Media
by EDUCO
Read about our impact, recent successes, and how we are making a difference with and in the lives of returning citizens, as well as healing neighborhoods throughout the country.
Press Releases
URBAN ALCHEMY ANNOUNCES NEW STUDY ON SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS IN EAST AUSTIN
Urban Alchemy, a San-Francisco based nonprofit that employs citizens returning from incarceration to help heal cities and neighborhoods, is undertaking a landmark study to reduce nonviolent crime in Central East Austin.
Residents at Arch and 8th Street Homeless Shelters to Receive Job Training Through Austin Community College
Unhoused guests staying at the ARCH and 8th Street homeless shelters will soon be able to take a training program in heating and air conditioning maintenance through Austin Community College.
The City of Birmingham Taps Urban Alchemy to Manage a Community-Based Public Safety Program
The City of Birmingham has selected California-based organization Urban Alchemy to lead a new program focused on serving unhoused residents in crisis.
Urban Alchemy Welcomes New CFO: Melek Totah
Urban Alchemy has hired Melek Totah as its new chief financial officer. She brings more than 20 years of experience working with nonprofits and publicly traded companies to manage and improve their financial controls and processes.
Urban Alchemy Hires Dr. Lisa De La Rue as Director of Training
Urban Alchemy is announcing that it has hired Dr. Lisa De La Rue to serve as Director of Training. Dr. De La Rue, who holds a PhD in counseling psychology, will be the first person to fulfill this important role.
Mayor London Breed, Stanford Researchers, and Urban Alchemy Announce 52% Decrease in Crime Rates in Ambassador-served Areas
Mayor London Breed, Urban Alchemy, Stanford researchers and community members celebrated the drop in crime in the Urban-Alchemy-served neighborhoods of San Francisco, which was showcased in the results of a new Stanford University study.
In the News
Urban Alchemy building relationships and trust among unhoused in Birmingham
The Urban Alchemy team is now working to improve the lives of the unhoused in Birmingham. The Homeless Engagement Assistance Response Team, or H.E.A.R.T team were on 14th Street North on Tuesday trying to connect those who are hurting with various resources to improve their lives.
Donations from Coats for Kids drive given out to East Austin families
Ahead of the drop in temperatures next week, one group is working to make sure Austinites stay warm. Urban Alchemy hosted a coat giveaway on Saturday at Elm Ridge Apartments in East Austin.
Urban Alchemy and ACC offer HVAC course for homeless population
The 20-week program will help those in the class earn their HVAC certification.
Space heaters, socks and sustenance available for the unhoused on Skid Row
As temperatures drop, a nonprofit offers 24/7 services in Skid Row. Urban Alchemy is providing climate stations on Towne, San Pedro, and Maple/5th Streets in Skid Row for unhoused people. The stations offer essential supplies and support during these challenging winter months. The organization offers space heaters, serves warm beverages, provides food, socks and more for those in need. …
‘The Oasis’ hopes to fill in the gaps for those in need during cold weather in Austin
Wednesday is expected to be another cold night in Austin, with temperatures dipping into the 30s. However, that won’t meet the threshold to open the city’s cold weather shelters for a second day in a row. That’s where Urban Alchemy, which runs the Eighth Street Shelter and the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH), is stepping in and inviting…
Urban Alchemy HEART training in Birmingham
Homelessness has been a growing concern in the city of Birmingham for quite some time. A partnership was announced back in September with Urban Alchemy to address the need. The California-based organization has hired members for its HEART (homeless engagement assistance response team) group that is currently training to hit the streets of Birmingham.
Puppetry and compassion power this month’s Extraordinary Women
For their outstanding service and unwavering dedication to the community, Devona Carpenter and Crystal Anderson have been named Extraordinary Women in Austin.
Este es el programa que ayuda a niños y familias a caminar seguros en Tenderloin
Muchos niños en San Francisco deben caminar por las calles peligrosas de la ciudad para poder llegar a su escuela. Sin embargo, el distrito Tenderloin ejecutó un programa que denominó ‘Paso Seguro’ para que los padres que lleven a los menores puedan llegar seguros a la escuela. Incluso, explican cómo hacen con las personas en situación de calle.
Urban Alchemy offers opportunities for the formerly incarcerated
Huntington Park resident Roberto Gonzalez’s story began at Tina’s Burritos factory, where he worked before a friend, aware of his history of short-term incarcerations, recommended Urban Alchemy. Seeing it as an opportunity for a fresh start at 38 years of age, Roberto applied and quickly found his place, where he now runs the temporary shelter Lincoln Safe Sleep Village in…
Over 300 coats distributed at coat giveaway hosted by Urban Alchemy in East Austin
Non-profit organization Urban Alchemy hosted a Community Coat Giveaway featuring coats, gloves, mittens, bikes, and toys for those in need at Doris Miller Auditorium Saturday. The event was held in partnership with the organizations We Can Now and Hungry Hill Foundation.
Portland opens first combined RV, homeless shelter site
The City of Portland opened its 10th alternative shelter on Monday aiming to help people who are unsheltered and people living in their vehicles or RVs.
We Live With Addiction. This Is The 1 Thing We Want People To Know.
Many of us don’t know how to support someone with an addiction, and going about it in the “right way” is easier said than done. Chuck Colton, a 56-year-old mental health counselor at Urban Alchemy in Los Angeles who formerly struggled with addiction and was unhoused, has some pointers.