Funders for LGBTQ Issues is proud to introduce Hala (she/they), our new Communications and Storytelling Officer

We asked Hala some questions to get to know her better.

What do you do at Funders and what strengths do you bring to your work?

As the Communications and Storytelling Officer, I am responsible for managing the communications channels at Funders and showing the impact of the work our members’ support can create while amplifying the mobilization of our partners on the ground in the different states. I will be bringing more visual and narrative storytelling to our digital channels from the different initiatives and Funders programs. As a graphic designer, illustrator, and a digital strategist, I aim to bring my previous experience to speak to our members, partners, and collaborators. As a person in communications, I want to invite colleagues and external collaborators to reach out and connect with new ideas. Our LGBTIQ+ communities are looking for support and ways to tell their stories to inspire and impact others and I will help with that.

Who has inspired your career path most in your life?

I’ve encountered many inspiring people in my life and throughout my career path who inspired me: colleagues, managers, clients, creatives, and friends. I wouldn’t pick a person but the sum of interactions, random observations, and lessons from being around all these people led me to make decisions and learn skills.
I’ve encountered resilient activists who dedicated their days to fighting for rights, engineers spending their nights in a hackerspace building and collaborating with designers on passion projects, and community organizers bringing all their passion to every fundraiser.
Being around the energy of creation, resilience, and mobilization, and knowing that you don’t have to pick a path inspired me in my career path and allowed me to take many leaps.

If you could have any one superpower, which would you choose?

I would choose teleporting but Dr. Who’s style. I would want to take a travel companion with me across time and space without worrying about logistics borders or paperwork. The politics of borders is scary and as a Lebanese citizen with one of the weakest passports, I would want to have the freedom of movement. Also who wouldn’t want to travel across the world to see family and friends on a whim? Or from New York to Japan in less than minutes… now I’m sad I don’t have that superpower.