Chandra Redfern: Serving the community

By: Andrew Nowel, Editor-In-Chief

Canisius alumni are all over western New York, the United States and even all around the world. Most leave Buffalo to begin their careers outside of the confines of a small city to explore what else is out in the world we all live in. For Chandra Redfern, a psychology and criminal justice graduate of Canisius, service has always been the key component of her job at Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers (BFNC).

Redfern returned to Canisius for graduate school where her path on helping others began. She finished graduate school in 2003 with a masters in counseling and human services, something she found a passion for. During graduate school, Redfern started working with BFNC and found that the organization fit perfectly with what she was looking for. “One of the things that attracted me to BFNC was that I was able to get real–life experience, which is something that not a lot of students get outside of internships,” said Redfern.

Starting off as a case manager, Redfern moved up the ranks, building connections and taking on bigger responsibilities, but always remembering what her mission was: helping people. “I think I found my niche in mental health, and I had a great appreciation working with individuals that are living with mental health diagnoses,” said Redfern. Even as she climbed the ladder all the way to becoming the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2021, Redfern still focused on the community.

The vision that Redfern came into leading BFNC became the backbone of the organization, and it stems from the service aspect of Canisius’ Jesuit values that still live inside the heart of Redfern. Cura Personalis, caring for the whole person, walks hand in hand with BFNC’s meet people where they are. Redfern wants to take that one step further. “My thing with BFNC has been how do we do things in an innovative way that makes sense to the community that needs it,” said Redfern. The Jesuit value of service always comes back to community.

Even college students can walk in the doors of 2365 Main Street as they get ready to begin the next chapter of their lives. BFNC is a place that Redfern and her team have created to be safe from the struggles of everyday life. On Oct. 17, John Hope Bryant will speak at an event hosted by BFNC to help people understand financial topics at a basic level to help everyone with financial literacy. The event, Redfern hopes, is a way that everyone can take away something from regardless of their background with finances.

Whether Canisius alumni are across international waters or only five minutes from campus, the Jesuit values still live in each and every person. Redfern is striving to form a community that works together to be in unity with each other to build the best life for everyone. After all, Canisius is where leaders are made.