Important Updates to Our CSS Facilitator Program

Introducing Certification Levels & Yearly Renewal Practices

We are excited to share some significant updates to our Cultivating Safe Spaces (CSS) Facilitator Program! As part of our continued commitment to cultivating safe and inclusive environments, we are enhancing the structure of our facilitator program to ensure facilitators are fully equipped and supported on their journey.?

Here’s what’s changing:

Introducing Levels of Certification:

Level 1: Certified CSS Facilitator

• This level certifies facilitators to deliver our Introduction to Cultivating Safe Spaces training. Upon completion, Level 1 Facilitators will have their bookings managed by our team at Naqsmist to ensure the best fit for their skills and the readiness to facilitate. This helps maintain quality and consistency across all CSS workshops, ensuring facilitators are well-prepared and aligned with the needs of the audience.

Level 2: Advanced CSS Facilitator

• For those looking to deepen their expertise, Level 2 certification offers the opportunity to independently manage bookings and work directly with clients. These facilitators are confident in managing relationships with organizations, leading complex group dynamics, and facilitating discussions around difficult or challenging topics. Level 2 facilitators have demonstrated a higher level of expertise and comfort in delivering CSS content to diverse groups, including those with unique needs or conflict challenges.

Yearly Renewal Practices for Facilitators:

To ensure all facilitators continue to grow, remain accountable, and apply the CSS Framework meaningfully in both their personal and professional lives, we are introducing Yearly Renewal Practices for all certified CSS Facilitators.

This renewal process provides an opportunity for facilitators to:

• Self-evaluate their progress and effectiveness in applying the CSS Framework.
• Engage in peer learning and reflection, allowing facilitators to learn from one another’s experiences and approaches.
• Maintain "good standing" on the Cultivating Safe Spaces website, where facilitators open to new bookings will be listed with their biographies and photos.

Renewal will be mandatory for facilitators to remain active and listed on our Cultivating Safe Spaces website. Facilitators who complete the renewal process will continue to enjoy the benefits of certification and visibility for potential bookings. This practice ensures facilitators remain aligned with the CSS mission and continue to foster safe, inclusive, and trauma-informed spaces in the communities they serve.

Visibility On Our Website

As part of this new structure, the names and locations (province/state) of all certified CSS Facilitators will be displayed on our website. Facilitators open for bookings will have photos and biographies listed, allowing organizations and individuals to learn more about them before scheduling sessions. This new feature increases the accessibility of our facilitator network and helps ensure the right match between facilitators and clients.

When Will These Changes Take Effect?

The changes to our certification structure and yearly renewal process will roll out alongside our upcoming Revised Level 1 Cultivating Safe Spaces Train the Trainer Program, beginning this October. This means new facilitators will be certified under this updated model, and existing facilitators will soon have the opportunity to engage in the renewal process.

Have Questions? If you have any questions about these changes or would like to learn more about how they affect your certification, feel free to reach out to our team at [email protected].?For general questions, you can also visit the FAQ section on the Train the Trainer webpage on our CSS website.

We are excited for this next chapter in the Cultivating Safe Spaces journey and look forward to continuing our important work with facilitators like you!

Warm regards,

The Naqsmist Storytellers Team

Join us in Ottawa to explore how the CSS Framework can strengthen your leadership and cultivate workplaces that are inclusive, resilient, and adaptable. Experience the transformative impact of safe spaces in action, and gain the insights needed to make informed decisions that will drive your organization’s future success.

Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to create environments that prioritize emotional and psychological safety through the Cultivating Safe Spaces (CSS) framework. They will explore core principles such as inclusivity, respect, and empowerment while engaging in practical exercises and interactive discussions to deepen their understanding. Attendees will also acquire actionable strategies to implement CSS principles within their organizations, fostering a culture that values diverse perspectives and open communication. Additionally, the event will challenge traditional notions of professionalism, promoting well-being and connection as essential components of effective leadership and organizational success.

For more information and registration, please click here.

Blog Post: How CSS Brings Us Back to What We Already Know

As we prepare to release the newest version of our Intro to Cultivating Safe Spaces course later this month, there’s been a need to reflect internally on our offerings over the last year. The need to innovate our courses has been at odds with our uncertainty around changing too fast and too often. We have had to repeatedly ask ourselves how to adapt, grow, and improve without leaving our clients, and ourselves, out of the narrative.?

Early this year, we moved our online courses to a new, more user friendly and collaborative platform. At this time, the Intro to CSS course was uploaded as a placeholder while we converged on a curriculum development process. While this course remains the same in content, the quality and consistency of the course was not in alignment with how we wished to present CSS to the world. In April, we pivoted our projects team into a curriculum development team, and research and engagement commenced to create a more intensive, well-rounded collection of content, beginning with the intro course. We conducted a process of review and feedback with our internal team. We conducted surveys and review periods, and met often to discuss content, graphics and logistics.

But that’s when things got messy and uncomfortable...

Read the rest of the blog post here