8 lifestyles
Coffee with a special purpose By Katie McLachlan
A
Cheyenne Esser
MOXI Junction founders plan is to bring together the community and their special individuals. From left to right: Scarlett Tully, Joanna Kilgore, Pat Leon, Chris Leon, Laren Kilgore and Kara Tully.
MOXI Junction will open in Maize this spring
dream is finally becoming a reality for mothers Joanna Kilgore, Pat Leon, Scarlett Tully and Kate Scheer. MOXI Junction is a coffee shop that will open soon in Maize. But it’s not the average coffee shop. MOXI stands for Mothers of Exceptional Individuals. Three of the women are mothers of Maize graduates with disabilities. Joanna is the mother of Laren Kilgore. Laren, who graduated in 2006, was diagnosed with autism, brain damage and epilepsy when he was 1 month old. Pat is the mother of the Chris Leon, who graduated in 2009 and was diagnosed at birth with Down syndrome. Kara Tulley is the daughter of Scarlett. Kara, who
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graduated in 2007, was diagnosed in elementary school with being developmentally delayed. “The entire reason is the three of us have special young adults, with no jobs and no way to get them a job. So we came up with this idea of a coffee shop so that we can provide them with a job,” Joanna Kilgore, the group’s business developer, said. “It incompasses everything we’ve talked about for 15 years.” Laren, Chris and Kara will participate in the running of the shop. Because of their disabilities, they tend to lose interest in jobs faster, therefore, making it harder to find creative jobs that they will enjoy. Laren will be the dishwasher, so there
will be no throwaways except at the drive through. Kara will greet people and possibly help clean tables. “We also have a garden outside. Again, based off the fact that some of the kids don’t want to be around the customers,” Joanna Kilgore said. “They would prefer to be out commuting with the flowers and watering them.” MOXI Junction will serve specialty coffee and baked goods. “It’s stuff you would find that your grandma would make or your mom would make,” Joanna Kilgore said. “We’re not looking at fancy, we’re looking at tastes awesome.” Along with the many hot beverages, there will also be hot chocolate and