Saffiya Shillo has over 20 years of experience as a cross-cultural consultant and diversity trainer.  Her courses have significantly improved the cultural competence and respect for individual differences in the many organizations she has served.

Saffiya speaks fluent Arabic and English and facilitates training sessions in both languages.  Her expertise in Arab-Muslim cultures has been sought by numerous social service, governmental, medical, and educational institutions. Most recently, she provided more than 50 sessions on the prevention of sexual harassment in Arab communities to police officers and city employees in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Saffiya’s training is in social work and counselling. Prior to working with Diversity Training & Consulting, Inc, she provided immigrants with trauma-informed crisis counselling and advocacy.  She also facilitated hundreds of seminars on cross cultural communication, anti-bullying, and the prevention of domestic and workplace violence.

Saffiya’s background also includes working for 5 years as the Director of Ethnic Affairs for the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois.  There she coordinated community outreach projects and developed state policy to support ethnic communities.

Saffiya is regularly consulted by news organizations for her expertise on Muslim-Arab affairs.  Her perspectives have been featured on Channel 7, Chicago Tribune, and Chicago Reader. Saffya also regularly testifies in local, county, and Illinois court on immigrant issues, and post 9-11 testified in U.S. federal court on the state of government relations with Arab communities.

In her spare time, Saffiya pursues her interest in science and technology related to environmental issues and supports animal welfare organizations.

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