Urban Alchemy

We’re a social enterprise that engages with situations where extreme poverty meets homelessness, mental illness and addiction.When a neighborhood, street or intersection earns a reputation as a place to avoid, we turn it around. Urban Alchemy is a peaceful and supportive presence, inviting communities to rebuild and restore a sense of pride and respect in urban spaces. We’re able to do this because we share a special bond with society’s most vulnerable – and because we see ourselves in their struggle. We know what it means to be dismissed and disrespected. We recognize the humanity in those who are struggling and we treat them how we once wished others had treated us.Our People Menu Few people know how to withstand the trauma and chaos we see on the streets – it’s usually those who have endured it themselves.

Most of our team have served life sentences in prison. They’ve spent 20+ years in a confined environment where their survival depends on their ability to read people in unpredictable situations. This teaches them instincts that you can’t learn in a classroom.

Employers aren’t bending over backwards to hire returning citizens. But at Urban Alchemy, their skills are sought-after. When they start working here, people often realize that the self-awareness and personal development they gain on the inside are one of the most valuable gifts they can give back on the outside.