An interview with Stacey Macaluso from Mission PD on July 4, 2023 by George Ackerman, Ph.D, J.D.
Biography
FOUNDER – LIFE COACH AND FITNESS SPECIALIST Mission PD
Stacey Macaluso has been working with the Parkinson’s community for over 10 years. She led the Parkinson’s Connection at the Katz JCC in Cherry Hill, NJ from 2017-2022. She started and developed the program to be one of the largest programs on the east coast for people with PD. As coordinator and coach, she received many awards for her work. She was recognized as SJ Magazine Women of Excellence in 2020 being named, “Game Changer” in South Jersey for bringing wellness programming to the local area for the Parkinson’s community.
In 2020 she was a nominee for the Rock Steady Boxing Coach of the Year award. She was also awarded the Katz JCC People’s Choice Award in 2021 honoring her for her contribution and work with the Parkinson’s community. In 2018, Stacey accepted a position as a Davis Phinney Foundation Ambassador, providing support and resources to the PD community throughout the Tri-state area and beyond. She has since founded Mission PD, a 501(c)(3) in New Jersey, where she is a life coach and fitness specialist virtually for people all over the world. Mission PD also has two locations in New Jersey where they offer in person fitness and wellness services in person. She currently teaches Rock Steady Boxing, Pedaling for Parkinson’s, PWR Moves! Parte and Dance for PD. She has also practiced as a dental hygienist for 3 decades in the South Jersey community. Stacey lives in New Jersey with her husband Michael of 30+ years, where they raised their children Adrienne, Michael, and Abigail.
Please tell me a little about your background and what got you involved with awareness.
In 2012, I began teaching Dance for PD. As a long-time dancer and dental hygienist, I was interested in how dance and preventive measures could help manage symptoms and progression. I continued to get more educated and involved and slowly made this my life’s work.
Can you tell me more about your organization?
Mission PD is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. We are here to help bring resources to people living with PD locally in person and virtually. We connect people to the providers and services they are looking for or need. We help them to recognize how to live better with PD through fitness and wellness. Our educational presentations help members learn more about PD and give them the tools to be better informed advocates for themselves on their journey.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
My passion is driven by each person I meet. Each person with PD, caregiver, doctor, therapist, volunteer, and person in the PD network inspires me to stay involved in this mission. Parkinson’s is a global medical crisis that needs attention, or we will face greater numbers of diagnosed patients. My journey becoming a Parkinson’s advocate began with a true interest and concern for the people living with the condition. Something was driving me to keep digging further. I knew there was a need and I continued looking for ways to fill it.
What type of goals do individuals with Parkinson’s have when working with you?
When working with people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers, it is really important to make sure you treat each person as an individual. Each case is very different and needs specific attention from the specific person. There will be similarities, but each person will have different goals that they will work on at different times and sometimes goals that others are working on too at the same time.
What type of training and how long are the programs?
Mission PD has a virtual platform on zoom with classes 7 days a week. We also have in person classes in South Jersey. We have all the current Parkinson’s related branded fitness programs in our virtual and in person studios.
What effect can it have on an individual with Parkinson’s?
Mission PD uses third-party software for a social resource network. This platform is a place where people can educate themselves, network with others, watch live and recorded presentations and join a book club and support group. This free platform can help people get the information they need to live well with PD and create a stronger dialogue with clinicians.
What would you like to see as a future goal for your programs?
Our in-person program needs a larger space. We have outgrown our current space and are renting from someone temporarily until we can find our forever home. Our goals are to continue to support the Parkinson’s community through all means possible.
What events do you participate in?
We have raised over 10K for Michael J Fox Foundation this year and over 4K for the Parkinson’s Foundation. We participate in other fundraisers to support our members and other colleagues in other parts of the country. We have been active in many walks and races this year.
How does this also assist the caregivers?
Mission PD has a caregiver thread on our virtual social network page. We also welcome caregivers to use our resource page to connect with other caregivers and educate themselves through the different threads available.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
Our website is www.mission-pd.org. You can also email Stacey Macaluso who is the founder of Mission PD at Stacey@mission-pd.org
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
Move beyond your limitations, explore the possibilities!
“Hey, if you are alive, then it means that you’re committed to survive, That’s enough to drain the life from you sometimes……..But hold on tight!”
Come with me, let me show you how. Mission PD!