GÁNDARA 40TH ANNIVERSARY A Journey From Past to Present: Gándara Celebrates 40 Years of Service Sitting in the Norman Street administrative offices in West Springfield, Gándara Center Executive Director Henry Julio East-Trou has seen his share of industry changes and tremendous growth within the agency over the past 35 years. Of the 40 years Gándara has been in operation, East-Trou has spent most of those years in a leadership role navigating the agency through an ever-changing industry. Reflecting on his 35 years of service to Gándara, East-Trou shares the Gándara Center’s history from its inception and how the agency was propelled from an Outpatient Clinic in Springfield to the state-wide entity Gándara is today. History: In 1977, and later as a part of President Jimmy Carter’s Mental Health Systems Act of 1980, funding was made available to communities across the country to address the mental health needs of individuals suffering from serious mental illness including the elderly, and racial and ethnic minority communities. The City of Springfield submitted a city-wide application that included both the needs for the Hispanic and African-American communities. This funding strengthened the city’s mental health services and the development of the Jose N. Gándara Mental Health Center, Inc. and the WW Johnson Life Center, Inc. The Gándara Center was named in honor of Dr. José N. Gándara Cartagena (1907– 1954), a prominent physician and public servant from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Gándara dedicated his life to servicing those who could not afford medical care, urban renewal, eliminating poor housing, and the construction of public housing. The Gándara Center embodies Dr. Gándara’s goals and work—as a philanthropist and symbol in his community—and the center used his legacy as the foundation of its mission and values. Humble Beginnings: When the Gándara Center’s doors at 2155 Main Street in Springfield (the Outpatient Clinic) first opened, no other agency in the area specifically met the needs of providing culturally sensitive care to the Hispanic community. In the early years, the non-profit’s first Hispanic Executive Director Dr. Philip Guzman laid the foundation Gándara Center Executive Director Henry East-Trou (left) with the first Hispanic Executive Director, Philip Guzman. for what the agency would later become; his vision and advocacy for the Hispanic community set the Gándara Center apart from the competition. “The issue was largely unnoticed and there was not equal access to services,” said East-Trou. “The state was unaware of the growing need for specialized services, but Dr. Philip Guzman really advocated for these services. He truly understood the impact to the community.” In 1982, East-Trou joined the Gándara team as a supervisor for the agency’s psychiatric day treatment program, funded by the Department of Mental Health. Gándara’s roots were planted deeply in Springfield with only one location and approximately 30 staff to house all of its programs—residential, outpatient, and substance use. “I always wanted to be a clinician,” said East-Trou. “It’s like putting together pieces of a puzzle. Being able to sit with someone you don’t know and try to learn their concerns and needs. We all have stories. That’s what you bring with you and your view of the world.” Understanding a person’s cultural “lens” is where Gándara stands out, said East-Trou. When individuals are met with an understanding of their challenges and needs, it eliminates a barrier to them seeking help. While East-Trou hadn’t planned on making a move to an administrative role, a new opportunity was on the horizon. When the position for Executive Director became vacant, the Gándara Center Board of Directors approached and encouraged him to apply. In 1989, East-Trou took the wheel as Executive Director and has been at the helm since. “I really had a lot to learn,” said East-Trou, reflecting on his early days in the position. “I learned so much about contracting, making connections and networking, and making sure advocacy was at the core of this organization.” East-Trou said he felt an enormous sense of responsibility to the Hispanic community. It’s something he carries with him today.
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