In 2008, Kristine took an AmeriCorps job running a meal program for unhoused young people.
Almost 50 hungry youth arrived on Kristine’s first night. What happened next was terrifying for
a young, small town white woman. Her purse went missing, there were fights and screaming
guests. Kristine vowed to never return. But then something unexpected happened. A 17-year-
old guest instantly turned the chaos into quiet, polite behavior with a single phrase. This began
Kristine’s journey of learning from those she served, people living in constant threat and
conflict. Through their mentoring and hundreds of incidents, she began to see conflict as a
place to deepen a connection and counter social inequity.
Kristine has since trained thousands of people how to respond not react, lean in and not lash
out. She particularly enjoys working with women who are naturally skilled at de-escalation
after they debunk the false narratives around gender roles. In her free time, she hangs out with
her backyard ducks and sculpts scrap metal.
To learn more about Kristine’s mission to create “conflict resolutionaries” wherever she goes,
see https://www.seattleconflictresolution.com
