What folx are saying

 
With service, kindness and commitment as her tools, Mia Raquel is indeed the right person to make anything impossible, possible. When Mia and I's path's crossed in the fall of 2019, neither one of us could imagine the turn 2020 would take but even more so I had no idea how influential she would become to me. Through our time together and friendship, Mia became a model for empathy, authenticity and courage. Mia is an adept and agile problem solver. Tackling whatever comes her way with keen attention to detail and an intention to make systems, efforts and communications as sustainable as possible, Mia is simply whip smart. Additionally when it comes to decision making, she has the innate ability to see a problem from many different perspectives, noting how the implications of solutions may impact the disabled community, bilingual people and other marginalized folks. Mia values service. People, their lives and their stories matter to her and she works to honor them. I've witnessed her unfailing graciousness and commitment in the field. She is a warm and proactive guide, ready to offer an encouraging word or roll up her sleeves. None of this could be achieved without her personable attitude and worldly background and interests. This shining quality allows Mia to make a friend just about anywhere! As a friend and colleague Mia brings her whole self to the space and encourages others to follow suit. It is said that a true friend is someone who asks how you are and then waits to hear the answer, Mia embodies this quote totally. Superficial or transactional relationships are not the way for Mia, she approaches her life, her work and those in her sphere with care, interest and passion. Whether it is a project or dish, for Mia- if it can't be done right then there is no reason for it to be done at all. I'm incredibly lucky and grateful to have travelled and learned from Mia. She taught me to be fearless, to advocate for myself and my needs. She demonstrated consistency and commitment to self and goals even in the face of challenge. The way she relates to the world showed me that curiosity is a practice and everyday we must to choose to learn a little more. Through the warmth she extended towards me, I was reminded that patient and presence are truly the easiest and most impactful gifts to give. The community that Mia finds next will undoubtedly be enriched and enlivened by her presence. Mia is a true delight to be around and a dynamite a team member!

With service, kindness and commitment as their tools, M.R. Raquel is indeed the right person to make anything impossible, possible. When M.R. and I's path's crossed in the fall of 2019, neither one of us could imagine the turn 2020 would take but even more so I had no idea how influential she would become to me. Through our time together and friendship, M.R. became a model for empathy, authenticity and courage.

As a friend and colleague M.R. brings their whole self to the space and encourages others to follow suit. It is said that a true friend is someone who asks how you are and then waits to hear the answer, M.R. embodies this quote totally. Superficial or transactional relationships are not the way for M.R., they approach their life, their work and those in their sphere with care, interest and passion. Whether it is a project or dish, for M.R.- if it can't be done right then there is no reason for it to be done at all.

I'm incredibly lucky and grateful to have travelled and learned from M.R. They taught me to be fearless, to advocate for myself and my needs. They demonstrated consistency and commitment to self and goals even in the face of challenge. The way they relate to the world showed me that curiosity is a practice and everyday we must to choose to learn a little more. Through the warmth they extended towards me, I was reminded that patient and presence are truly the easiest and most impactful gifts to give.

The community that M.R. finds next will undoubtedly be enriched and enlivened by their presence. M.R. is a true delight to be around and a dynamite a team member!

Courtney Gilbert

StoryCorps: Field Co-Producer

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"Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you."- Misty Copeland

M.R. values service. People, their lives and their stories matter to her and they work to honor them. I've witnessed their unfailing graciousness and commitment in the field. They are a warm and proactive guide, ready to offer an encouraging word or roll up their sleeves. None of this could be achieved without their personable attitude and worldly background and interests. This shining quality allows M.R. to make a friend just about anywhere!

M.R. is an adept and agile problem solver. Tackling whatever comes their way with keen attention to detail and an intention to make systems, efforts and communications as sustainable as possible, M.R. is simply whip smart. Additionally when it comes to decision making, they have the innate ability to see a problem from many different perspectives, noting how the implications of solutions may impact the disabled community, bilingual people and other marginalized folks.

