Drive past the Beechwood Meeting House on a Sunday morning, and you may hear live music filtering through the air. 

 

It isn’t a church service, it’s Mindfulness Plus - a recently-minted 501(c)(3) organization focused on self-care, community service, and meaningful connection for South Shore residents. 

 

Fifteen years as a hospice chaplain and volunteer coordinator led Jonathan Pierce, the group’s founder, to two realizations: that people are hungry for meaningful, high-engagement volunteer experiences; and that they hope to find a supportive community that helps make meaning of their experiences as a whole.

 

That’s how M+ was born. Part mindfulness practice, part community service. “One community, many ways to connect.”

 

 

Though communication is technically easier than ever before, Jonathan points to a current epidemic of disconnection. Spaces that historically provided a sense of community don’t always fit into modern life. 

 

People are increasingly stepping away from civic organizations, religious institutions, and even the traditional workforce - whether that be retirement, staying home with kids, or working from home. Those changes can lead to social isolation.

 

“People are lonely - and if not lonely, at least isolated more than we used to be,” says Jonathan. “People need chances to connect with other people outside of whatever bubbles they're in.”

 

 

When it comes to mindfulness practice, Jonathan emphasizes that it’s not about changing your identity, becoming Buddhist, doing yoga, or sitting in silence for hours - it’s practical self-care and active presence with others.

 

The typical M+ weekly gathering will include both guided mindfulness - settling awareness on the breath, a prompt, or physical presence; and a space for listening and sharing with others - processing experiences together, without cross-talk or judgement. 

 

Jonathan recalls: "Surprise is a big part of it. When people speak without a script, talking from the heart and making it up as they go, it’s never boring.” 

 

The connection also creates a bridge between people across generational, political, and lifestyle divides. “Social media wants to reduce us to something singular about us, but that's not how human beings are,” Jonathan points out.

 

 

The other side of M+ is about connecting volunteers with meaningful opportunities to give back.

 

The Recollections Volunteer Team is trained in oral history, and invites locals to record their unique stories and reflections. Friendly Visitor Volunteers provide company, conversation, and support to those that need a hand. The group is also working on a special initiative for veterans.

 

While volunteering can often be an in-and-out, one-and-done endeavor, M+ is focused on creating deep, relational connections. Its volunteer communities come together to reflect and learn from the work they’re doing, shaping a more meaningful experience for everyone involved.

 

“How can the ways we help take care of other people feed back and create ways to help take care of ourselves?,” Jonathan asked. “Volunteering isn’t a one-way street - you get something back in return, and that helps us give more.”

 

Jonathan has found this type of work particularly compelling for South Shore residents, which has allowed M+ to scale organically through human connection. “People love it, and we’ve had no problem recruiting people to do that work, because people were seeking it out. There's a lot that can be done just in a neighbors helping neighbors kind of way. ”

 

 

Looking ahead, M+ is partnering with groups such as the Cohasset and Hingham Historical Societies for living history and storytelling projects. Its recent non-profit designation will help keep their doors open to all, regardless of prior experience and at no cost.

 

“There’s something about what we’re doing that is timeless and classic in the way human communities have always formed,” says Jonathan. “But we’re also building something entirely new, meaningful, and intentional. That feels exciting.”

 

When asked about his hope for M+ in the future, Jonathan pictures: “Lots of people coming and joining in lots of different programs, having lots of different opportunities for people to connect. Lots of people giving support, lots of people receiving support, especially across differences. Lots more pluses. Yeah. I like that. Lots of pluses.”