Meet The
Founding LeadershipTeam

Kenneth J. Dudek

A recognized leader in the mental health field, Kenneth (Kenn) J. Dudek led Fountain House in New York City and the international development of clubhouses (community-based MH programs) since 1992. He has directed the development of groundbreaking programs that address the housing, employment, educational, and health needs of people living with mental illness. Kenn retired as President of Fountain House in September 2019 but continues as a Senior Advisor to a number of NGO’s. During his tenure, Fountain House grew to a 20-million-dollar organization and has been honored by many organizations - including receiving the world’s largest and most prestigious award- the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize- and widely praised by leading scholars, psychiatrists, government officials, family organizations and others working in the field of community mental health. He has co-authored the definitive book on Fountain House as well as several articles on community mental health. His career in community mental health spans forty years and includes time spent in government and numerous

NGO’s.

If you would like to book Kenn for a speaking engagement, please email nichollsglobal@gmail.com or WhatsApp +1(917) 577-2935

Dr. Ralph Aquila

For thirty years I have been privileged to work with persons with serious mental illness and have seen that with the proper wrap around services, people do recover and return to employment or back to higher education. We created an integrated clinic back in 2000 where we have primary care, psychiatry and the rehab components of Fountain House, a world leader in psychiatric rehabilitation. We call this "Community System of Care". Dr. Aquila is currently Chief Medical Officer at Vanna Health.

David Kapten

David Kapten is a native of Kenya and the program director of Breakthrough Clubhouse, a community based mental health program in Wichita, Kansas. He helped develop three other community based mental health programs in Kansas. He is a former faculty member of Clubhouse International (CI), a global organization dedicated to changing the world of mental health.

Cyrus Daniel Napolitano

For over eighteen years, Cyrus Napolitano has been actively engaged in mental health work in a variety of capacities ranging from developing innovative programming and coordinating a network of community-based programs at both the local and national level. He has expertise as a group facilitator, administration and training on topics such as empowerment, leadership skills, consensus decision-making, and team building.

As an individual with lived experience, he brings a personal knowledge and understanding of serious mental illness that has allowed him to be a mental health ambassador, mentor and colleague, around the world delivering a message of inclusion, empowerment, hope, opportunity and recovery.

Contact information: cyrusdanielnapolitano@gmail.com or cnapolitano@fountainhouse.org

WhatsApp +1 (347) 924-1519

Pauline Nicholls

Pauline Nicholls, CEO of Nicholls Global & Associates LLC. Pauline has a global career in NPO & NGO management. A thought leader and innovator she is committed to finding culturally competent sustainable solutions to global issues. Her expertise in organizing it includes, Board recruitment, training, and development, NPO infra-structure & organizational management, event planning and fundraising. If you would like to consult with Pauline, she can be reached at nichollsglobal@gmail.com or via WhatsApp +1(917) 518-2603

Jeffrey Aron

Jeffrey Aron served as Director of External Affairs at Fountain House www.fountainhouse.org, a mental health nonprofit fighting to improve health, increase opportunity, and end social and economic isolation for people living with serious mental illness. While there, he helped lead the campaign by Fountain House and more than 300 sister organizations around the world to achieve the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, the world’s largest and most prestigious humanitarian award; and he organized a partnership with the World Health Organization to develop guidelines and best practices for health practitioners working with people with serious mental illness. During his tenure, he led capital and annual campaigns that raised more than $50 million.

Jeff served in various capacities at the All Stars Project, www.allstars.org, a national nonprofit that uses a performance based approach to help tens of thousands of inner-city youth and their families create success in their lives. As one of its founders, he helped develop its community-building and fundraising model. As the Director of its Capital Campaign, he led the effort to raise more than $20 million and secure its national headquarters on West 42nd Street in New York City.

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​Jeff’s volunteer activities include serving as a leader of  Global Play Brigade, www.globalplaybrigade.org, a volunteer community of play and performance activists, improvisers, clowns, musicians, educators and therapists who have come together from 85 countries in response to the global pandemic and the distressing, inequitable state of our world. As well he is on the Board of Dzul Dance, www.dzuldance.org). Based in New York City and Campeche, Mexico, Dzul Dance fuses dance with aerial arts, contortion and acrobatics as a means to communicate indigenous pre-Hispanic, Mexican and Latin culture and create bridges between contemporary art and historical heritage.

Kinga Jedrzejczak

Kinga has a diverse background in the community-based mental health care. She began her work as a psychologist in community mental health services in Poland, and continued as a social practitioner, and the associate director of partnership development at Fountain House NYC. She holds a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. Kinga has a vast experience in creating strategic partnerships with array of stakeholders that facilitate the spread of knowledge, and building comprehensive suite of products & services, including training, technical assistance, advisory services, and the development of other resources and outreach. 

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Kinga is committed and eager to aid the global expansion of the recovery-oriented community model. More so, she is highly enthusiastic to improve the quality of life for people living with mental illness.