Lincoln Board Member Spotlight: Nate Moncrief
Nate Moncrief
Lincoln Board Member and Ambassador for HOPE Contra Costa
I was introduced to Lincoln through volunteering some time in the early 2000s. My contributions at that time were sporadic and minimal, but I knew enough about Lincoln to make me an immediate fan. In 2010, after a short stint away from the Bay Area, I joined a Lincoln volunteer group hosted by my employer at the time and eventually became the leader of it. That volunteer group is still going strong today, and if you have attended a ROOT event, you may have met those volunteers.
I'm inspired by the history of Lincoln, as well as the hard work and dedication of the Lincoln teams: yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Their work is extremely difficult and uniquely taxing, made even more so by the pandemic. The Lincoln team finds creative ways to confront new challenges and continues to deliver services to the families who need it most. Lincoln has been here for nearly 140 years, working to improve the lives of children and families in the Bay Area. 2020 was an eye-opening year for many. The inequities some folks are just coming to realize still exist are the same dragons Lincoln has been slaying for over a century. HOPE is an especially inspiring example of the work Lincoln does because it's so like Lincoln - proactive, consultative, collaborative, and done outside of the limelight. Education is a known pathway to future stability and this program helps kids (and their families) keep on the right track and maintain positive momentum.
I'm approaching my first year anniversary as a board member at Lincoln and I've been especially lucky to see 2020 through the lens of Lincoln and the work they do for The Bay. And boy, do I love The Bay! For me, it's the home I sought and worked my way into. For many of us, it's the home we're working to keep. Let's help each other out, and continue to support Lincoln's mission of disrupting cycles of poverty and trauma, empowering children and families to build strong futures.