 
 
Mia is a facilitator who sets the standards high for others. She is very empathetic and her desire to hold space for others is apparent in the way that she shows everyone, strangers and friends alike, compassion and kindness. I always knew I could reach out to Mia to decompress after a long day and appreciated her willingness to answer questions about the archival process. She brought so much light to our weekly meetings and even shared her secret chocolate chip recipe that she was able to master after a series of trial and error. I highly recommend Mia without any reservations as she is an exceptional person and I feel that she will be a strong addition to any team. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me. Sincerely, Eunice Cho

I had the pleasure of working with M.R. at StoryCorps as their supervisor and as a fellow facilitator. Because of the 2020 pandemic, the Mobile Team had to take everything to a virtual platform and I found myself reaching out to M.R. to learn more about StoryCorps as an organization and also to ask about the responsibilities of a facilitator.

M.R. is a facilitator who sets the standards high for others. They are very empathetic and their desire to hold space for others is apparent in the way that they show everyone, strangers and friends alike, compassion and kindness.

I always knew I could reach out to M.R. to decompress after a long day and appreciated their willingness to answer questions about the archival process. They brought so much light to our weekly meetings and even shared their secret chocolate chip recipe that they were able to master after a series of trial and error.

I highly recommend M.R. without any reservations as they are an exceptional person and I feel that they will be a strong addition to any team. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely, Eunice Cho

Eunice Cho

StoryCorps: Mobile Tour Site Manager

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M.R. is a born leader and a remarkable person who exemplifies StoryCorps’ mission of building connections between people to create a more just and compassionate world.

I was impressed by their warm energy and willingness to step in to train others and the way in which they made people feel welcome.

As a StoryCorps bilingual facilitator, M.R. has demonstrated their leadership abilities by adapting to new situations, finding innovative solutions, overcoming challenges, being a strong support system for fellow facilitators and getting along with different personalities. They are reliable, intelligent, hardworking and dedicated and are appreciated by their Mobile Team as well as the participants and partners they encounter.

During her tenure with us, she also became a skilled producer, honing her editing skills and developing a keen ear for story. So much so that when her contract with the Mobile Tour ended I hired her as a Freelance Producer to edit content for one of our station partners. I would not hesitate to do so again if the need arises. Mia is easy to collaborate with and supervise. She's an excellent communicator and would be a valued asset in any project.

During their tenure with us, they also became a skilled producer, honing their editing skills and developing a keen ear for story. So much so that when their contract with the Mobile Tour ended I hired them as a Freelance Producer to edit content for one of our station partners. I would not hesitate to do so again if the need arises. M.R. is easy to collaborate with and supervise. They’re an excellent communicator and would be a valued asset in any project.

Danielle Andersen

StoryCorps: Associate Director, Mobile Tour

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M.R. was a valued member of the StoryCorps Mobile Team for over a year. During that time, they traveled to communities around the country guiding and recording conversations and representing StoryCorps at public events. As a Bilingual Facilitator they also helped us outreach to Spanish speakers and organizations serving Latinx communities. When we were forced to pull the team off the road and adapt all our recording and archiving operations to the virtual space, their experience and input were crucial. During that difficult time, when the job they signed up for became something quite different, they consistently maintained a positive attitude and helped us revamp the "virtual recording booth" and train incoming Facilitators. Their warmth and innate ability to set people at ease made them an excellent Facilitator both in-person and online.

What folx are saying

 
M.R. is also an excellent manager because they know how to support folx to encourage the best to shine out of everyone. During virtual calls with talent I watched M.R. ask questions to build collaborative dynamics and trust. I saw them take note of the nuances of conversation with talent and explain the podcast in accessible terms while knowing how to get people excited about participating. In those conversations, M.R. always made sure the storytellers needs were prioritized, and it was clear that M.R. was committed to caring for the storytellers and making them feel comfortable in the interview process. It was great to watch because I could see how much they cared about the people I was finding and how much they wanted the project to be successful. I would highly recommend M.R. as a managing producer for any project and for any team!

