Dr. Kevin Paulin

Kevin Paulin is a nonprofit executive, financial empowerment educator, and community leader with over a decade of experience advancing behavioral health, recovery, and reentry outcomes for underserved populations. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of Winning Ways Inc., a Connecticut-based 501(c)(3), he leads trauma-informed, community-based programming designed to support individuals impacted by substance use disorders, incarceration, homelessness, and economic instability.

Kevin is a strong advocate for mental health and trauma-informed mentoring, with a focus on addressing the underlying impact of adverse life experiences on long-term stability and well-being. His work emphasizes person-centered, strengths-based approaches that promote healing, resilience, and sustainable pathways to recovery and economic mobility.

Through Winning Ways Inc., Kevin developed The Winning Circle Series™, an integrated, trauma-informed model that combines financial literacy, workforce development, expressive arts, and peer-informed mentorship. Programs such as Spit and Paint™, Empower Your Employment™, and Money Talk™ are designed to improve protective factors, increase self-efficacy, and support long-term recovery outcomes for individuals and families.

Kevin's professional background includes leadership roles at Marrakech Inc. and Columbus House, where he provided case management, employment services, and recovery support to individuals experiencing homelessness, co-occurring mental health conditions, and substance use disorders. His experience includes working with veterans, justice-involved individuals, and those transitioning from inpatient and detoxification settings.

In addition to direct service leadership, Kevin contributes to advancing community-informed research as a Community Advisory Member with the Yale School of Medicine, supporting the cultural adaptation of contingency management interventions for adults with stimulant use disorder. His role ensures that research initiatives remain grounded in lived experience and responsive to community needs. He also collaborates with the Yale PRCH Recovery Finance Project to expand access to financial empowerment services within recovery-oriented systems of care.

Kevin is a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®) and integrates financial capability services into behavioral health and recovery programming, recognizing financial stability as a key social determinant of health. His approach aligns with national best practices in recovery-oriented systems of care and trauma-informed service delivery.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Women's Consortium and is a member of the New Haven Chamber of Commerce, contributing to cross-sector collaboration across behavioral health, economic development, and community services.

Kevin holds degrees in Business Administration from Gateway Community College and Charter Oak State College and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Nonprofit Management at the University of New Haven.

In recognition of his leadership and impact, Kevin has received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, was named a 2024 100 Men of Color honoree, and was selected as part of the 2025 Class of the Connecticut Hall of Change. Through his work, he continues to advance equitable access to behavioral health services, economic opportunity, and trauma-informed support systems that empower individuals and communities to thrive.