Fountain House Welcomes Third Group of Executive Leadership Fellows
Fountain House will be welcoming our third group of Executive Leadership Fellows for their first phase of training on Friday, January 20th. Jill Horan is from Wellspring Clubhouse in Pennsylvania, Jay Brubaker is from Circle City Clubhouse in Indiana and Johan Rydergard is from Fontanhuset Skondal in Sweden.
Jill Horan
Jill Valiant Horan has worked in the mental health field since 2006, and started working within the Clubhouse community in 2008 as the Career Development Coordinator at Wellspring Clubhouse in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. She was promoted to Director of Wellspring in 2015, and is thrilled to be a part of the Clubhouse Community in this role. She also serves as the Vice President for the Pennsylvania Clubhouse Coalition. Jill received her BA in Psychology from Arcadia University, holds a MS in Psychiatric Rehabilitation from Rutgers University, and is currently a PhD candidate in Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Rutgers University. Jill holds her Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) credential through the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, and has also completed a certificate program in Supported Employment through Virginia Commonwealth University. When not working, Jill can be found spending time with her children, taking care of the family’s myriad pets, or at her favorite yoga studio both as a teacher and a student.
Jay Brubaker
Jay Brubaker is the Executive Director of Circle City Clubhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, and also a recovering attorney. Prior to beginning his work at Circle City Clubhouse, Jay worked for nine years in various social service positions, focused on providing mental health services from strengths-based and consumer-centered perspectives for both adults and children. He then attended law school and worked for four years as a general practice attorney, focusing largely on business and organization matters. Jay became involved with Circle City Clubhouse because of his belief that persons living with mental illness should have a place where they are valued as individuals and a community where they belong. Jay holds B.A. in Religious Studies from Bluffton University in Bluffton, OH and a J.D. from the Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Johan Rydergård
My name is Johan Rydergård and I am the director at Fontänhuset Sköndal in Stockholm, Sweden. I have been working in clubhouse for thirteen years, starting as staff at Fountain House Stockholm in 2003. In 2008, I was appointed project manager for Fontänhuset Sköndal, which was a co-op initiative from Fountain House Stockholm and Stora Sköndal Foundation. In 2009, Fontänhuset Sköndal started on a more regular basis and eventually I became director. Besides working to become a clubhouse, we have done many interesting, exciting and fun projects at our clubhouse; sailing, trekking, festivals, survival course etc. Our main ambition at Sköndal has been to reach young adults. This year in December we had our first accreditation visit and we are still awaiting the final outcome.
I am 50 years old, married with four children, three boys and one girl. My oldest son is disabled, which has had an impact on who I am today. I live fairly close to the clubhouse, in Stockholm, which means I can bike to work. I like to exercise but is no fanatic. Besides work I keep myself busy with family and friends. Sometimes I start minor projects in my neighborhood such as trekking and camping in surrounding nature.
My professional career has been mixed with studies and a bit of travel. I studied art and sculpture for many years with a master of fine arts from National College of Arts, Crafts and Design in Stockholm. Previous to my studies I spent a year in the Swedish military service. I have mainly worked with people in my various jobs; custody, kindergarten, elderly care, schools, service centers. I was an exchange student at high school in Minnesota back in 1983/84 which was a great life learning experience.