Roswell Park Breaks Ground on Expanded Roswell Park Broadview Community Outreach and Engagement Center

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center broke ground today on an expansion of the Roswell Park Broadview Community Outreach and Engagement Center, a significant enhancement made possible through the support and partnership of New York State and Broadview Federal Credit Union. The expansion of the facility at 907 Michigan Ave. in Buffalo will advance efforts to reduce the burden of cancer through education, prevention, screening and access to care.

The expanded center will provide additional space to deliver evidence-based cancer prevention and screening programs, community-engaged research initiatives, patient navigation services and partnership-driven activities designed to address cancer disparities and improve health outcomes.

“The growth and vibrancy of the Roswell Park Broadview Community Outreach and Engagement Center and all the activities it supports represent a major step forward in our mission to ensure that every community has access to lifesaving cancer education, prevention, screening and care,” says Candace Johnson, PhD, President, CEO and M&T Bank Presidential Chair in Leadership at Roswell Park. “Through the partnership of New York State, Broadview Federal Credit Union and many community groups, we are able to meet people where they are and build trusted relationships that improve health and save lives.”

Since opening in 2023, the Roswell Park Broadview Center has become a vital community resource, welcoming over 20,000 visitors. These milestones underscore the facility’s role as a hub for community engagement, health promotion and cancer outreach.

This addition of approximately 4,600 square feet to the existing 5,900-square-foot structure will allow Roswell Park’s outreach teams to broaden their reach and deepen their impact, particularly among historically underserved populations. The new wing will include a classroom, a large collaboration room, two community co-working rooms, additional public gathering space, offices and hoteling workstations.

“We have been honored to welcome thousands of people each year at this beautiful space, hosting more than 1,000 events in collaboration with more than 400 community organizations,” says Roswell Park Community Outreach and Engagement Director Nikia Clark Robinson. “This significant enrichment of our programming and capacity will support greater access to cancer-related education, prevention and screening services tailored to the needs of our community.”

The center was formally designated as the Roswell Park Broadview Community Outreach and Engagement Center in June following a transformative $1 million gift from Broadview Federal Credit Union in support of health equity, cancer outreach and community wellness initiatives across Western New York.

"Today's groundbreaking marks an exciting milestone for Roswell Park and the Buffalo community as we take the next step in directly delivering critical health resources, education, and support services to this community,” said Michael Castellana, CEO at Broadview Federal Credit Union. “Broadview is proud to support this transformative project through our $1 million investment in the Roswell Park Broadview Community Outreach and Engagement Center. Our support reflects Broadview’s commitment to improving lives through strong partnerships that create lasting change. This center will expand access to cancer prevention, screening, and support services for families across Western New York, helping build healthier neighborhoods and stronger communities for generations to come."

“This groundbreaking marks an exciting next chapter as Roswell Park moves forward with the expansion of its Community Outreach and Engagement Center in Buffalo’s Fruit Belt,” says New York State Senator April Baskin. “This expansion will allow Roswell Park to reach even more people with lifesaving cancer prevention, screenings, education and support, while continuing to address health disparities in our community. I am proud to have secured $2 million to help make this project possible, and grateful to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for her support of this investment and for joining us in Buffalo to celebrate this important milestone.” 

“From expanding access to comprehensive lung cancer screenings to mandating insurance coverage of scalp cooling systems for patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment and providing record funding for health care services across New York, the Senate Democratic Conference has continually worked to ensure New Yorkers facing a cancer diagnosis, regardless of their zip code, have equal access to the support resources they need,” says NYS Senate Majority Leader  and President Pro Tempore Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “The H.O.P.E. Center wing will build upon New York State’s cancer mitigation efforts by expanding access to preventive care services for East Side residents and Western New Yorkers in the heart of Buffalo’s historic Fruit Belt neighborhood. Today’s groundbreaking underscores New York’s ongoing commitment to improving healthcare access for historically underserved, marginalized, and remote communities across the state. I thank Senator Baskin, my Assembly colleagues, and all our friends at Roswell Park for their partnership to bring this investment to fruition.”

“The New York State Assembly remains an ardent supporter of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center,” says New York State Senate Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes. “Breaking ground on the expansion of the Broadview Community Outreach and Engagement Center represents Roswell’s commitment to community outreach when it comes to cancer education and treatment. Broadview is a community investment, and I thank Roswell and all our partners for getting this expansion finished.”

“This expansion will ensure Roswell Park can reach more families and ultimately save lives throughout our community and beyond,” says Congressman Tim Kennedy. “I’m proud to see this investment that strengthens a vital community resource right here in Buffalo and helps ensure that where you live doesn’t determine your access to lifesaving care. Every Western New Yorker deserves access to the tools and resources they need to prevent cancer, detect it early, and get the quality, affordable lifesaving care they deserve.”

“Phase II of the Roswell Park Community Outreach & Engagement Center represents another important step forward in the ongoing revitalization of 907 Michigan and the surrounding neighborhood,” says Rishawn Sonubi, partner at Young + Wright Architectural. “We are proud to be part of a project that continues to invest in the community, create opportunities, and build on the momentum established in the first phase. Today's groundbreaking reflects a shared commitment to a stronger, more vibrant future for Buffalo’s Fruit Belt neighborhood and the Buffalo medical campus.” 

“I am excited to be present for today's groundbreaking. Why? Because Roswell's goal is to help me do exactly what I am doing.....LIVE!” says Mercedes Wilson, author and breast cancer survivor.

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From the world’s first chemotherapy research to the PSA prostate cancer biomarker, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center generates innovations that shape how cancer is detected, treated and prevented worldwide. The Roswell Park team of 4,000+ makes compassionate, patient-centered cancer care and services accessible across New York State and beyond. Rated “Exceptional” by the National Cancer Institute, Roswell Park, founded in 1898, was one of the first NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the country and remains the only one in Upstate New York. To learn more about Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Roswell Park Care Network, visit www.roswellpark.org, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email ASKRoswell@RoswellPark.org.