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Meet our member: Jessica Casucci

Jessica C

Today we’re continuing our series on the people who make what we do possible — our supporting members. ❤️ Today we’re featuring member Jessica Casucci!

Where in town might people run into you? The dog parks at Margaret Pace Park or Miami Shores Aquatic Center with my dog Finn, Haulover park beach, Agni Miami for yoga or Anatomy Midtown, House of Mages and Bunny Cakes in Wynwood or any place that has good Mediterranean, Middle Eastern or Argentinian food (Mandolin, Byblos, Fiorito, etc.).

What local business do you think deserves a shoutout? Agni Miami is my favorite yoga studio. I’m a little biased because I teach Hot Buti Yoga there but what makes Agni different is that you feel like family the minute you walk in. There’s a very come as you are and be who you are, no BS vibe that I feel is missing from a lot of other Miami establishments. It’s a family business and you can tell through and through. Plus they have tons of choices for classes and a great smoothie bar as an extra added bonus post sweat-fest. It’s a place where you can get your sweaty shine on and always feel better afterwards.

What’s a local event you went to recently that you loved? I loved the soccer match between FC Barcelona and Napoli. It was my first one and I’m really excited for the new Inter Miami team. It made me put a deposit on season tickets already!

What made you decide to become a member of The New Tropic? I decided to become a member because I am always on the lookout for new things to do, whether they’re cultural experiences, new restaurants or places to go dance. I’m a big believer in supporting local businesses and being a tourist in your own city. I’ve lived in a lot of places and the best thing about city life is that its always changing and growing, and I think The New Tropic is the best way to find out about what’s going on.

What’s something you’re working on that you could use help with? I’m launching my podcast “Boldly Spoken” so I’m really excited about that and more excited to get to spread some good news in the world for a change. I have my first guests lined up but I’m always looking to meet new people and hear their stories, whether they want to be interviewed for the pod or not. So if you know someone with an inspiring story of taking a leap, or just putting one foot in front of the other, please reach out to me.

If you only have one meal left in Miami, where are you going? Mandolin Aegean Bistro, besides that fact that I’m a sucker for all things lamb, Greece is my favorite place in the world and being from a Mediterranean background myself, if my last meal can’t be my great-grandmother’s food, it would have to be Mandolin. Every dish is delicious and I love ordering way too many small plates. And the vibe of sitting outside under the trellis listening to music really is my version of heaven.

What’s a recent story you’ve read about Miami that you wish more people cared about? I wish more people cared about the fact that the Homestead detention center for migrants [could be] re-opening. I think it got a lot of press when the Democratic candidates were here but that died out and more people need to pay attention to what’s going on so they can do their part to effect change. Miami, like my hometown of NYC, is a city of immigrants, so I’m surprised more people aren’t taking up the cause for immigration and detention reform.

What’s your perfect day in our city? A perfect day for me would be to get up with the sun, snuggle with my three rescue babies (Orion, Finn & Nyx), meditate, then teach at Agni. After that maybe some breakfast at La Social, then grab my boyfriend and head to the beach at Haulover to swim or take the bikes up and down Miami Beach, and a massage at the Faena spa and some asado lunch. In the evening, my friends live all over the city, from Westchester to the beach to the Shores, so I’d love to end the day with everyone in my yard having drinks listening to music or maybe meet up at some open-air place in Wynwood like Proyecto Tulum to dance to some good house music.

What does it mean to you to live like you live here? I’ve lived all over the US and this is my second time living in Miami and I chose to make it my permanent home base. Living like you live here to me means getting to know places that are outside the tourist usual suspects. It means supporting local small business. It means getting to know your neighbors and different neighborhoods. It means tasting all the flavors of the multi-cultural stew that is Miami. And most importantly, it means investing in this place with your time, talent or treasure. Giving back to the community in any way you can, protecting its natural resources and keeping up with local politics because they will shape the city today, but in years to come.

What are you celebrating in your life right now? I’m celebrating the launch of my company, Mt. Olympus Performance Group. I worked as a corporate attorney for 18 years, took some time off and am so ready for this new chapter to do what I’m passionate about. We’ll be providing career and mental performance coaching to women, specifically focused on mental resiliency and wellness, success-building, and high-performance goal setting and achievement. I’m going to be bringing all the mind-body techniques I’ve learned over the years and unite that with a coaching platform. And, over the next year I want to launch a pro-bono program specifically designed for athletic and academic programs for girls in underserved populations. So I hope to partner with one of our local schools to pilot the program in 2020.

Supporting members like Jessica make our work possible — and they get special perks like event discounts, ticket giveaways, and bonus content in the newsletter. Become a New Tropic member today to join the crew.