Our Transformation
What used to be the Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness transforms into the Midwest Mindfulness Collective. This transformation and name reflect who we have become and how we want to evolve. We are not just an organization that offers programs. We are a living community that shares practices, resources, responsibilities, joys, and struggles. We cannot do it alone and don’t want to. We want to share all we have, support one another, and grow together.
Our Mission & History
Our mission is to build an inclusive and connected community where people come together through mindfulness practices and meaningful social gatherings, supporting one another with shared resources and collective care.
In 2017, the Midwest Alliance of Mindfulness was created by a few local mindfulness teachers. Since then, our community has grown and has been at the center of why we have transformed into a collective.
We chose the persimmon tree as an analogy for our transformation. In our logo there are eight fruits honoring the eight official years of the Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness. These fruits nourish us. We want to honor them, and we want to allow the natural cycle of change to unfold through their season. The fruit ripens, falls, and nourishes our roots, which will send nutrients to our trunk and the branches so we can make it through the seasons and keep on growing. Something has to fall away in order for something new to emerge. We trust the seasons of change and all that comes with it.
The persimmon tree is native to the Midwest, and it is also native to Asia. As we practice secular mindfulness in a western cultural context, we also need to acknowledge and honor where this practice comes from and its roots.
So many stories surround the persimmon tree - We want to highlight a few here that feel important:
Persimmon as Wisdom
Like wisdom, the persimmon tree grows slowly over time. Its long growing season shows us that insight, maturity, and understanding unfold gradually through practice and experience. This is true for our mindfulness practice as well. We keep on showing up to the practice and are able to uncover and access our inner wisdom over time. Teachers at the Midwest Mindfulness Collective offer a variety of practices that have grown with them over time and they generously share their wisdom, insights, and explorations with this community.
Persimmon as Community Nourishment
The persimmon tree produces abundant fruit. One tree can feed many people, showing how generosity nourishes and strengthens us all. At the Midwest Mindfulness Collective, we believe in the power of community and collaboration. Our generosity exchange offers an opportunity to give and receive beyond monetary transaction and with that, practices the idea that there is abundance in the world (and within us) that can and should be accessed by all.
Persimmon as Mindfulness
The persimmon ripens slowly and must be eaten at the right moment. It reminds us to be present in the moment, accepting each stage of life without rushing, forcing or turning away. We are creating a space to be present, so we don’t miss moments of savoring. We are practicing being with all that our human experience has to offer.
Growth of a Tree - Weathering Stress and Storms
Trees do not resist every force, they bend in the wind or under the weight of snow. This flexibility allows trees to weather the storms and continue to grow. We see this as a reflection of mindfulness: resilience, steadiness, and the capacity to meet difficulty with openness.
As we continue this transformation into the Midwest Mindfulness Collective, we do so with gratitude for all that has come before and openness to what is still unfolding.
We invite you to be part of this living, evolving collective.
To practice together.
To support one another.
To share in the joys and challenges of being human.