A New Chapter Coming Soon for the MAM Community
Introducing the Midwest Mindfulness Collective
Friends and Members of the Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness Community,
I’m excited to share a significant and inspiring evolution for our organization. Starting January 1st, 2026, the Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness (MAM) will be transforming in a more sustainable direction into the Midwest Mindfulness Collective (MMC)!
This isn’t a farewell; it’s a deepening of our commitment to you and the power of local connection. The MMC represents a return to our grassroots origins — a contemplative community built by and for folks right here in the Midwest.
Why the Midwest Mindfulness Collective (MMC)?
This new name reflects who we already are: a community of individuals practicing mindfulness together, learning from one another, and co-creating something larger than any one person or organization.
As the Midwest Mindfulness Collective, the community can be more nimble, responsive, and locally engaged, focusing on three key commitments that express the heart of our shared purpose:
Collective Connections
Together we’re cultivating a vibrant network of teachers, practitioners, and mindfulness communities dedicated to shared growth, mutual support, and accessible practice for all.Shared Leadership and Collaboration
The Collective thrives on participation, functioning as a web of shared stewardship — teachers, volunteers, and community members all contributing time, talents, and presence to sustain our practice.Accessible Practice for All
Through the Generosity Exchange, everyone is invited to give and receive in ways that honor their capacity and care.
Our shared intention remains the same: “To cultivate compassionate, resilient, and connected communities through the power of mindfulness.”
The Generosity Exchange: A New Way of Sustaining Our Practice
At the heart of the Collective is the Generosity Exchange — a mindful, reciprocal system of giving and receiving. Offerings will be sustained through shared generosity and mutual care. Here’s how it works:
Teachers offer teachings and presence as acts of generosity.
Participants contribute as they are able — through practice attendance, service, skills, time, or financial support.
The community supports shared needs — such as rental spaces, Zoom accounts, or web hosting — through voluntary collective donations.
In this model every act of care, service, and participation matters. Together, we practice generosity not only in our contemplative practice but in the very way we sustain the community.
As the saying goes, “Generosity is the path and stewardship is the practice.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is this change happening?
The official transition from the Midwest Alliance for Mindfulness (MAM) to the Midwest Mindfulness Collective (MMC) will take effect on January 1, 2026.
Until then we hope you will continue to join us for our Tuesday lunchtime and Thursday evening mindfulness gatherings online via Zoom.
Where can I find information about MMC classes and events?
We’re developing a new digital home! Visit the MMC website here. The best way to stay informed is to sign up for the MMC monthly newsletter.
Starting January 1, how will I sign up for classes?
We will be closing out our Punchpass account at the end of the year. If you have a membership, it will not renew in December.
Initially MMC will not require registration for classes. You will simply go to the MMC website to find event information and access Zoom links.
How do I stay connected with MMC?
If you currently receive MAM emails and wish to stay in touch, you’ll need to opt in to the new MMC newsletter so you can continue receiving class updates, news, and community invitations.
I will no longer be the heart-mind coordinator for this lovely community as my energies are being called in new directions. It has been a joy and an honor to be a part of this amazing journey and I look forward to experiencing what emerges in this time of evolution and transition. You will still see me in the meditation space and we will all be in good hands with our familiar family of trained teachers.
Next year this Substack newsletter will remain personal to me, so if you’re here only for MAM news, you may wish to switch over to the MMC newsletter and unsubscribe here.
We are so grateful for your support as part of the MAM community and invite you to join us in this exciting new phase as the Midwest Mindfulness Collective!
If you have questions about your MAM membership, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. If you have questions about the new Midwest Mindfulness Collective (MMC) please direct them to Jeanie Bunker.
With Appreciation,
Tracy