M.R. is also an excellent manager because they know how to support folx to encourage the best to shine out of everyone. During virtual calls with talent I watched M.R. ask questions to build collaborative dynamics and trust. I saw them take note of the nuances of conversation with talent and explain the podcast in accessible terms while knowing how to get people excited about participating. In those conversations, M.R. always made sure the storytellers needs were prioritized, and it was clear that M.R. was committed to caring for the storytellers and making them feel comfortable in the interview process. It was great to watch because I could see how much they cared about the people I was finding and how much they wanted the project to be successful. I would highly recommend M.R. as a managing producer for any project and for any team!

Gracie Goodman

Casting Director

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M.R. is a brilliant storyteller and producer with an innate talent for connecting with people. Their ability to make complex ideas accessible, natural communication skills, and deftness in adapting to change make them an amazing leader and manager. As a casting consultant brought on to the Essential Voices Podcast with Wilmer Valderrama, M.R. was my direct supervisor and I immediately noticed all the ways M.R. made it easy for me to be successful. We connected right away and they explained the priorities for the podcast, the timeline for finding talent, and the workflow they envisioned for us. M.R. empowered me and deferred to my expertise when we were locating talent.

 
 
 
I had the pleasure of working with Mia at StoryCorps as her supervisor and as a fellow facilitator. Because of the 2020 pandemic, the Mobile Team had to take everything to a virtual platform and I found myself reaching out to Mia to learn more about…

I had the pleasure of working with Mia at StoryCorps as her supervisor and as a fellow facilitator. Because of the 2020 pandemic, the Mobile Team had to take everything to a virtual platform and I found myself reaching out to Mia to learn more about StoryCorps as an organization and also to ask about the responsibilities of a facilitator.

Mia is a facilitator who sets the standards high for others. She is very empathetic and her desire to hold space for others is apparent in the way that she shows everyone, strangers and friends alike, compassion and kindness.

I always knew I could reach out to Mia to decompress after a long day and appreciated her willingness to answer questions about the archival process. She brought so much light to our weekly meetings and even shared her secret chocolate chip recipe that she was able to master after a series of trial and error.

I highly recommend Mia without any reservations as she is an exceptional person and I feel that she will be a strong addition to any team. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely, Eunice Cho

Nico Cadena

StoryCorps: Manager, Mobile Tour Community Partnerships

For the past year I've had the privilege of supervising M.R. Raquel during their tenure as a Mobile Facilitator with StoryCorps. Their dedication to every facet of the job has been palpable. To the outreach team they’ve been an invaluable asset, helping coordinate complex partnerships and bringing a unique perspective to the table. M.R. has additionally developed a keen sense for narrative and storytelling as they have taken on the role of an interviewer and editor for several audio recordings. M.R. is an excellent communicator, with a sharp attention to detail. They have been a joy to work with, and I recommend them without hesitation.

 
During her tenure with us, she also became a skilled producer, honing her editing skills and developing a keen ear for story. So much so that when her contract with the Mobile Tour ended I hired her as a Freelance Producer to edit content for one of…

During her tenure with us, she also became a skilled producer, honing her editing skills and developing a keen ear for story. So much so that when her contract with the Mobile Tour ended I hired her as a Freelance Producer to edit content for one of our station partners. I would not hesitate to do so again if the need arises. Mia is easy to collaborate with and supervise. She's an excellent communicator and would be a valued asset in any project.

Star Herr-Cardillo

Temple University: Ongoing Revolution Coordinator

M.R. stepped in to help arrange, facilitate, and transcribe a recorded interview in Spanish that dealt with sensitive emotional material for a grant-funded project I am managing through Temple Contemporary. Not only was M.R. a pleasure to work with, but they did an amazing job connecting with the interviewee and making the process feel comfortable for all involved. We appreciated their skill as an interviewer and storyteller, as well as their prompt and thoughtful communication. It really made a stressful moment in the project feel manageable and under control!