Derrick Johnson

Project: Dr. Derrick Shahem Johnson Sr.’s A’Lelia Bundles Community Scholars Program project explores the development of Holistic Spiritual Care as a culturally responsive, community-based model for addressing systemic racism, racial trauma, violence, grief, moral injury, mental health distress, and spiritual suffering in West Harlem. Rooted in trauma-informed care, restorative justice, and the clinical competencies of Board Certified Chaplaincy, the project seeks to document and strengthen healing practices that support spiritual and emotional care.

Dr. Derrick Shahem Johnson Sr. is a board certified chaplain, ordained minister, theologian, educator, and community-based spiritual-care practitioner whose work centers Black healing, human dignity, and collective liberation. A longtime Harlem resident, he is the founder and pastor of Black Liberation Church and the founder of Holistic Spiritual Care, an initiative addressing the intersections of racial trauma, violence, grief, mental health, spiritual distress, and community resilience. Dr. Johnson earned both his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from New York Theological Seminary. He completed his chaplaincy residency, four units of Clinical Pastoral Education and advanced chaplaincy fellowship training within the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, where he provided spiritual and emotional care across acute care, long-term care, mental health, substance-use recovery, and hospice and palliative-care settings. His clinical ministry has included interdisciplinary collaboration, spiritual assessment, group facilitation, end-of-life care, memorial leadership, and support for veterans and families navigating illness, trauma, grief, and transition. He is certified by the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. (BCCI), an affiliate of the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC).

Rooted in Black Liberation Theology and informed by trauma-responsive care, restorative justice, public health, and culturally grounded spiritual practice, Dr. Johnson seeks to expand the role of professional spiritual care beyond traditional institutional settings. Through healing circles, education, advocacy, faith leadership, and community partnerships, he works to create accessible spaces where Black individuals, families, clergy, and community leaders can process spiritual wounds, strengthen resilience, and pursue restoration.

As a member of Cohort XIV of Columbia University’s A’Lelia Bundles Community Scholars Program, Dr. Johnson will further develop his Holistic Spiritual Care initiative into a documented and replicable community-healing model for West Harlem and similarly situated communities.