Chanel worked on 3-D models and graphic design for the rebuilding of a school in Haiti that had been destroyed in the earthquake of Jan. 12, 2010.

by Len Lear

Chanel Cheri may be a member of one of the most exclusive clubs in the world — black, gay females in the field of architecture. In fact, she may be the only one in the club.

Chanel, 27, lived in Mt. Airy from 2004 to 2007 while she was attending  the Charter High School for Architecture & Design. “I enjoyed Mt. Airy as being a calm and serene escape from the city,” she said last week, “the architecture of the houses, the shops, the little undiscovered, creative pockets. What I disliked was how far it was from the action, which at that age I was seeking.”

While still in high school, Chanel, who currently lives in West Philadelphia, had an internship at the KlingStubbins Architectural firm's Philadelphia headquarters, where a black female architect, Karen Anderson, “gave me the push to go to California, which was not a popular idea at home … I worked on the remodeling or refurbishing of the main security kiosk in the center of Rittenhouse Square ... amazing for a 17-year-old at the time.”

In 2012 Chanel earned a degree in architecture from the California College of the Arts. While there she had an internship with the non-profit Architecture for Humanity, working on 3-D models and graphic design for the rebuilding of a K-to-12 school in Haiti that had been destroyed in the earthquake of Jan. 12, 2010.

Chanel later earned a real estate license and is currently involved in commercial real estate development, although “graphic design is something that I still do under my own studio … I still do architecture outside and inside of my current position.”

If Chanel could have any job in the world, it world be something in “humanitarian design. A career that would allow me to design towards common needs in various parts of the world, a 'rogue architect,' if you will.”

People who meet Chanel assume she is heterosexual because she is “feminine-presenting.” When did she realize she was gay? “I think I always knew. There was never a time that I felt I was attracted to men. I began going out with women at the age of 16 … I'm currently dating someone I really enjoy. She's adorable.”

A spiritual seeker, Chanel has looked deeply into Buddhism and Islam in the past but now embraces the Yoruba religion, a traditional African faith that places great emphasis on the natural world and on one's ancestors. “I learned a lot from talking to family elders,” Chanel said, “including the fact that I had a gay great-great Uncle Alfred, who was in the military and was 'outed' within the family.

“So he moved to Italy and lived a fabulous life. He was in some Italian movies, and I found some wonderful pictures of him. I even found out that he left my mom some money, which we were able to recover, which was pretty cool. You're encouraged to talk to your ancestors, so when I was going through some relationship troubles, I started talking to him. I won't lie. He never talked back, but there was something therapeutic about it.”

We are all familiar with discrimination against minority groups by members of a majority group, but Chanel has experienced discrimination by one minority group against another one. “I remember when I got promoted (at a previous job), I was feeling great,” said Chanel. “I was walking down the hall when one guy in the company said, 'I heard you got the job. I guess they have to have at least one black person on the team.'

“I said, 'Wow, really?' The weird thing was that it was a white gay male. And I just thought, 'With all the discrimination that the gay community already gets, you're going to discriminate a bit more? It's such a shame. There are a lot of gay white male architects, and I don't know why, but more often than not, I find them to be the most discriminating of all.”

Since Chanel is such a thoughtful person, we asked what her idea of perfect happiness is. “I just had this discussion with someone. Happiness is a mystery to me, and I like it that way. I say this because my happiest moments have always been from something unexpected. I find happiness in ambiguity, so my idea of happiness is knowing that I'll continue to have serendipitous moments.”

What does Chanel consider her greatest achievement? “Being able to take care of my mother.”

What is the quality she likes most in a partner? “Otherworldly conversation.”

What is her biggest pet peeve? “Spitting on the ground.”

What is the best movie she has ever seen? “I don't know; that's hard. At the moment I really enjoy 'Moonlight.'”

For more information, visit www.chanelcheri.com. You can reach Len Lear at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com