Facilitation, Consultation, & Transformation
I'm a facilitator who supports groups - ranging from the grassroots to non-profits and beyond - to increase their capacity to collaborate in ways that are equitable, safer, emergent, diverse, inclusive, and more dynamic.
To all my projects, I bring my facilitation training and approach, rooted in direct education; my skills, developed through many years of practice; my lived experience; my commitment to transformative justice; and my creative abilities.
Facilitation
For when your group needs an outside facilitator to structure and hold a conversation or process with increased safety, care, and attention to anti-oppression.
Workshops
Topics including facilitation, team dynamics, communication, mentorship and education, racial justice, gender justice, community-engaged arts, and more. Anti-oppression is the foundation of all workshops, and each workshop is tailored to the given group, whether they be your collective, staff, board, program participants, or others.
Consultation
Consultation on topics including program development, education and mentorship, anti-oppressive practice, community engagement, board and staff training, and more.
Transformation
Longer-term work with individuals and organizations using a mix of coaching, training, and consultation to support dynamic transformation.
Groups I have worked in these capacities with include:
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
Downstage Theatre Company
Hamilton Fringe Festival
Howland Company Theatre
Jumblies Theatre & Offshoots
Professional Association of Canadian Theatres
Rapid Fire Theatre
Soulpepper Theatre
Swallow-A-Bicycle Theatre
Theatre Alberta
Thousand Islands Playhouse
Toronto Fringe Festival
Atlantic Council for International Cooperation
Canadian Roots Exchange
Chimo Youth Retreat
nForm User Consulting
TMU, Human Rights Services
TMU, Department of Performance
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Toronto
Toronto Neighbourhood Centres
University of Victoria Faculty of Law
Testimonials
“In addition to this being one of the most thoughtful and comprehensive workshops in which I have participated, I was most moved by the way in which it founded new relationships between staff as well as really bolstered existing relationships.” - Tanya De Mello, Toronto Metropolitan University
“Nikki offers an embodied, compassionate, and nuanced series of workshops, catered to the specifics of your group. She invests the work with deep care and the participants emerge changed. Offering a combination of facilitated discussions, prompts to instigate inner work, and practical take-home tools, she is one of the most skilled instructors I have ever encountered. Highly recommended.”
- Claire Calnan, Hamilton Fringe Festival
“[Nikki’s] approaches to working and facilitating, including in digital formats, are extremely accessible and provide an opportunity for participants to self-reflect and share in safe and productive environments. Having witnessed Nikki lead workshops for educators, artists, and administrators is a testament to her ability to make content and activities that are applicable to folx from many diverse backgrounds. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Nikki in the future.” - Jake Tkaczyk, Theatre Alberta
“Nikki’s facilitation work with Downstage is filled with insight, care and clarity. Her ability to assess what is needed throughout an extended period of creating our Guiding Principles has allowed us to write a living document that is nuanced and responsive while it also identifies clear goals and processes. We are eager to continue working with Nikki as our company evolves. She such an inspiring facilitator who models a deeply embodied approach to every interaction.” - Clare Preuss, Artistic Director, Downstage Theatre
"Nikki Shaffeeullah carefully and creatively nurtures the process, the questions, the reflection and the actions, thus bringing to her facilitation a rich space where one can realize themselves. Her charming and mindful work breaks barriers of age, culture, gender and genres; she is a gift to process."
- Sahana Parameswara, Chimo Youth Retreat
“Nikki’s facilitation leads to real learning. She is thoughtful, engaging, and authentic in her approach, she deeply listens to the group she is working with, and creates opportunities for participants to practice putting ideas into action. I cannot recommend her more highly.” - Sophia Fabiilli, Thousand Islands Playhouse
“Nikki is the best facilitator I've ever encountered. When I've had the privilege of being in a space she's created, I've come out with invaluable knowledge, resources, and a full heart. While coaching our organization through a restructuring process, she transformed this daunting task to something very tangible and provided us with tools that were tailored to our needs. Nikki creates spaces mindfully, where each person feels affirmed by her, and what a gift it is to anyone who gets to witness the creativity she brings to facilitation.” - Mpoe Mogale, Swallow-A-Bicycle Theatre
“As we worked to navigate the complex, sensitive and fraught territory of equity, diversity and inclusion, Nikki was a thoughtful and caring guide. She pushed us past our superficial assumptions and helped us dig into the deeper sources of inequity, while remaining deeply attentive to the multiple identities, experiences and needs in the room. Nikki is a badass, experienced and knowledgeable leader in the journey to a more inclusive arts community and society, and we’re grateful to have her as an ally and teacher!” - Mark Hopkins, Swallow-A-Bicycle Theatre