Help keep Mojo Coffee Gallery afloat
Donation protected
Twenty years ago, Marko Fields began to conceptualize a business model wherein a coffee shop/cafe could intersect with art - of all media - in a meaningful way. Mojo Coffee Gallery is the result of those dreams, and design & construction began on June 1st, 2014; on November 17th of the same year, Mojo opened its doors to the public. Though initially struggling, Mojo soon found a community of regular customers coming through its doors.
My name is Jack Childs and I'm the organizer of this crowdfunding campaign for Mojo Coffee Gallery. I started going to Mojo when I was in high school, you could often find me studying for exams or finishing my AP art portfolio. In college, I was given an opportunity to do a work-study semester and decided to come back home to Minneapolis and learn about the function of art in a small business from Mojo Coffee Gallery and the 100+ artists in the California Artist's Building. I was able to start working here full time two years ago, and have been the assistant manager for the last year. Mojo is close to my heart and I want to see it survive COVID-19 safely. Each and every donation will be deeply appreciated and used for the benefit of Mojo Coffee Gallery.
Value-added Donation
We're not just asking you to donate out of the goodness of your heart (although I'm sure you would); we're offering gifts and incentives for donations!
For a donation of $50, you will receive a Mojo Coffee Gallery T-Shirt.
For a donation of $100, you will receive a t-shirt AND a mug made by ceramists Emma Hedges or Lazare Rottach.
For a donation of $500, you will receive a pair of ceramic tiles made by Marko Fields AND a Mata Ortiz Olla made by a master potter from Mata Ortiz.
For a donation of $1000, you will receive a ceramic pitcher or bowl made by Marko Fields AND on rent-free event usage of the shop.
About Mojo
Mojo was founded on a few simple principles: unconditional love and servant leadership; being open and affirming to all; egalitarian prices for high quality food and drink as well as art to feed your mind, body, and soul; and that ART -visual, performing, and musical- is an essential creative component of the human experience.
Mojo's slogan, Art of Function, Function of Art, is a maxim which Marko has applied throughout his life as a studio artist/designer, and his 20-year career as a college art educator. Taken from his Artist Statement, he writes, 'Finally, emphatically, I believe that art making and the appreciation of art are profoundly important activities. As our society becomes increasingly inundated with technology, I believe that the beautiful handmade object will gain in value - intrinsic and economic - and importance. As life becomes more complex, art will continue to serve as an essential, visceral and therapeutic connection to the wonder of our humanity.'
Then, just when Mojo was hitting its stride, the Coronavirus came to the US and changed life as we all knew it.
Why Donate?
After soul-searching and encouragement, Mojo has determined that a crowdfunding initiative can keep Mojo treading water. Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota has just announced a second shut-down of dine-in functions of all restaurants, cafes, and bars, and we believe that Governor Walz has made the right decision.
For the health and safety of our staff and for the financial health of Mojo, Mojo Coffee Gallery will be closed temporarily from December 23rd until February 1st. These donations will be essential to help us weather the next few weeks, followed by more than 5 weeks of no income. Our goal is to raise $25,000. We can definitely put more to use, but we believe that $25,000 can help us sustain Mojo Coffee Gallery until we emerge into a springtime that will symbolize far more than the end of a long winter.
What will Mojo Coffee Gallery use your donations for?
The Coronavirus and following economic downturn has hit Mojo, our staff, and our customers especially hard. Mojo will be observing a temporary closure from December 23rd to February 1st, and we'll need help getting through the next month and getting through those 5 and a half weeks of no income. Donations will be used to:
-Pay rent, wifi, studio costs, insurance, and upgrade our two POS platforms
-Help shoulder the costs of end of the year licensing fees
-Give staff members a small stipend to cover what unemployment can't
-Help pay vendors and suppliers
-Pay equipment rental and maintenance costs
-Pay our manager, who will remain on staff to do updates, inventory, organize getting incentives out to donors, and assist with small gallery showings
We believe that Mojo can make it through the coronavirus, and when we come back we'll be better than before. We are all so grateful to our customers who continue to come in to get coffee or food, our staff for their flexibility, commitment, and unending patience, and to those of you who generously donate and keep us going. We will look forward to serving you again in 2021!
