Patrick D'Anzel Shaffer

Patrick D'Anzel Shaffer (1975-) as born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Patrick has traveled widely in the United States, Europe, and

Africa, speaking and advocating for human rights, and simultaneously broadening his faith and cultural worldview. Patrick has garnered national recognition from the National Urban League’s Urban Influence magazine, which named him one of their “Most Influential Men in America” in 2009. He was profiled in the July 2009 issue of Essence magazine and featured on the April 2008 cover of Being Single magazine. He has written for the Huffington Post, MSNBC’s TheGrio.com, TheRoot.com and The Washington Post’s On Faith section, and is a regular guest on local and national TV and radio.

A provocative speaker constantly in demand, Patrick was a featured panelist on CNN/The Root’s “Black in America 2” panel focusing on young blacks. In 2010, he was recognized as a leader in “Who’s Who in Black Chicago.”

In 2005, he founded City of Faith Christian Church of Chicago, which was

profiled by Chicago Public Radio as a “Pentecostal Smart Church.” As a testament to the City of Faith’s “out‐of‐the‐box” theological philosophy, the church currently holds its weekly worship services at one of Chicago’s most historic Jewish synagogues, KAM Isaiah Israel. Their presence there is impacting both congregational families in unique and very progressive ways.

Patrick also founded Urban Advantage, a non‐profit organization that provides life coaching and mentoring to help urban youth navigate and escape the lures of the streets.