Meet Kanasha
Kanasha L. N. Blue is a native of Montego Bay Jamaica and has resided in Western New York since 1997. Kanasha is a Veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and a retired Staff Sergeant of the New York Army National Guard. She is a Labor Service Representative for New York State Department of Labor: Western New York Strikeforce Initiative, which assists job seekers in impoverished areas that do not have the resources or opportunity to obtain employment. Kanasha is also an accomplished Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant. Kanasha strives to help others, give back to her community and preserve human dignity in every aspect of her life. While deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Kanasha organized a drive for personal care items and clothing for local workers in need. This drive was successful in helping 60+ men and women meet their basic personal care needs. Kanasha supports deployed troops with personal care item drives through her Mary Kay business resulting in hundreds of dollars in products being donated to the cause.
Kanasha’s community involvement includes Buffalo Branch NAACP executive committee and founding member/ co-chair of the Young Adult Action Committee for the Buffalo Branch NAACP; a committee created to address the economic, education, public safety, and criminal justice issues affecting young adults in our local community. Kanasha is the recipient of the Buffalo Branch NAACP Rufus Frasier Human Relations Award honoring her service to the Branch and Buffalo community.
Kanasha is also the First Vice Commander of the American Legion Jesse Clipper Post 430, where she volunteers rendering final salutes to fallen veterans and servicemembers and educate school-age children about the patriotism. Kanasha is also a Deaconess and former President of the Missionary Ministry at Second Baptist Church in Lackawanna, NY. She volunteers at Second Baptist Foundation Food Pantry and local nursing homes, mentored youth with the Buffalo/Niagara Mentorship Program Inc. and was a committee member for the American Heart and Stroke Association Pillars of Change, Cultural Health Advisory Committee. She is also a former chapter president and philanthropy chair of Lambda Pi Upsilon Sorority, Latinas Poderosas Unidas, Incorporated.
In 2010, Kanasha graduated Magna Cum Laude from SUNY Buffalo State with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with an Intelligence Analysis concentration. In 2015, Kanasha graduated from Marist College with a master’s degree in Public Administration with an Ethical Leadership concentration. Kanasha is currently a Ph.D. student at Niagara University pursuing a doctorate in Leadership and Policy, where she is focusing on criminal justice policies and their impact on the labor market.
In October 2014, Kanasha married her best friend and greatest support Robert E. Blue; they are the parents to one-year-old Robyn Elizabeth Blue. Kanasha has a tremendous support system comprised of family, mentors, and friends.