Meet April Overholt

We recently connected with April Overholt and have shared our conversation below.

April , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I found my purpose by starting my adult life over, completely and unapologetically.
For ten years, I lived inside a version of myself that didn’t quite fit. I was married to a man, raising our daughter, pouring everything I had into being a wife and a mother. Somewhere along the way, without even noticing, I disappeared. I forgot what I enjoyed, what lit me up, and who I was outside of the roles I was performing. At 33, I looked at my life and realized that if I didn’t choose myself now, I might never learn how.
Leaving that marriage wasn’t just a relationship ending. It was a rebirth. It was the moment I decided that my daughter deserved a mother who was fully alive, and I deserved the same. I began living openly as a queer woman, building a new life with my 9-year-old daughter beside me. We grew together, learned together, and started piecing together a version of family rooted in authenticity, respect, and joy.
Choosing myself opened a door I never expected.
When I returned to college to finish my degree in Social Work 2 years ago, I discovered the world of aging services, specifically LGBTQ+ aging. I hadn’t planned on this path, but the first time I met an LGBTQ+ elder who had been quietly surviving, rather than openly living, something clicked. I saw generations who had loved in secret, endured discrimination, and aged without affirming care. I realized there was so much work to be done to ensure that everyone, especially those who paved the way for people like me, can age with dignity.
That realization became my compass.
I now serve as the outreach face of the Aging Rainbow Coalition, a grassroots organization in East Tennessee dedicated to building a region where LGBTQ+ older adults are seen, supported, and celebrated. In this short time, we’ve expanded outreach, launched community programs, created inclusive resource networks, facilitated cultural competency training, and started shifting local systems that were never built with LGBTQ+ elders in mind.
Along the way, I’ve grown into a broader understanding of aging in America. I also lead a countywide Digital Literacy Program through our Office on Aging, helping adults 60+ learn basic computer skills. We are living in the midst of the largest population of older adults this country has ever seen, and the resources simply aren’t keeping up. Being able to bridge those gaps, especially for the most marginalized, has become one of the most meaningful parts of my work.
My purpose didn’t arrive in a moment of clarity; it arrived in a moment of collapse. It came when I realized that losing myself was the very thing that pushed me to rebuild a life rooted in truth. And that truth led me to the people who inspire me every day, the older adults who show me what resilience looks like, who trust me with their stories, and who remind me that dignity in aging is not optional. It’s a human right.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Professionally, I’m a social worker and community advocate focused on improving the lives of older adults, especially LGBTQ+ older adults. I serve as the Outreach & Program Coordinator for the Aging Rainbow Coalition, a grassroots organization in East Tennessee that works to ensure LGBTQ+ adults 50+ have the support, resources, and community they deserve. I also lead a Digital Literacy Program through our local Office on Aging, where we teach adults 60+ essential computer skills so they can stay connected and confident.
What I love most about my work is that it brings purpose and connection together. Working with LGBTQ+ elders is incredibly meaningful. They’re a generation that often went without affirming spaces, and now we get to help create those spaces with intention and care. Even though the Aging Rainbow Coalition was founded only 3 short years ago, we’ve already launched monthly gatherings, expanded partnerships, created community, and provided trainings to help local organizations become more inclusive.
We were recently awarded the East Tennessee Aging Innovation Award and are preparing for the first in our area Aging with Pride Resource Expo coming in 2026, which will bring together vendors, services, entertainment, and community members for a large regional event.
My work in digital literacy has also shown me how quickly the aging landscape is changing. With the largest population of adults 65+ in U.S. history, access to technology has become essential. Seeing someone learn to use a computer, connect with family, or navigate important online tools is incredibly rewarding.
Overall, what I want people to know is that aging with dignity is a right, not a privilege. My work is about building community, expanding access, and making sure older adults, especially those who have been overlooked, feel valued and supported. It’s work I’m proud of, and it’s work I feel truly called to do.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities that had the biggest impact on my journey were radical self-honesty, empathy, and the courage to start over.
Radical self-honesty was the turning point for me. It pushed me to step out of a life that no longer reflected who I was, embrace my identity, and rebuild from a place of truth. Empathy became my anchor as I moved into social work, especially when I began working with LGBTQ+ older adults. Their stories deepened my understanding of resilience and shaped the way I show up for others. And the courage to start over taught me that reinvention isn’t a failure, it’s a sign of growth. Returning to school as a single mom and shifting my entire life path showed me that it’s never too late to choose yourself.
For anyone early in their journey, my advice is simple, be patient and compassionate with yourself. Stay curious about who you are becoming. Make space for honest self-reflection, seek out diverse stories and people who expand your worldview, and don’t be afraid to hit reset when something no longer fits. Growth rarely happens all at once. It comes from small, brave decisions made over time. You don’t have to have everything figured out to take the next right step.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I’m always looking to connect with people who want to make aging safer, more inclusive, and more affirming. Right now, what our community needs most are partners who can be that one steady, compassionate presence in a large and sometimes overwhelming space. People who understand the power of making someone feel seen, respected, and safe. People who believe that no one should have to fear aging or hide who they are because of the political climate around them.
I’m looking for collaborators who care about equity, aging services, mental health, community-building, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. This could be nonprofits, healthcare providers, senior centers, local businesses, storytellers, artists, educators, or simply individuals who want to show up with heart and help create spaces where older adults feel valued. Even small contributions, a listening ear, a resource connection, a shared skill, a willingness to show up, can make a huge impact.
In this moment, when LGBTQ+ rights and dignity are being challenged in so many ways, community matters more than ever. Visibility matters. Having people who will say, “You’re not alone, and you’re safe with me,” matters. If you feel like you can be part of that support system, whether through collaboration, partnership, or volunteering, I would love to connect.
Readers can reach out to me through the Aging Rainbow Coalition website (agingrainbowcoalition.com) or connect via email ([email protected]) we are also on Facebook as Aging Rainbow Coalition of East Tennessee. Our work is growing quickly, and there is room for anyone who wants to help make sure older adults know they belong and have people in their corner.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://agingrainbowcoalition.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agingrainbow
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-overholt-933097263
• Other: email: [email protected]