Not sure how to say this
Adiat Junaid
Dear Ecumenical Communicators:
Despite a being somewhat of a wordsmith who has worked in the communications industry for longer than I care to admit, sometimes words fail me. For several weeks now I’ve struggled to find the right words to share some personal news with you and others with whom I’ve been working for the last decade.
What I’ve learned is there just isn’t any easy way to say this. So today I’ve decided to use the Band-Aid approach: As of Friday, October 4th my colleagues Jim Davis, Julie Graham and I will no longer be employees of KAIROS.
Some of you have already received this information, but I’m learning that for others this may be news.
Even though we don’t get to see each other often, I really value the collaborative community of this group and have enjoyed the opportunity for networking and professional development that we have shared when we’ve been able to meet in person. When I think of you fine people and the amazing work that you do everyday it’s been even harder than usual for me to say goodbye.
Since most of you are employed by churches or church related organizations, many of which are KAIROS members, you’re likely well aware of the financial challenges facing the churches over the last few years. Many of us have lost valued colleagues or are working with fewer resources as the churches respond to these challenges. KAIROS has not been immune to this crisis.
Julie Graham, who was one of the founding members of the ecumenical communicator’s group, Jim Davis and I are leaving KAIROS as part of a Voluntary Exit program designed to reduce the KAIROS staff team as the organization goes through its latest round of restructuring. In case you missed it, here’s the announcement sent out last month about the Board’s decision: http://www.kairoscanada.org/home-page-feature-1/update-from-kairos/
On September 8th I marked my ten year anniversary at KAIROS. Thank you very much for the community and solidarity this network has offered through the years.
Although saying goodbye and the process of winding up isn’t easy, I am excited to explore and embrace new adventures in future. I’m not sure how it will all unfold, but I intend to continue working in the multimedia communications field in a variety of ways including writing, media coaching and voiceover narration. But, first, I’m hoping to get some sleep after having burned the candle at both ends for far too long!
Here’s wishing you all the very best as your work as ecumenical communicators during challenging times. I’m hoping that we’ll be able to keep in touch and continue to share information and ideas about media and communications.
Peace and Blessings,
Adiat
Communications Program Coordinator
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
@MediaKAIROS
Benson, Daniel
Adiat. Thank you for sharing what is extremely difficult news – both for you personally and also the wider community. We too have undergone restructuring and downsizing, and have lost 13 colleagues in Communications this last year. We’re very much all in this together in seeing the shrinking of our teams and resources.
I’m really saddened to hear about you, Julie, and Jim all leaving, and hope that our paths will cross again, sooner, than later.
Blessings on the journey.
Dan.
Daniel Benson
Executive Minister Communications
United Church of Canada
3250 Bloor St. W. Ste. 300
Toronto, ON M8X 2Y4
Fax: 416-231-3103
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Adiat Junaid
Thanks very much, Dan. I really appreciate your kind words.
I am shocked at the news that you lost 13 colleagues in Communications in the last year! I had no idea that you had taken such a hard hit.
Excellent communications are more crucial than ever during times of transition, financial hardship and technological upheaval, yet communications teams are often the hardest hit when cuts need to be made and too often the most marginalized in organizations even at the best of times. This is why networks such as the Ecumenical Communicators are so important.
Blessings to you all as you make do with reduced capacity and resources. Perhaps at some point there will be opportunities for us to brainstorm best practices for meeting this challenge.
Indeed, I very much hope that we’ll all cross paths again sooner rather than later.
All the best,
Adiat
PS: Apologies for the typo in my previous message and for any here. Did I mention being sleep deprived?
Adiat Junaid
Communications Program Coordinator
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
@MediaKAIROS