When the Elder Council of the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Band of Lake Superior Chippewa looked at a vacant building sitting empty in their community, they didn't just see peeling paint and quiet rooms. They saw an opportunity to serve.
Driven by faith and a collective desire to build a self-sustaining safety net for their people, the LCO Elders Association launched Koobie’s Coffee Shop. Today, this 501(c)3 nonprofit coffee shop stands as a masterclass in grassroots community care - conceived by the wisdom of the Elders Association, and driven forward by the tireless energy of its 82-year-old engine, Ramona “Mona” Ingerson.
Walking into Koobie’s Coffee Shop
The Vision: A Blueprint for Sovereign Care
The LCO Elders Association didn't wait for outside funding or corporate sponsorship to make a difference. When the idea for a coffee shop was raised during a council meeting, they lacked industry experience, commercial equipment, and startup capital. What they did possess was organizational resolve.
To get the venture off the ground, the council established the Elders Business Committee and turned to the community. They gathered 20 local investors who chipped in $150 each, creating a sustainable foundation that still honors its roots today by paying those original believers a $10 annual dividend.
The mandate set by the Elders Association was uncompromisingly pure: be charitable. No workers were to be paid, the operation would rely entirely on volunteers, and 100% of the proceeds would be directly reinvested into the community.
The Engine: Mona Ingerson Keeps the Wheels Turning
Rhonda Hislip (Left) and Ramona Ingerson (Right)
Every grand vision needs an engine to make it move, and for Koobie's, that engine is Ramona Ingerson.
While the shop initially launched with a rotating crew of 12 volunteers running six days a week, the demands of maintaining a consistent business naturally shifted the weight over time. Today, Mona and her co-pilot, Rhonda Hislip, handle the entire operation themselves.
They do it all from scratch. Absolutely everything on the menu is homemade—from the comforting, nutrient-dense soups to the fresh bakery items and delicate pastries. Mona and Rhonda are the culinary masterminds behind every recipe, coming up with new menu items and baking daily to ensure the highest quality for their guests.
At 82 years young, Mona brings an infectious, vibrant energy to the barista counter every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Her presence ensures the operational flow remains smooth and the quality stays consistent, because, as Mona notes with a laugh, a business without consistency won’t be a business for long.
Remarkably, Mona remembers the exact drink orders of about 90% of her customers. Though she jokingly insists she needs to do better, it’s this deeply personal, relational touch that forms the heartbeat of the shop.
Fueling a Cycle of Generosity
Because the community sees the Elders' vision being executed so fiercely by Mona and Rhonda, the support comes full circle:
Generous Tips: Patrons frequently purchase a $3 coffee and drop a $10 bill into the tip jar, knowing where the profits go.
Sustaining Ingredients: Because everything is made completely from scratch, locals regularly drop off 5-pound sacks of flour and sugar to fuel the busy back-counter baking operation.
Community Cornerstones: The shop features a free community bookshelf and a local consignment section for indigenous authors and jewelry makers, taking a $0 commission so 100% of the art sales stay in the hands of the creators.
Where the Coffee Money Goes
Through Koobie's Coffee Shop, the LCO Elders Association has created a quiet powerhouse of community funding. The money exchanged for a hot cup of coffee or a bowl of homemade soup is immediately transformed into vital local resources:
Community Need | How Koobie's Helps |
|---|---|
Youth & Education | Purchases winter coats, boots, and STEM program transportation; donates a dozen sleds annually to the LCO Ojibwe School for recess and field trips. |
New Mothers | Distributes $50 gift cards at Christmas through the Mino Maajisewin initiative. |
LCO Graduates | Rewards graduates with $50 and a hand-written note of encouragement to celebrate their hard-earned achievement. |
Families & Elders | Provides immediate aid for emergency housing, moving expenses, children in crisis, and unexpected elder transportation and healthy living needs. |
Cultivating Culture and Care
From unique menu items like "Ojibwe Oatmeal"—an idea brought back by patrons traveling to Canada—to the vibrant local murals on the walls, Koobie's is proof of what happens when tribal elders lead with vision.
Artwork of Melina Gil
The LCO Elders Association designed the blueprint for a business that gives everything back, but it is the unwavering dedication, sharp memory, and homemade care of Ramona Ingerson that keeps the coffee brewing and the community cared for, one cup at a time.