Background
Through their participation in youth-led environmental advocacy organizations, housing cooperatives, and community land projects, Lincoln has born witness to many conflicts. In 2020, they gathered a cohort of 12 young people, sourced funding for training, and co-created a team of youth mediators for their community in Oakland, CA. In the two years since, they have held space for nuanced conversations on themes such as gender-and-race-based harm, neurodiversity, anti-semitism, digital security, public endorsements, leadership transitions, organizational structure, and organizational values development.
Lincoln strives to see all conflict as a generative force in organizations and communities - apparent disagreement is an opportunity to practice different ways of communicating and to strive for greater understanding. Lincoln sees their role as a facilitator and mediator as being responsible for the process, while participants are responsible for any outcomes. Their practice aspires to cultivate democratic decision making and interdependent community-level governance.