Philadelphia native Cheryl Miles is the Community Housing Development Director at Kennett Area Community Service, a nonprofit committed to serving families and all individuals in the fight against hunger and homelessness in the Kennett area.

Miles, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from West Chester University and a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania, credits her colleague and friend, Matrie Johnson, with having the biggest impact on her career.

“I met Matrie over 10 years ago as we worked in different social service agencies that were community partners,” said Miles. “We would refer families to each other’s programs and do case consultations on challenging cases. She was known for her ability to establish relationships with individuals in the most difficult situation, advocate for the resources needed, and help them to establish some level of social capital to sustain their progress. In working with Matrie, I recognized we share a burden to see social justice and racial equity in our community. She challenges me in my role to establish relationships within the systems that were impacting the populations we served, to advocate, and to collaborate with other like-minded persons and organizations for sustainable change. I would not have been able to experience many of my successes without Matrie’s help. She holds me to high standards and will not let me give up.”

Miles’s proudest professional achievement is “having the opportunity to sit, invited or not, at the decision-making table where policies and governing laws are made to give voice to the unrepresented, underserved, marginalized, and disfranchised in my community.”

“As I sit at these tables, I have been able to create space for the people of those voices to have a seat too,” she said. “Over the years, the government, institutions, and human service systems have created and implemented laws, policies, and programming based on their perception and understanding of the community’s needs. Many of these systems, in their efforts to do good, have been rendered ineffective, especially for People of Color and other historically marginalized groups of people. Systems that lack opportunities for participation through inclusion and the diversity of knowledge, skills, expertise, race, ethnicity, and cultures of the community served, continue to perpetuate barriers that foster dependency and disempowerment. The inclusion of the voices and participation of the unrepresented, underserved, marginalized, and disfranchised gives the necessary information to make more effective decisions in meeting needs and making sustainable change for all.”

Miles shared her perspective on what makes a successful leader.

“A successful leader is one who can cast a vision, where anyone who hears it can see their role as a benefactor or beneficiary in bringing it to fruition,” she said. “They demonstrate integrity and courage as they fulfill their role, which enables others to do the same. They are compassionate, empathic, and respectful in their leadership, helping those that they lead to be the best selves in their respective roles. They can effectively collaborate and delegate responsibilities that empower everyone to work toward a common goal.”

Of the 12 Principles of the Scout Law — Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent — Brave resonates the most with Miles.

“Being a Black female in leadership is not for the faint at heart,” she said. “Overcoming the obstacle of racism and discrimination to even allow me to see myself in a leadership role was a challenge. I had to be brave because it could have been a matter of life or death for me mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and/or physically. Mentors, allies, family, and friends have encouraged me throughout my life to step out of my comfort zone to follow my dream, address areas that burden me, and use my voice for others. I have learned that to be authentic and true to self is not always popular. There are, will be, and have been times when I will have to stand alone. My faith has been my driving force to help me to do what I was created to do, and all that God has placed around me reminds me of His faithfulness and provisions. As a result, I can be brave to lead.”

The Chester County Council, Boy Scouts of America will honor Miles and the 11 other BSA VISTA Leadership Megastars at an awards reception on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at its new Program, Activity, and Resource Campus (PARC) in Exton. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, contact Kristin Conran at kristin.conran@scouting.org.