Conscious
Facilitation Series
Conscious Facilitation is back!
Launched in 2025, Conscious Facilitation is a workshop series facilitated by varun khattar sharma for those seeking to develop a more liberatory facilitation practice.
In 2026, Conscious Facilitation will be held at Fabric Gatherings hosted by Co-Creating Effective & Inclusive Organizations on May 21, June 18, and October 15 from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm at the Whitneyville Cultural Commons in Hamden, Connecticut.
In the May 21 session, you’ll have an opportunity to analyze your approach to facilitation using a leadership compass. Then, we’ll explore the opportunities and challenges associated with each orientation- North (Action), East (Vision), South (Empathy), and West (Analysis). Finally, we’ll discuss how systems of oppression dis-orient us and how we can find our way back to center in order to be more effective as facilitators in navigating common dynamics in groups working towards liberation.
Space is limited, so please register in advance and cancel if you can no longer attend! You are welcome, but not required to attend all three sessions.
Who’s this for? Who do you recommend attend this workshop?
People who regularly facilitate meetings, whether at work, home, or a community project. No previous training or pre-work is required. However, please note that this is not an introduction to foundational facilitation skills.
COVID-19 Safety:
For the health and safety of participants, high-quality masks (i.e. N95 or KN95) are required while attending all Conscious Facilitation sessions. Extra masks will be provided. Please do not attend if you are experiencing any flu or COVID-19 symptoms or if you have had a recent COVID-19 exposure.
About the Facilitator
varun khattar sharma
varun khattar sharma (they/them) is a Punjabi Queer facilitator, teacher, writer, designer, consultant, cultural worker, uncle, and auntie living on occupied land also known as Hartford, Connecticut.
They are the founding director of the People’s Saturday School, a collective of abolitionist educators in the U.S. Northeast, the lead organizer of Cooperate Connecticut, a membership-based network growing our regional solidarity economy, and are a facilitator with Co-Creating Effective & Inclusive Organizations and Beyond Diversity 101. They are also a former high school teacher and youth organizer with a background in the immigrant rights movement.