Adaline Fagen
Adaline Fagen has been involved with NAMI Westside Los Angeles since 2007. Adaline is chair of the Fundraising Committee, which is responsible for our annual Gala fundraising event. She and her husband Ralph are Family-to-Family teachers, and she is committed to growing the membership of the affiliate and effecting major change in her community’s attitude toward brain illness. She has taken the pledge to fight stigma. She performs well as our fundraising chair; she has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years, and she has worked diligently to create our annual Gala fundraising event. To see the results she provides, see the Gala Fundraising video from our spring 2018 Moroccan Bazar gala.
Dorit Haroni
Dorit is dedicated to helping raise money for NAMI and awareness about mental illness. A happily married wife and mother of four children, Dorit immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 14. She graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and proceeded to get her Masters in Structural Engineering from Stanford University. Dorit has established our NAMI Westside Instagram profile and is responsible for the account’s maintenance and daily updates. In a very short period of time, our NAMI Instagram profile surpassed 20,000 followers.
Dr. Karen Wilson
Dr. Karen Wilson is a Clinical Neuropsychologist, Director of West LA Neuropsychology, the founder of ChildNEXUS.com, a digital platform that connects parents who have children or adolescents struggling with neurodevelopmental or social-emotional issues with professionals who provide services. She is also the host of the Diverse Thinking · Different Learning podcast. Dr. Wilson is an Assistant Clinical Professor (Voluntary) in the Medical Psychology Assessment Center at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior at UCLA. She specializes in the assessment of neurodevelopmental disorders in children and adolescents.
Sarah Haufrect
Sarah Haufrect is a communications director and writer born and bred in Los Angeles. She holds an undergraduate degree in English from UC Berkeley and a graduate degree in writing from Otis College of Art and Design. She has been a mental health advocate through her writing since 2016. Her essays and articles on the subject have appeared in Salon, Psychology Today, The Mighty, and OptionB among others. She is honored to be a part of NAMI Westside Los Angeles and its vibrant community.
Lauren Reynaldo
Lauren Reynaldo is a Los Angeles native who joined NAMI in 2018. NAMI’s unparalleled community of mental health advocates inspired her to become a certified Family 2 Family teacher shortly after completing the course herself. She continues to have the unique privilege of working hands-on with families in need of crucial mental health educational resources and emotional support. In addition to teaching, Lauren is also a certified Ending The Silence presenter, offering imperative mental health awareness and education to middle school and high school students across Los Angeles. Outside of her volunteer work as a passionate mental health advocate with NAMI, Lauren is Head of Synchronization Licensing at Crush Music.
Sheila Carter
Sheila was born and raised in Los Angeles. She is a business owner of over 30 years with a background in business and finance, a trained Family-to-Family Teacher, and deeply involved in our Family support groups. She has a passion for mental health advocacy with lived experience on the effects of untreated mental health conditions to families. Sheila is committed to helping find solutions so that recovery and hope is possible through increased mental health education and building better resources. She believes that recovery takes a team and it is a measure of who we are as a community.
Sam Griffel
Sam Griffel is a producer, writer, and lawyer who loathes writing about himself in either the first, second or third person. He is overcoming that anxiety in real time. Sam draws equally from his legal, entertainment and comedic backgrounds to champion emerging voices creatively and strategically, ensuring that their IP and comedic visions are protected. Sam also knows that no matter what he accomplishes, his dog Scout will always be more popular than he is. This is just part of what fuels him.
Lanetta Wahlgren
Sharon Kash
Sharon Kash, LMFT, is a distinguished Marriage and Family Therapist based in Los Angeles. She holds a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology.
Over her esteemed career, Sharon has contributed her expertise to several nonprofit mental health institutions across Los Angeles, deepening her understanding of the myriad factors influencing mental health. She recognizes the paramount importance of community and connectivity in aiding individuals and families as they navigate mental health challenges. This profound appreciation for community-led initiatives is exemplified in her collaboration with NAMI, an organization not only dedicated to delivering professional and educational support but also fostering a nurturing community. Sharon is deeply honored to be associated with such a transformative organization.