Kickapoo Coffee is Now Wonderstate
Kickapoo Coffee is Now Wonderstate
July 27, 2020
Today we roasted our first batch of coffee as Wonderstate.
The road to our new name has been long and winding. We have listened and learned. It has caused us to reflect on our values as a company and who are as individuals.
By using Kickapoo, the name of an Indigenous Nation, we claimed a name that was never ours to take and perpetuated a cultural erasure. As a mission-driven company, we strive to find better ways of doing business for our farmers, our society and our planet. Using an appropriated name did not line up with our espoused values. Reckoning with our use of the Kickapoo name has been a humbling and vital process. Our name change reflects a desire to hold ourselves accountable and we are grateful for those who held us accountable along the way.
Our new name is a celebration of the connection to place and community that has inspired our company since day one. Wonderstate is more a state of mind than a particular place. One of the things we love about the name is its invitation for people to interpret it. One of our tag lines is ‘Stay Curious", and we aim to create everyday experiences that spark connection, inspire curiosity, and build integrity into our communities.
That bug in our logo is a cicada. Their big, ominous hum sparks a sense of mystery in us. And in our minds, coffee isn't so different. When we taste an exceptional coffee, we know there is more going on--many hands have contributed to bringing the potential of that coffee seed to fruition. The experience reverberates from the people and places that have made it possible. Since cicadas also symbolize renewal and transformation, we thought they'd be a fitting emblem as we move into this next phase of our business.
We are still the same people, roasting the same coffee. As a company committed to social justice and the pursuit of a more fair and equitable world, we recognize that this work begins with us.
Denise & TJ Semanchin and Caleb Nicholes (co-owners)