Cindy Milian, Health and Human Services Program Officer at Berks County Community Foundation, delivered the keynote address at Reading Hospital Tower Health’s “Voices for Health” event, kicking off a week-long celebration honoring community health workers.
The event, hosted by the hospital’s Community Wellness Department, drew leaders from across the region, including Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank President Jay Worrall; Reading Hospital President and CEO Dr. Charles F. Barbera; Pennsylvania Secretary of Human Services Dr. Valeria Arkoosh; Executive Deputy Secretary of the PA Department of Health Kristen Rodack; and State Senator Judy Schwank. Community health workers, local service providers, and hospital staff also filled the room.
Recognizing community health needs
Milian, who joined the Community Foundation after more than two decades working directly in early intervention, casework, and health services, centered her remarks on the urgent challenges facing Berks County residents and the vital role community health workers play in addressing them.
“In 2023, the United Way’s ALICE Report showed that over 40% of Berks County households earned less than the county’s basic cost of living,” Milian told the audience. “That means more than 47,000 households are one paycheck away from a severe financial crisis, and more than 18,000 households are living in poverty.”
She emphasized that these struggles are not limited to Reading but extend to every corner of the county. A countywide study in 2023 identified four critical health priorities: equitable access to care, expanded behavioral health services, stronger health education, and reducing health disparities.
Stories of impact
Milian highlighted real-life stories that underscored the challenges families face and the difference community health workers can make.
One grandmother in Boyertown, caring for both her husband and grandson with special needs, struggled to keep up with medical appointments until a community health worker connected her with a small grant to purchase a laptop. The change ensured her grandson could stay on track with essential therapies.
Another case involved a single mother whose son has sickle cell anemia and Lowe syndrome. With the help of a community health worker’s recommendation, she received grant funding to buy a reliable vehicle to get her son to his frequent specialist appointments in Philadelphia.
“These stories show us that when we have dedicated community health workers who can identify both medical and non-medical needs, we can work together to create healthier futures,” Milian said.
A call to action
Milian closed her speech by reminding attendees that the health of individuals and the health of the community are deeply interconnected.
“Berks County is a beautiful, diverse, and complicated region. We speak different languages, experience different life stressors, and hold vastly different beliefs. But our personal health is fundamentally interconnected with our community’s health,” she said. “Now more than ever, we need community health workers in our offices, clinics, hospital rooms, and mobile health services.”
She concluded with a quote displayed in the Berks County Community Foundation boardroom from local philanthropist Louis R. Thun: “We remind ourselves constantly that we are heirs of an exceptional past, custodians of a challenging present, and architects of a limitless future.”
“To the community health workers of Berks County — thank you,” Milian added. “Your work is invaluable and necessary. True change can start with a single spark, and we need yours.”
