Rev. Dr. Danielle J. Buhuro
Executive Director and CPE Supervisor, Sankofa CPE Center, LLC
Profiles in African-American Chaplaincy
Field of chaplaincy: CPE
- Rev. Dr. Danielle J. Buhuro is Executive Director and CPE Supervisor of Sankofa CPE Center, LLC, which offers innovative online Clinical Pastoral Education programming along with unique social justice-oriented clinical work settings and prepares clergy chaplains for board certification. Dr. Buhuro is passionate about issues of race, gender and sexuality. Her ministerial presence and work contributes to a more just, diverse voice within the CPE world (ACPE).
- Dr. Buhuro attended Chicago Theological Seminary, where she earned the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees respectively. She’s currently a Ph.D student studying in the area of social media identity, violence and pastoral theology. Dr. Buhuro serves on the national board of directors of the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education. She facilitates numerous workshops nation-wide on African American Pastoral Care and African-centered psychology. Visit Rev. Dr. Danielle Buhuro’s website at www.SankofaCPE.com.
- Dr. Buhuro is author of Spiritual Care In An Age of #BlackLivesMatter: Examining the Spiritual and Prophetic Needs of African Americans Living In A Violent America. She also serves as a CPE Supervisor at Advocate Aurora South Suburban, Trinity and Christ Hospitals in Chicago, Illinois.
How did you come to your work as a chaplain?
DB: As a teen, I was sickly. I experienced God as using these moments to call me into chaplaincy later and giving me empathy for those who are also sickly and disabled today.
How did you come to your sector where you work now?
DB: I currently serve as a CPE Supervisor. After working in chaplaincy for several years, I felt God calling me to teaching/education. I love the communal, group aspect of learning as well as the experiential learning dynamic in CPE.
How does your identity inform your work?
DB: I am an African-American, same-gender-loving/queer woman. My identity informs my CPE supervision ministry that I am sensitive to creating a CPE learning environment free of racism, sexism, homophobia/transphobia. I felt called to CPE supervision especially in light of my identity because I observed many of these “-isms” exist in the CPE world. My ministerial presence and work contributes to a more just, diverse voice within the CPE world (ACPE).
What was the proudest moment of your career, to date?
DB: I’ve been most proud to found and create my own CPE center (accredited by ACPE) entitled, “Sankofa CPE Center, LLC” (www.SankofaCPE.com). My new center is one-of-a-kind. It has three distinct features: 1. an online program (which provides accessibility to all), 2. African-centered education, 3. social justice focused (CPE students work in inclusive, progressive and liberating social justice institutions providing spiritual care).
How would, or do, you advise people of color considering entering spiritual care or chaplaincy?
DB: We must remember that spiritual care is more than simply entertaining issues related to faith, spirituality, religion and/or theology. Spiritual Care must take into consideration a holistic approach which is concerned about the social and emotional needs of patients, parishioners, families and clients. Chaplains of color are invited to facilitate community needs assessments and provide social service resources as a part of their spiritual care methodology. Chaplains of color are also invited to care for the emotional needs of patients, in light of racism and “racial trauma”, by providing Psychological First Aid/Mental Health First Aid to patients.