Meet Hannah Joya

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hannah Joya. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hannah below.

Hannah, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

When people ask me where my work ethic comes from, I always think of the home God blessed me with. I grew up watching two parents who lived out faith, perseverance, and service in a way you can’t learn from any book.

My mom is the quiet strength of our family. After my dad became a quadriplegic, she cared for him full-time while raising my older brother and newborn me. She never complained. She just loved with all her heart and kept showing up day after day. I still tell her, “Mom, I don’t know how you did it.”

And my dad… he’s one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever known. Even after his injury, his love for medicine never left. He would wheel himself into hospitals .. literally roll up to the front desk and ask if he could volunteer his time. No pay, no recognition, just a heart that still wanted to serve. Watching a man who lost so much yet still chose purpose taught me what true resilience looks like.

So when I think about my own drive, whether it’s starting our nonprofit, Wheels of Joya (wheelsofjoya.org) while newly pregnant with my mom, serving our community, or writing books as a self published author and now raising my first baby girl, it all traces back to them. Their faith. Their sacrifice. Their joy. They’re my biggest inspiration and the reason I work the way I do.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

This season of my life has been such a sweet mix of purpose, creativity, and God’s grace. Between becoming a mom, building Wheels of Joya with my mom, and writing, I feel like everything I’ve walked through has led me right here.

Wheels of Joya became legally official earlier this year while I was pregnant, which made it feel even more meaningful. My mom and I started it because serving has always been part of our lives. Growing up, my dad spent time in different nursing homes and hospitals due to his illness, and we were constantly by his side. We saw how much the people around him needed love, encouragement, and simple moments of joy. That stayed with us. It’s what shaped our heart for seniors, families facing challenges, people who feel forgotten, and the paralyzed veterans we spend time with. We call it the Dr. Danny Joya Mission because my dad’s example is the foundation of everything we do.

Wheels of Joya is special to me because it is simple, heartfelt, and faith-driven. It’s not about being a big organization. It’s about showing up for people.the way we as A family got to throughout 27 years of my dad’s journey. A small gift, a visit, a moment of kindness, a reminder that someone cares. That’s what we focus on, and that’s what brings us the most joy.

Alongside the nonprofit, writing has been a big part of my life. A few years ago, I wrote Never Goodbye and Healing Will Come in honor of my dad and to process my own grief. This year, I wrote a children’s book, The Door of Miracles, which was such a joyful and creative experience. Writing has been a way for me to share my story, my faith, and the lessons I’ve learned about love, loss, and hope. I’ve also had experience in modeling and acting in the past, which gave me opportunities to explore creativity and storytelling in different ways.

At the heart of everything I do is a desire to bring hope and joy to people. Whether it’s through Wheels of Joya, writing, or being a mom, I want people to feel loved, encouraged, and reminded that God sees them. This chapter of my life has been full, busy, and beautiful, and I’m grateful for every part of it. 💙

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the three qualities that have shaped my journey the most are resilience, dreaming big, and letting God use your story. Growing up with my dad paralyzed my entire life taught me what it really means to keep going, even when things feel impossible. Watching him live with purpose and love, despite his challenges, gave me a front-row seat to strength and faith in action.

Being hopeful and dreaming has always carried me forward. Even when the path isn’t clear, trusting God and believing He has a plan gives you courage to take the next step. And letting God use your story…even the hard, painful parts..has been life-changing. So often our testimony becomes our purpose, and the struggles we go through prepare us to serve others in ways only we can.

I’ve also learned the importance of slowing down and enjoying the little moments. My little girl Dani is already teaching me this. She wants to be hugged and carried constantly, and she’s reminding me that the small, everyday moments are often the most important. Even when I feel like I have so much to do, she’s helping me see that pausing to love, laugh, and be present is where life’s real joy lives.

For anyone just starting out, my advice is simple: be resilient, dream big, let God work through your story, and don’t forget to enjoy the journey. Life is a gift, and even the hard parts can be part of something beautiful.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

This past year has been full of growth, learning, and unexpected blessings. I wrote my first children’s book, The Door of Miracle, and my mom and I officially launched Wheels of Joya as a legal nonprofit all while becoming a mom to my little girl, Dani, who is named after my dad, Danny.

Motherhood has been life-changing in the most beautiful way. You can take all the classes you want, but nothing really prepares you for how it feels to live it. Dani is already teaching me so much how to slow down, be present, and see the beauty in the small everyday moments. Motherhood doesn’t pause your life; it expands it. I feel so grateful to get to raise a daughter who will learn to love and serve others, just as my parents taught me.

At the same time, I’ve faced some humbling challenges learning the business side of running a nonprofit. Serving others has always come naturally, but managing the practical side of Wheels of Joya has shown me how much there is to grow, learn, and trust God through. Through it all, I’m thankful for His guidance, for the lessons that come through both joy and difficulty, and for the chance to use my experiences to serve others in meaningful ways

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wheelsofjoya.org
• Instagram: hannahmariejoya
• Facebook: Hannah Joya Smith