My name is Melanie Lomaglio, I am a Physical Therapist and I am the founder and president of the REBLOOM CENTER. The red tulip is the official flower of Parkinson’s disease and the name and logo were centered around this idea. Tulips are known to "rebloom" every year if given the right environment! Rehabilitation, targeted exercise, socialization, and education provide the right growing environment for people living with Parkinson's disease and research has shown that they may even slow down the disease progression and preserve quality of life. I have been working as a Physical Therapist for 25 years and I understand the shortcomings of our "reactive" health care system. In order to fight back against the loss of function a chronic condition like Parkinson's can cause, a "proactive" strategy is needed. People with Parkinson's disease deserve continuous access to one on one rehabilitation, exercise, voice, social support, and education from time of diagnosis and for LIFE! Furthermore this access to wellness should be free of financial barriers and social stigma. Since the year 2020, under the umbrella of STARS REHAB, I have been able to offer 6 free group voice and exercise classes per week and we have helped over 75 people live well with Parkinson's. Over this time we have been fortunate to win the Parkinson's Foundation community grants in 2020, 2021, and 2022. But these grants are never guaranteed and my future vision is to grow our community space and offer more free programing, and have a hang out space where people can enjoy one another's company before and after getting their sweat on! Having the REBLOOM CENTER, a nonprofit organization, will open more doors for our community and give us more opportunity for bigger grants and local fundraising to help this vision to become a reality.
A Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
We recognize that Parkinson's affects individuals from all walks of life, and our mission is to provide comprehensive support that reflects the diversity of the Parkinson's community. Our programs are designed to be accessible and inclusive, addressing the unique needs of individuals from different races, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities, religions, cognitive and psychological abilities and socioeconomic statuses. We actively seek to amplify underrepresented voices within the Parkinson's community by collaborating with diverse healthcare professionals, conducting outreach in diverse communities, and ensuring our educational materials are culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate (Spanish language, Spanish podcast resources, Mandarin Resources). We are also proud to offer scholarships to support people in financial need. The Rebloom Center aims to create a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone affected by Parkinson's can thrive and access the resources they need for optimal wellness.
