Growing with Brown Family House
Maggie Skaza and Brown Family House have grown up together.
Fresh out of college, Maggie’s first few months were spent in a hard hat before the building opened, welcoming 73 residents in September 2020.
She was hired to be the Group Services Coordinator and plan engaging activities, but Maggie says the first half of her career at 2Life was “Covid rule enforcer.” She wrote and rewrote safety protocols, coordinated testing and later vaccination clinics, and kept seniors safe in their apartments and visitors out.
When residents could not see family or even meet each other, they had Maggie.
She has built close relationships with the small community that relies on her not only for fun but for support. She checks in when someone is missing from their usual class and worries when she is on vacation.
The residents look out for Maggie, too. One calls her “granddaughter,” and many treat her that way.
“Whenever I’m gone, they’ll check in with my supervisor to make sure I’m all right and say they miss me,” Maggie says.
Known for her care and creativity, Maggie organizes unique and enriching experiences. Whether that is a glass mosaic workshop, a salsa class, or a belly dancing performance, she keeps things lively.
Every weekday, Maggie posts a “joke of the day” and a small drawing in the lobby, where she works at the front desk. Residents look forward to it so much that they quickly let her know if she forgets to change it. At this point, she has shared more than 1,000 jokes.
“Residents stop and chuckle — or groan!” she laughs.
When she is not brightening up the Brown Family House community, Maggie is working toward a master’s in gerontology and aging services, which she says would not be possible without tuition assistance from 2Life.
She also enjoys finding odd museums, hiking to castles, and attending quirky live performances. Maggie’s love for the arts and her family roots in Boston keep her grounded and inspired.