#SmallBusinessRelief
My name is Jack Childs and I'm the organizer of this crowdfunding campaign for Mojo Coffee Gallery. I started going to Mojo when I was in high school, you could often find me studying for exams or finishing my AP art portfolio. In college, I was given an opportunity to do a work-study semester and decided to come back home to Minneapolis and learn about the function of art in a small business from Mojo Coffee Gallery and the 100+ artists in the California Artist's Building. I was able to start working here full time two years ago, and have been the assistant manager for the last year. Mojo is close to my heart and I want to see it survive COVID-19 safely. Each and every donation will be deeply appreciated and used for the benefit of Mojo Coffee Gallery.
Value-added Donation
We're not just asking you to donate out of the goodness of your heart (although I'm sure you would); we're offering gifts and incentives for donations!
For a donation of $50, you will receive a Mojo Coffee Gallery T-Shirt.
For a donation of $100, you will receive a t-shirt AND a mug made by ceramists Emma Hedges or Lazare Rottach.
For a donation of $500, you will receive a pair of ceramic tiles made by Marko Fields AND a Mata Ortiz Olla made by a master potter from Mata Ortiz.
For a donation of $1000, you will receive a ceramic pitcher or bowl made by Marko Fields AND on rent-free event usage of the shop.
About Mojo
Mojo was founded on a few simple principles: unconditional love and servant leadership; being open and affirming to all; egalitarian prices for high quality food and drink as well as art to feed your mind, body, and soul; and that ART -visual, performing, and musical- is an essential creative component of the human experience.
Mojo's slogan, Art of Function, Function of Art, is a maxim which Marko has applied throughout his life as a studio artist/designer, and his 20-year career as a college art educator. Taken from his Artist Statement, he writes, 'Finally, emphatically, I believe that art making and the appreciation of art are profoundly important activities. As our society becomes increasingly inundated with technology, I believe that the beautiful handmade object will gain in value - intrinsic and economic - and importance. As life becomes more complex, art will continue to serve as an essential, visceral and therapeutic connection to the wonder of our humanity.'
Then, just when Mojo was hitting its stride, the Coronavirus came to the US and changed life as we all knew it.
Why Donate?
After soul-searching and encouragement, Mojo has determined that a crowdfunding initiative can keep Mojo treading water. Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota has just announced a second shut-down of dine-in functions of all restaurants, cafes, and bars, and we believe that Governor Walz has made the right decision.
For the health and safety of our staff and for the financial health of Mojo, Mojo Coffee Gallery will be closed temporarily from December 23rd until February 1st. These donations will be essential to help us weather the next few weeks, followed by more than 5 weeks of no income. Our goal is to raise $25,000. We can definitely put more to use, but we believe that $25,000 can help us sustain Mojo Coffee Gallery until we emerge into a springtime that will symbolize far more than the end of a long winter.
What will Mojo Coffee Gallery use your donations for?
The Coronavirus and following economic downturn has hit Mojo, our staff, and our customers especially hard. Mojo will be observing a temporary closure from December 23rd to February 1st, and we'll need help getting through the next month and getting through those 5 and a half weeks of no income. Donations will be used to:
-Pay rent, wifi, studio costs, insurance, and upgrade our two POS platforms
-Help shoulder the costs of end of the year licensing fees
-Give staff members a small stipend to cover what unemployment can't
-Help pay vendors and suppliers
-Pay equipment rental and maintenance costs
-Pay our manager, who will remain on staff to do updates, inventory, organize getting incentives out to donors, and assist with small gallery showings
We believe that Mojo can make it through the coronavirus, and when we come back we'll be better than before. We are all so grateful to our customers who continue to come in to get coffee or food, our staff for their flexibility, commitment, and unending patience, and to those of you who generously donate and keep us going. We will look forward to serving you again in 2021!
#SmallBusinessRelief
Organizer and beneficiary
Jack Childs
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN
Marko Fields
Beneficiary
