About Make Ideas Work
We are your strategic partner in unlocking the potential for lasting positive change. Make Ideas Work specializes in collaborating with justice-based organizations, offering a range of human-centered program and project management training, coaching, and capacity building services. With a strong emphasis on equity, we streamline processes, foster collaboration, and empower your team to reach new heights of impact.
Deepening skills and strengthening equity-based work is at the core of what we do. Together, let’s embrace the power of collaboration and innovation to drive meaningful social change. Let’s get started on your journey of growth, impact, and collective achievement.
- Everything DiSC certificate
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace certified
- Diversity Management Certified (DMC)
- edX Unconscious Bias: From Awareness to Action verified certificate
- Project Management certified
- Dispute Resolution certified
Make Ideas Work is an Authorized DiSC Partner and MWBE Certified
Meet Melissa Shillingford
Melissa Shillingford is the visionary founder of Make Ideas Work, a boutique consulting company dedicated to empowering organizations committed to positive social change through human-centered management training and capacity-building services.
With over a decade designing, managing, and facilitating cohort-based programs, Melissa has an acute ability to inspire and elevate teams. Her passion lies in supporting organizations with ambitious goals and helping staff reach their full potential.
As a certified Wiley DiSC Authorized Partner, Melissa deeply understands team dynamics and communication strategies. Her academic background includes a Project Management Certificate from CUNY Baruch, a joint Masters in Human and Community Development and Urban Planning for Social Justice from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and studies in Deviant Behavior and Social Control at CUNY John Jay College, where she also earned a certificate in Dispute Resolution.
Melissa’s dedication to social change, combined with her vast experience and expertise, makes her a powerful ally for organizations looking to make a lasting impact.
Commitment to Anti-Racism and Equity
Make Ideas Work (MIW) is deeply committed to anti-racism and equity in all of the services offered. We strive to create a more just, equitable world by leveraging our core values of inclusion, diversity, and respect for all people.
To achieve this goal, MIW takes an equity-lens approach to people and project management. This means we consider how our work will impact diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds before taking any action. We also strive to create spaces where all voices can be heard, respected, and valued equally. For example, we tailor our trainings specifically to the context of each organization or group we work with so as not to impose a particular perspective or ideal onto them.
In addition to these measures, MIW is working towards creating a more inclusive future by helping justice-based organizations strengthen their existing programs and develop new visions that promote social change.
This commitment extends beyond our services. MIW is constantly advocating for anti-racist policies both internally and externally, ensuring all team members receive anti-racist training through workshops and maintaining an active presence within social networks dedicated to challenging structural inequalities.
The Make Ideas Work team is made up of individuals who identify as BIPOC or LGBTQIA+ and is founded and led by a Black woman. The wage provided to all team members exceeds the national and state living wages.
Clients
Testimonials
I had the profound privilege of meeting Melissa through the Leadership Fellows NY program. Melissa led the session for the program on 'Diagnosing the Organization using a Racial Equity Lens'. Her ability to convey complex subjects with clarity made the session both enlightening and actionable, proving invaluable for anyone aiming to hone their leadership skills. It was after that session that I asked Melissa to be my mentor during my tenure in the program, and I feel extremely fortunate that she accepted. Engaging with Melissa is not just a professional experience; it's a journey of learning, growth, and genuine connection. She seamlessly blends her vast knowledge with warmth and kindness. I wholeheartedly recommend Melissa, any individual or organization would be fortunate to benefit from her expertise and unwavering support.
MIW is a proud member of the Association of Nonprofit Spcialists
