Being a very social person, Nia Maya James loves going out, making connections, and meeting new people. Her interest in learning more about her fellow human beings is also what drew her to SNOW. Years before she joined the team, Nia Maya lost her father, and she often wished she could have heard about his journey in his own words. That idea stayed with her. When she learned there was a role where she could listen to people living with serious health conditions and help them feel seen, she knew she had found the place she was meant to be.
As a Senior Advocacy and Recruitment Specialist, Nia Maya’s work begins long before a patient or caregiver ever steps onto a set or enters a training room. It starts with connection. “The moment I realize a patient just needs to be heard, I slow everything down,” she says. “I give them space. The joy in their voice when they say, ‘You want to hear about me and my journey?!’ makes everything worth it.”
A Moment That Stays With Her
One project in particular changed how Nia Maya saw the impact of her work. She had been helping a mother and daughter participate in a national campaign. The daughter lived with severe eczema across her entire body. It affected her confidence, her comfort, and her daily life at school. Her mother, an elementary school principal, was juggling a demanding job and caregiving. On top of that, the mother volunteered her time to support families affected by a tragedy that occurred at that school several years prior. And graduation season was coming up.
The national campaign was demanding and complex and put a high burden on the patient and caregiver duo. Nia Maya wanted to make sure mother and daughter didn’t lose this opportunity, so she advocated for them and bought time when the process threatened to move forward without them. Nia Maya also helped them secure a passport to travel to the shoot location.
The same level of commitment came from the patient and caregiver: Even though the video shoot was going to take place during the school’s graduation, the mother felt it was more important to show up for her daughter on this occasion. They all stayed steady and committed and saw the project through.
Months later, during a holiday break, Nia Maya turned on the TV—and there they were. “I started crying,” she says. “This is it. This is what this job is about. Seeing it come full circle, I fully understood my role. From that first phone call to seeing them shine on my television screen… it’s priceless.”
Why She Shows Up Every Day
The work is emotional. Nia Maya has laughed with patients until her sides hurt. She has cried with them, too. She has stepped away from her desk to process the loss of someone she once spoke to every week. “This job can be hard at times,” she says, “but it’s always worth it.”
Her advice to new SNOW team members is simple and unforgettable:
“Stay connected to the patients. Be in their moment, not yours.”
She reminds all of us that the work only exists because people choose to trust us with their stories. “If they need to cry, let them. If they tell a joke, laugh. If they say they need a second because it is hard, give them their space. Don’t rush them. Let them share in their time.”
Life Beyond SNOW
Most people are surprised to learn that Nia Maya lives with a learning disability. Reading and writing have always posed challenges, but she refuses to let that define or limit her. Instead, she found other ways to express herself and understand people. “I had to learn patience,” she says. “I had to learn how to connect.”
When she’s not on the phone with a candidate, Nia Maya is in motion. She is a mother of two boys and spends most weekends driving across New England for soccer. Her family loves spending time on the lake in warm weather; at home, she gravitates toward crime books, movies, and podcasts. She loves to cook, explore new restaurants with rooftop views. And of course, meeting new people and learning everything about them.
One motto Nia Maya resonates with is: “No man is ever truly dead until he is forgotten.” In her role, every conversation is a chance to help someone feel remembered, valued, and understood. And it’s Nia Maya’s greatest wish to offer that chance to as many people as possible.
