APRIL BELLOW

environmentalist

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, USA

April Bellow is an artist deeply rooted in southeast Louisiana and has a diverse background in hospitality, disaster relief and environmental education. Native to Gretna, she was drawn to the culture, history and foodways from a young age. As a high schooler, she began working in the French Quarter restaurant scene before deciding to pursue a career as a chef / entrepreneur.

Attending Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI, she maintained her connections and continued to work holidays at Arnaud’s (a New Orleans fixture) and explore seasonal work throughout New England. Upon graduating, she returned to New Orleans and continued to work up the ladder so to speak. In addition to working in mainstay restaurants, she created her own successful concept, Killer Poboys.

In 2016-17, she joined many other hospitality professionals responding to widespread flooding. The experience served to strengthen the local network of hospitality professionals in how crucial collaboration is. Shortly after, she pivoted into culinary education and disaster relief volunteering with World Central Kitchen, Hands on NOLA, Chefs Brigade and New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute. Collectively, in the aftermath of COVID, programs these organizations created served over 7 million meals in the community for those experiencing food insecurity.

The experiences and work led her to working with Chefs Brigade to develop programming that brings chefs and hospitality workers out into the fisheries to learn about issues all in Southeast Louisiana face. The program, Chefs on Boats, catalyzed her to learn and connect more with the environment. Most recently, she completed the Louisiana Master Naturalist program in addition to becoming a Louisiana Master Gardener. She has participated in other interdisciplinary programs such as the Mississippi River Delta Institute & Loyola’s Institute for Environmental Communication.

Bringing a broad spectrum of experience, a passion for learning and sharing knowledge, April currently delivers curated tours based on client interests. City Park, a place near and dear to her heart, is a space full of history, local flora and is a great space to explore the varied topics that intersect at local culture.