEZ Alliance. April holds a Master's degree in Media, Culture, and Society from DePaul University, and a B.A. in Communications and Rhetoric Studies from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA, her beloved hometown. You can find her writings ataprilscissors.com and her musings on Twitter, @aprilscissors.

For the last nine years, Ryan has held several positions with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, working to develop and preserve affordable housing resources in Kentucky, Illinois and California. Currently, he's the Supervisory Project Manager, overseeing Multifamily Housing development in Illinois. He received a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Louisville and a B.A. in French and International Economics from the University of Kentucky. While living in KY, he co-directed Camp Anytown, a cultural competency, diversity, and leadership camp for high school youth and served as a mentor for the Louisville ( LGBT ) Youth Group. His other passions include art, architecture and design and attending the Kentucky Derby.

"I've been volunteering for Lambda Legal and the Chicago Leadership Council for about a year and a half, and I'm excited to continue building excitement and support for the crucial work Lambda Legal does for the LGBT community and those living with HIV," said Ryan Lafollette. "2014 is already looking to be a great year for the CLC."

"Lambda Legal has a broad range of priority areas, and their work in the courts improves lives among a large swath of demographic intersections," said April Callen. "I'm proud to have an opportunity to help in any way I can."

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.