In the late 1960s, a group of University students were volunteering at Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) when they noticed that patients were trapped in a vicious cycle: the revolving door of institutional care. Upon discharge from CVH and reentry into the community, the student volunteers noted that many individuals faced overwhelming challenges. Lacking financial means, stable housing, employment, and social support systems, many of them would end up right where they began: in CVH inpatient services.
To address this recursive hospitalization, Myron Kinberg ’67, Matthew Lamstein ’68, and Gregory Wrobel ’69 began the nonprofit Gilead House in 1968, renting a University-owned house at 453 High Street for a steep $1.00 per year. The program began as a support space, where University students lived alongside those who recently left CVH.
“You’ve got to find a community, or you’ve got to build one,” Community Health Center founder Mark Masselli Hon. ’09, who was involved in the early days of Gilead, said. “That’s the most important thing that’s going to get you through whatever you’re going through. So it could be in your hometown. It could be thousands of miles away. The work you do, of course, may change, or you may grow in it, but whatever you’re doing, you’ve done it to help. We tried that here.”
Decades later, their legacy continues in the form of Gilead Community Services.
“Gilead empowers personal growth, independence and recovery through improved mental health, physical well-being and community integration,” their mission statement reads.
Beyond standard care, Gilead offers residential services, family resources, substance-use treatment, and community-based programs. Since 2016, they have also hosted the annual “Move for Every 1” event with the aim of reducing stigma and raising awareness of mental illness.
This year’s race took place on Sunday, April 6. Hundreds of runners gathered at the First Church of Christ with their strollers, wheelchairs, and tie-dyed t-shirts. Participants—including University athletes, Gilead clients, and Middletown residents—joined together in a moment of community and solidarity as they walked, jogged, and rolled toward the finish line in Union Park at South Green.
“We will always walk for Jake,” board member emeritus Jean Monahan and her husband Mike Monahan wrote for a “Move for Every 1” fundraiser. “As a family who has lost a son and brother to an accidental overdose, we must face each day in ways we never imagined would be ours to navigate. We can only hope that through awareness, support, and open discussions regarding addiction and mental health challenges that we can help others.”
Alexandra Potts ’27, one of Gilead’s runners, reflected on her experience participating in the road race.
“There were almost 400 runners and walkers who showed up just within the organization,” Potts said. “They told us that they exceeded their fundraising goal of over $61,000. The energy was really awesome, and I met lots of lovely people from Wesleyan, the local Middletown area, and even some who came from New York City to support the cause. It was very rewarding and heartening to see how many people showed up. Wesleyan cheerleaders were on the sidelines while we were running, cheering us on.”
Kiran Eastman can be reached at kbleakneyeas@wesleyan.edu.
Leave a Reply