An interview with Cassi Locke from Parkinson’s Group of the Ozarks on July 11, 2023 by George Ackerman, Ph.D, J.D.
Biography
Cassi Locke is a southwestern Missouri native. She is a graduate of Missouri State University, where she received her B.S. in Dietetics and later her M.S. in Health Promotion and Wellness Management. Cassi began her career as a nutritionist providing dietary guidance and assistance to low-income families around the Springfield area. Soon afterwards, she wanted to expand her wellness expertise beyond just nutrition.
Cassi’s previous professional experience entailed being the Health & Wellness Coordinator for a local, senior-focused non-profit organization. In this role, she oversaw several evidence-based wellness programs and grant-funded initiatives offered throughout 17 Missouri counties. She demonstrated her leadership abilities by successfully piloting such programs such as the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program and the Stress-Busting Program for Caregivers.
As the Executive Assistant for the Parkinson’s Group of the Ozarks, Cassi enjoys wearing many hats with her role. While her most cherished contribution is providing one-on-one assistance to Parkinson’s families by guiding them to local community resources and programs, she also works closely with the Board of Directors to carry out successful awareness and learning events such as the Parkinson’s Resource Fair, Pound the Pavement for Parkinson’s 5K Walk/Run, Trivia Night & Silent Auction, and many more. In addition, she has extensive experience in grant proposal writing and program development that has contributed to the organization pursuing new initiatives and expanding Parkinson’s resource opportunities in the Ozarks.
Outside of her professional field, Cassi is an avid runner and has participated in numerous 5k race events throughout the years. She enjoys knitting, reading, board games, and gardening. She and her husband live in the Springfield area with their cat.
Please tell me a little about your background.
I’ve always had a strong connection working with older adults and have greatly admired their wisdom and humble reflections on life experiences. Growing up I was close to both of my grandparents and enjoyed going on walks around the neighborhood, accompanying them to dances at the senior center, or writing them old-fashioned keepsake letters to stay in touch. My immediate family did not have Parkinson’s disease, but I have always felt that older adults are often an overlooked and forgotten population.
While obtaining my Master’s degree in Health Promotion and Wellness Management in 2017, I decided to pursue my passion of working with older adults and interned with the local senior-focused non-profit organization SeniorAge, Area Agency on Aging. I was soon hired on as their Health & Wellness Coordinator for 17 southwest Missouri counties and oversaw numerous programs such as The Stress-Busting Program for caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer’s/dementia, the falls prevention program: Matter of Balance, and piloting the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. While I greatly enjoyed my time with SeniorAge, I was at a point where I wanted to down-scale and focus more time on my family.
In 2020 I joined Parkinson’s Group of the Ozarks as their Executive Assistant and quickly found my career home. Advocating for the Parkinson’s community has been an amazing opportunity and allows me to educate the public about the disease while clearing up any misconceptions/stigmas associated with the symptoms. Whether it’s visiting with a newly diagnosed family one-on-one or hosting large-scale fundraising/awareness events, I feel like I’m making a difference. The Parkinson’s community in the Ozarks feels like a second family to me and you won’t find a more supportive and warmhearted group of people.
Can you tell me more about your organization?
Parkinson’s Group of the Ozarks (PGO) is a non-profit organization based out of the heart of the Ozarks. The organization was founded in 1999 with a mission to educate, support research, and improve quality of life for persons affected by the disease.
For over two decades PGO has worked tirelessly to help people with Parkinson’s Disease. PGO and its supporters provided the vision to establish the first clinic for Parkinson’s patients known as Parkinson’s Clinic of the Ozarks in 2001. In 2015 the clinic moved to the West tower at Cox Medical Center South becoming part of the Jared Neuroscience Center. Through ongoing community collaborations, classes and education offered, PGO provides access to programs and services for the welfare of Parkinsonians, their care partners, families, and friends.
- free wellness classes such as Rock Steady Boxing, music therapy, yoga, ping pong, dance, etc.
- support group guidance
- one-on-one assistance for community resources
- educational opportunities and learning seminars
- community awareness and fundraising events
- outreach through social media, free newsletter, health fairs, etc.
- scholarship program
What type of goals do individuals with Parkinson’s have when working with you?
Our Parkinson’s families are often just looking for the opportunity to connect with others who are going through a similar journey as them. Even though overall improved quality of life is often a main goal for many Parkinson’s individuals, the main driving force is the strong emotional sense of community and not feeling alone with the disease.
What type of training and how long are the programs?
We partner with local businesses and organizations to sponsor wellness classes that are offered at no charge to Parkinson’s families. All classes are ongoing, and most are offered on a weekly basis. Each instructor has training and education related to their field along with background experience working with the Parkinson’s population. In addition, our Len S. Burton Memorial Scholarship can financially assist with Parkinson’s related training, such as Rock Steady Boxing or LSVT BIG, or for continuing education opportunities.
What effect can it have on an individual with Parkinson’s?
Each of our wellness classes offers something different for everyone, but most of them focus on improving basic activities of daily living through movements and exercises emphasized on balance, coordination, endurance, flexibility, cognitive function, etc. Parkinson’s disease is not a cookie-cutter disease and each person experiences symptoms differently. We encourage Parkinson’s individuals to find something they enjoy doing. The most predominant effect our classes have on participants are on the social and emotional aspects of the disease. Those with Parkinson’s can often feel isolated, frustrated, or scared with the disease and our classes help provide a sense of unity and camaraderie with others facing the disease. Our participants feel more confident and less embarrassed by their symptoms knowing that others are in a similar situation and are there to support them.
What would you like to see as a future goal for your programs?
Our future goal is to be able to expand our programs and services to more areas of the Ozarks. Many of our families drive long distances to attend support groups or wellness classes that are offered in the larger city of Springfield or near the Branson location. We would love to have these available in more rural communities.
What events do you participate in?
Our organization has partnered and/or hosted numerous awareness events, fundraisers, and learning opportunities for the community throughout the years.
- Annual Pound the Pavement for Parkinson’s 5K Walk/Run
- Parkinson’s Resource Fair
- Trivia Night & Silent Auction
- Springfield Cardinals Baseball Tailgate Party
- CoxHealth’s “Deep Brain Stimulation” learning presentation
- Parkinson’s Foundation’s “Beyond the Diagnosis” virtual learning program
- Parkinson’s Foundation’s “Veteran’s and Parkinson’s: Mobility and Driving Safety” watch party
All our upcoming events can be found on our website: https://www.parkinsonsgroup.org/upcomingevents
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
https://www.parkinsonsgroup.org/
Phone: 417-814-6067
Email: info@parkinsonsgroup.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParkinsonsGroup/
In-person: Wednesdays from 10 AM-2 PM or by appointment, 1136 E. St. Louis St., Springfield, MO 65806
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
You are not alone in this journey. There are others that have been in your same footsteps and are here to help you along the way.