Turner to Receive Prince George’s County Social Innovation Fund Forty Under 40 Award

WASHINGTON (April 12, 2018) – The Campaign for Youth Justice's (CFYJ), Aprill Turner was recently announced as a recipient of Prince George’s County Social Innovation Fund Forty Under 40 Award.

The Forty Under 40 Prince George’s County Award recognizes talented county residents in Prince George’s, MD, who are all under the age of 40 at the time of recognition. The Awards are sponsored by the Prince George’s County Social Innovation Fund, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build social capital and invest in new approaches to solving a broad range of challenges in the county.

Turner is currently the communications director at CFYJ where she leads media strategy to elevate the issue of prosecuting youth in adult criminal court, ensuring that the voices of those affected by the issue are front and center in the national media and in key media outlets across the country. She oversees CFYJ's National Spokespersons Bureau, in which spokespeople share their perspectives through blogs, video, social media and in news outlets. CFYJ spokespeople have been featured in national and international media outlets, have presented at national and statewide conferences, and testified before state and federal policymakers.

Prior to coming to CFYJ, Aprill worked on Capitol Hill in several media capacities, including Press Advisor to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, Deputy Press Secretary to Congressman Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts and Communications Director to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas and Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy of New York. Additionally, she has lead media strategy for several local, congressional and senatorial campaigns. She has also taught public relations and journalism at Morgan State University and Loyola University in Baltimore, MD.

The awardees were chosen in the categories of Arts and Humanities, Business, Education, Fitness, Public Service and Science. They include native Prince Georgians and those new to the county who have made an immediate impact. Turner is being recognized for Public Service.

"As a resident of Prince George's County, I am totally blown away to receive such a prestigious honor. My 39 fellow honorees are extraordinary people who are improving lives and strengthening our communities. I’m proud to be working alongside leaders who are smart, driven, and innovative that are making a difference in our county, state, and our nation," said Turner. 

Honorees will be recognized at a ceremony on June 6.

The Campaign for Youth Justice, based in Washington, DC, is dedicated to ending the practice of trying, sentencing, and incarcerating youth under 18 in the adult criminal justice system.