MPHA Member Spotlight: April Hughes
November 13, 2025
How long have you been an MPHA Member and what do you find most valuable about your MPHA membership?
I have been a member of MPHA since 2017. I really value my membership with the Maine Public Health Association (MPHA) because it keeps me connected, inspired, and supported in my prevention work, especially on topics such as tobacco prevention, substance use/misuse prevention, nutrition and physical activity. Being part of MPHA ensures that I’m connected to a statewide network of passionate public health professionals all working towards similar goals in Maine.
The MPHA Annual Conference is always a highlight for me. It’s such a great opportunity to learn about new research and strategies, hear from inspiring speakers, and connect with colleagues from across the state. I also appreciate the webinars throughout the year which help me stay current on emerging public health topics and best practices. Finally, the MPHA workgroups (e.g., ATOD workgroup) I’ve attended throughout the years have been helpful for networking and identifying activities, tools, and strategies to advance the field of public health and prevention in Maine.
Tell me a little about your current role?
In my current role as a Program Manager at Healthy Communities of the Capital Area (HCCA), I am responsible for overseeing grants that support our tobacco and substance use prevention programming. Specifically, I provide overall support to staff working under our Maine Prevention Network (MPN), Drug-Free Communities (DFC), and Maine Cancer Foundation (MCF) grants. Additionally, I co-lead the Kennebec County Youth Advisory Board (KC YAB), a passionate group of middle and high school students committed to promoting substance use prevention and creating safe and healthy communities for young people. Some examples of their work include advocating for evidence-based strategies to prevent underage tobacco and substance use, such as providing education to policymakers on the potential harms associated with flavored vape products, presenting to legislators on the impact of substances among their peers, and co-hosting community events to raise awareness on the importance of mattering.
Finally, I facilitate HCCA’s quarterly Kennebec County MPN Coalition and the monthly, statewide LGBTQ+ SupportME Network. The KC MPN Coalition focuses more broadly on tobacco and substance use prevention, and healthy eating/active living, while the LGBTQ+ SupportME Network is a statewide network of prevention professionals who’s mission is to create healthy & thriving LGBTQ+ youth who feel supported & connected to their communities.
Tell me a little bit about your path to public health?
My interest in public health was piqued while completing my degree in health sciences. At the time, I was interested in pursuing a more direct service, health-related career. However, once I took a course on population-level health, I was hooked! I started my career at Healthy Communities of the Capital Area (HCCA) in 2017 as a tobacco prevention coordinator, where I established a strong interest and passion for primary prevention. While at HCCA, I completed my MPH and went on to pursue my Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree (which I’m projected to complete by the end of 2025).
Who or what inspires you in your work?
What inspires me most are the people I get to work with every day, especially the youth on our Kennebec County Youth Advisory Board and the incredible partners who care so deeply about our communities. Watching young people discover and use their voices to advocate and create change fills me with so much hope. Their ideas, their passion, and their courage to speak up about the issues that matter to them remind me why prevention work is so important.
I’m also inspired by the partners and community members I work closely with who work tirelessly to generate positive change in their communities. At the heart of it all, what inspires me is seeing people feel like they matter. For example, when the youth we work with realize their ideas can create change, when partners feel proud of what we’ve implemented together, and when communities begin to see themselves reflected in the work, that sense of connection, of belonging and shared purpose, is what keeps me inspired every day.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
In addition to my role at HCCA, I’m honored to represent the field of prevention as a recently appointed member of the State’s Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Commission and as a member of the Maine Prevention Certification Board (MPCB). Both roles reflect my ongoing commitment to public health, especially prevention, and my belief in the power of collaboration, policy, and community engagement.
