Our Team
Joanne Kinya Baker
MSW, RSW (she/her/elle)
Founder & Consultant
Core Values: Empathy, Compassion, Humility, Service
Joanne Kinya Baker is a registered social worker and educator in the area of governance, equity and community development. Joanne describes herself as a social justice and change advocate and has had a prolific career having worked across refugee camps in Africa on behalf of the United Nations and other organizations. For the past decade she has been affecting social change through her collaboration with local governments in Canada developing strategies that build anti-racist, welcoming and inclusive communities.
Driven by her own experiences with racism as well as her passion for anti-racism work, Joanne founded Shades of Humanity Consulting to further her work in creating spaces where people could learn how to have difficult but life changing conversations, Joanne has delivered numerous engaging keynote addresses, workshops and learning sessions on topics related to equity, diversity and inclusion . She is currently living in Toronto, Canada with her husband.
Carissa Gravelle
BA, SSW (she/her)
Consultant
Core Values: Authenticity, Compassion, Community, Humility
Carissa Gravelle (she/her) is a registered social service worker in community development. She is passionate about anti-racism, diversity, inclusion, young people, under-represented populations, mental health, and wellness. Carissa has worked in the non-profit sector for well over a decade spearheading EDIA initiatives, trainings and developing innovative programs for equity deserving communities.
Carissa’s educational background is in social service work. She completed her diploma from Sheridan College and holds a Bachelors in Equity, Diversity and Human Rights from Laurentian University. Carissa is passionate about advancing health equity for marginalized populations and believes in the importance of educating through story-telling and intentional meaningful community conversations to change perceptions and inspire social change.
Anda Fabrig
BA, BEd (she/her/siya)
Consultant & Project Manager
Core Values: Compassion, Community, Humility, Justice
Anda Fabrig (She/Siya) is queer Filipina educator in Mo'kinsis (Calgary, Alberta). She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a Bachelor of Education specializing in inclusive education from the University of Calgary. Anda has dedicated her life and practice to anti-oppressive education within school systems, community, and with her various clients as she moved into adult education and consulting. Anda has worked with organizations and nonprofits focusing on foundational 2SLGBTQIA+ awareness, anti-racism, and strategy planning. Through Shades of Humanity, Anda has been able to combine her unique positionality and education to help others become compassionate and empathetic individuals. Her role currently goes beyond consulting and strategic planning, and incorporates project management and proposal writing.
Nesreen Ali
BA, BEd (she/her)
Policy Advisor & Analyst
Core Values: Justice, Equity, Respect, Creativity
Nesreen is a facilitation geek, a policy nerd and social innovator. She has 10 years of experience advancing the well being of equity-seeking groups across Canada. Nesreen’s experience in public engagement developed in working with Government organizations at the Municipal and Provincial level.
Nesreen holds a Masters in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Political Science and she has been advancing public policy for equity-seeking groups across Canada since. She has lead EDI efforts that include a focus on gender equity, LGBTQ2S+, anti-racism, homelessness and anti- oppression. Nesreen brings lived experience as the child of immigrants. She identifies as Moroccan, Berber and Iraqi and describes herself as Able Bodied and Neurotypical. Nesreen is currently located in the unceded territories of the Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh.
Sana Khaliq
(she/her)
Administrative Coordinator & Consultant
Core Values: Community, Authenticity, Transparency, Compassion.
Sana (she/her) is a plurality of many things – a researcher, settler, first generation Pakistani, lifelong student, advocate, and so much more. Her work is rooted in a commitment to co-creation, intersectionality, decolonization, systems-change, and inclusive design. With almost a decade of experience, she uses her multi-industry background and interdisciplinary perspective to connect social justice, research, community engagement, and marketing/communication ultimately envisioning a future that is equitable, inclusive, accessible, and sustainable across industries and mediums.
Nicole Owen
CPCC, PCC (she/her)
Administrative Coordinator & Consultant
Core Values: Connection, Authenticity, Justice, Compassion
Nicole Owen brings a combination of skills to the Shades of Humanity Consulting Team. She has over 25 years experience in a varied range of administrative roles across a vast array of industries, from education to oil & gas.
Nicole’s true passion lies in working with individuals to live authentic and courageous lives. She also has over 10 years experience as a Professional Certified Coach and facilitator and is also a Certified Daring Way Facilitator. In 2019 Nicole launched her curriculum, The Performer’s Advantage, designed to help performing artists navigate the emotional and mental challenges that come with being a performer.
Julia Sitter
BA (they/them)
Practicum Student
Core Values: Collaboration, Justice, Connection
Julia is in the Master of Social Work program at the University of Calgary, focusing on non-pathologizing and anti-oppressive practices.
They have experience leading 2SLGBTQIA+ programs and EDI initiatives, as well as collaborating to review and write organizational policies through an inclusive and accessibility-focused lens.
Associate Consultants
Tim Fox
(he/him)
Partner Consultant
Tim Fox is a proud member of the Blackfoot confederacy from the Blood (Kainai) reserve and current Vice President of Indigenous Relations with the Calgary Foundation. Tim’s primary focus is working closely with staff to help them develop a deeper understanding of how to strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities in a way that is healing rather than prescriptive. As well, Tim works toward facilitating a change process that will impact the internal culture, while incorporating work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission both internally and in the broader community, and does this work as an associate of Shades of Humanity Consulting.
Michelle Robinson Red Thunder Woman
(she/they)
Partner Consultant
Core Values: Justice, Equity, Respect, Creativity
Michelle is a Sahtu Dene ((sa-too-Den-eh)) mother. They are a facilitator for Mending Broken Hearts: Healing Unresolved Grief through the White Bison, Wellbriety Training Institute. Michelle runs the an open to the public Indigenous book club, Chapters and Chat, celebrating eight years this J u n e of 2024. Michelle is heavily involved with community as a co-chair of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls & Two Spirit Calgary committee; co-founder of VOICES, a group advocating for the Two Spirit, and queer people of colour in Calgary; Operations Chair for the Indigenous Peoples' Commission for Canada; Cofounder of Sovereign Spirits, an Indigenous non profit for Two Spirit, Indigiqueer and LGBTQ2IA+. She was also the former Assistant Producer for Calgary Animated Objects Society (CAOS) to encourage youth to go to post secondary through opening a RESP, and encouraging folks with low income to utilize the Canada Learning Bond and was the 1st First Nation to run for city council of Calgary and ran as the candidate for the Alberta Liberal Party for Calgary East April 16, 2019. Michelle is a proud mom, and volunteers in her child’s activities. Michelle also has a podcast called Native Calgarian in it's 5th year.