April Clark

Share your military spouse story:
My military spouse journey began when I married my loving husband who has served in the US Coast Guard for nearly 18 years in both active duty and reserves. During our five years spent in the Reserves I gained a new perspective of needs for military spouses. The majority of our military family journey, we lived in Seattle, where I only found support systems in my church community and a disconnected network within the military community. After the birth of our second child, I transitioned to being a full-time stay-at-home mom. Given my husband’s frequent assignments and deployments, it became increasingly challenging to manage the extended periods of his absence. Eventually, we made the decision for him to leave active duty and shift to the Reserves in order to achieve a more stable family life. The transition back to civilian life presented its own set of challenges. My husband pursued a career in construction, and things began to stabilize—until the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns disrupted everything. Over the course of two years, we faced significant financial uncertainty, at one point fearing we might struggle to meet our mortgage payments. It became clear that a major change was necessary, prompting us to return to active duty and relocate from Seattle to New York. This decision was motivated by several factors: our children were older, active duty offered job security, and my husband's continued dedication to the Coast Guard. Moving to New York was a significant adjustment. The size and unfamiliarity of the area initially felt overwhelming, and we struggled to envision how we would build a sense of community. However, through open conversations with our children, we reminded ourselves that this was a temporary situation—"This is not forever, but for now." We recognized that actively making an effort to connect would be essential for our well-being and happiness in this new chapter.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
Within my first year in NY, I took on a volunteer leadership role as the point person for coordinating donated HelloFresh meals for military families. Each week, I worked closely with the Department of Veteran Services, organized and managed sign-ups for families, and coordinated a team of volunteers to help distribute the meals. I also ensured timely communication with families when meals arrived and handled the redistribution of any leftover or unclaimed meals. We even coordinated a special Thanksgiving distribution that gave a turkey and assorted sides (or vegetarian meals) to 75 military families. I served in this role for a year, during which I focused on ensuring the program ran smoothly and efficiently, meeting the needs of as many families as possible. For the sustainability of the meal program, I facilitated the hello fresh distribution to transition to the military service organization Blue Star Families so that it will continue to benefit families long after my involvement.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
In my first year here, I began volunteering for community events organized by the Spouses Club, Blue Star Families – Tri-State Chapter, and MWR as well as picking up Hello Fresh distribution for military families. In my second year here, I took on the role of Vice President of the Spouses Club (2023–2024) and in my third year I took on the President role for 2024-2025. While my primary focus has been on supporting military spouses within the neighborhood community, I am deeply committed to helping military families as a whole as they navigate and adjust to life in Staten Island. I strive to create a fun and welcoming environment by offering a variety of opportunities and events that foster connection and engagement by leading or volunteering to help however I can.

Describe how you support your community:
In my second year here, I took on the role of Vice President of the Spouses Club (2023–2024), where I helped create monthly community and member events aimed at fostering a welcoming environment for everyone, while continuing my volunteering with the other organizations. Most recently, I stepped into the role of President for the 2024–2025 term. Under my leadership, we have doubled membership, hosted events with high levels of participation, and introduced new initiatives like teen nights and community-wide events. These efforts have fostered stronger connections across the entire community—not just among our members. Additionally, I have maintained a strong partnership with Blue Star Families, helping coordinate and support their events while continuing to volunteer with them whenever I can.

What do you advocate for? Why?
We moved into military housing and fully committed ourselves to integrating into the community, actively seeking out opportunities to meet people and get involved. Over time, we built friendships and began to establish a support network. However, by the following summer, we faced a challenging reality: in military life, friendships can be transient, as individuals and families frequently relocate. This experience served as a valuable lesson and motivated me to take a proactive approach in fostering a strong, supportive community. I made it my mission to contribute to creating a positive environment, not only for my own family but also for others navigating the unique challenges of military life.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
Public speaking has not always been my strength, but I have broadened my experience and overcome some of my fears during my time as a spouse at Sector New York. I’ve spoken up to advocate for the needs and concerns of military families, addressing challenges such as adjusting to life in a large, expensive city and moments when we’ve felt unsafe or unheard. Additionally, I have addressed large groups, effectively communicating information about past and upcoming events, while actively seeking feedback and solutions to improve community engagement.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
As AFI Military Spouse of the Year®, I hope to create greater awareness of the unique challenges military families face while fostering a stronger sense of community and support among spouses. My goal is to advocate for better resources and opportunities, particularly for families adjusting to new and often demanding environments, like high-cost or high-stress areas. I also want to amplify the voices of military spouses, helping them feel seen and heard, while encouraging them to connect and lean on one another. Through collaborative efforts, community events, and sharing our collective stories, I hope to inspire other spouses to embrace their own leadership potential and make a positive impact in their neighborhoods. Ultimately, I am committed to building a welcoming, resilient, and empowered military spouse community—one that thrives no matter where we are stationed or the challenges we face.