What folks 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, Nico Raquel is indeed the right person to make anything impossible, possible. When Nico 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 he would become to me. Through our time together and friendship, Nico became a model for empathy, authenticity and courage.

As a friend and colleague Nico brings his 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, Nico embodies this quote totally. Superficial or transactional relationships are not the way for Nico. He approaches his life, work and those in his sphere with care, interest and passion. Whether it is a project or dish, for Nico- 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 Nico. He taught me to be fearless, to advocate for myself and my needs. He demonstrated consistency and commitment to self and goals even in the face of challenge. The way he 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 he extended towards me, I was reminded that patient and presence are truly the easiest and most impactful gifts to give.

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

Courtney Gilbert

StoryCorps: Field Co-Producer

Read more… Hover over image.

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

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

Nico is an adept and agile problem solver. Tackling whatever comes his way with keen attention to detail and an intention to make systems, efforts and communications as sustainable as possible, Nico is simply whip smart. Additionally when it comes to decision making, he 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 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 Nico 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 Nico to learn more about StoryCorps as an organization and also to ask about the responsibilities of a facilitator.

Nico is a facilitator who sets the standards high for others. He is very empathetic and his desire to hold space for others is apparent in the way that he shows everyone, strangers and friends alike, compassion and kindness.

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

I highly recommend Nico without any reservations as he is an exceptional person and I feel that he 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

Read more… Hover over image.

Nico 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 his 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, Nico has demonstrated his 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. He is 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 his tenure with us, he also became a skilled producer, honing his editing skills and developing a keen ear for story. So much so that when his contract with the Mobile Tour ended I hired him 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. Nico is easy to collaborate with and supervise. He is an excellent communicator and would be a valued asset in any project.

Danielle Andersen

StoryCorps: Associate Director, Mobile Tour

Read more… Hover over image.

Nico was a valued member of the StoryCorps Mobile Team for over a year. During that time, he traveled to communities around the country guiding and recording conversations and representing StoryCorps at public events. As a Bilingual Facilitator he 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, his experience and input were crucial. During that difficult time, when the job he signed up for became something quite different, he consistently maintained a positive attitude and helped us revamp the "virtual recording booth" and train incoming Facilitators. His warmth and innate ability to set people at ease made them an excellent Facilitator both in-person and online.

What folks 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!

Nico s also an excellent manager because he knows how to support folks to encourage the best to shine out of everyone. During virtual calls with talent I watched Nico ask questions to build collaborative dynamics and trust. I saw him 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, Nico always made sure the storytellers needs were prioritized, and it was clear that Nico 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 he cared about the people I was finding and how much they wanted the project to be successful. I would highly recommend Nico as a managing producer for any project and for any team!

Gracie Goodman

Casting Director

Read more… Hover over image.

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

 
 
 

Nico Cadena

StoryCorps: Manager, Mobile Tour Community Partnerships

I had the privilege of supervising Nico Raquel during his tenure as a Mobile Facilitator with StoryCorps. His dedication to every facet of the job has been palpable. To the outreach team he’s been an invaluable asset, helping coordinate complex partnerships and bringing a unique perspective to the table. Nico has additionally developed a keen sense for narrative and storytelling as he has taken on the role of an interviewer and editor for several audio recordings. Nico is an excellent communicator, with a sharp attention to detail. He has been a joy to work with, and I recommend him without hesitation.

 

Star Herr-Cardillo

Temple University: Ongoing Revolution Coordinator

Nico 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 Nico a pleasure to work with, but he did an amazing job connecting with the interviewee and making the process feel comfortable for all involved. We appreciated his skill as an interviewer and storyteller, as well as his prompt and thoughtful communication. It really made a stressful moment in the project feel manageable and under control!