A Brief History of the
Mindfulness Community of Milwaukee
OUR MISSION
The Mindfulness Community of Milwaukee is a spiritual community dedicated to the creation of a mindful culture fostering loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. We study and practice teachings from Buddhism and other traditions in order
to nurture individuals, families, society, and a healthy planet.
The Mindfulness Community of Milwaukee was founded after a retreat given by Thich Nhat Hanh in September 1993 in Mundelein Illinois. As a group we met mostly weekly in each other’s homes, a bookstore basement, a chapel, and anywhere else we could find. In November 1998, we had the fortunate opportunity to move into a freestanding center, on Locust Street on Milwaukee’s Eastside. We moved from that location in June 2008 to our present location on Park Place. We became incorporated as a nonprofit organization and as a 501©(3) organization in 1998.
We follow the general outlines of the Plum Village Tradition. Our sangha, a Buddhist word for community, is described as a group of mindfulness practitioners from various backgrounds. We grew slowly to have an extended number of opportunities to practice. When the center is open, there are meetings of the community six times per week, as well as affiliated groups meeting in Ozaukee County, Waukesha, and on the south side of Milwaukee. Roughly 125 people per week attend, and there are roughly 75 identified members. We also have regular days of practice, and hold a weeklong retreat at the Christine Center in Willard Wisconsin, about four hours from Milwaukee.
All are welcome to attend our meetings
We have no dues or other financial requirements, except for special classes.
