activities · 7
what they do
direct service · 7
- Connected Communities Initiative Community Dialogue & Development InitiativesRuns the Connected Communities initiative to foster human connection, dignity, and belonging; de-escalate crises; and support community healing through direct engagement.
- Employment for Returning Citizens and Individuals with Lived ExperienceProvides stable employment and pays over $80 million annually in wages and benefits to more than 1,200 returning citizens and individuals with lived experience, creating career pathways and economic reintegration opportunities.
- Grievance Reporting Mechanism ADA Complaint Resolution & TrackingProvides a grievance form for guests, employees, and members of the public to report conduct or experiences related to Urban Alchemy or its employees, supporting accountability and transparency.
- Housed Communities Initiative Permanent and Transitional Housing SupportOperates the Housed Communities initiative to support individuals transitioning out of homelessness and help them achieve long-term housing stability.
- Public Hygiene and Engagement Services Free Shower Services for Homeless IndividualsProvided 11,406 showers in Oakland during 2023 and conducted over 1.6 million positive engagements across San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, and Culver City in the same year as part of public health and outreach efforts.
- Safe Communities Initiative Community-Law Enforcement Engagement ProgramsImplements the Safe Communities initiative to improve public safety through relationship-building, de-escalation, and immediate peace-promoting interventions, contributing to reported reductions in crime.
- Street and Public Space Maintenance Services Workforce Development through Contracted Facility ServicesProvides street cleaning, public restroom monitoring, and public space activation services through a workforce of over 1,300 staff operating in California, Oregon, Texas, and Alabama.
strategies · 7
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Advance healing and re-entry through service work and human connection healing-centered_engagementUses service work and deep human connection as tools for personal healing, de-escalation, and community recovery, particularly for staff and individuals with histories of incarceration or trauma.
- Apply trauma-informed, relationship-based approaches to public safety and care trauma-informed_careCenters love, respect, empathy, and science in program design, using trained practitioners to build relationships, de-escalate crises, and provide trauma-informed care in public spaces.
- Create career pathways and workforce reintegration for returning citizens workforce reintegration with career pathwaysProvides returning citizens with employment, competitive pay, training, and long-term career development within an organization designed by and for formerly incarcerated people, supporting successful re-entry and economic stability.
- Employ lived experience as a foundation for service delivery and community transformation lived-experience workforceUses formerly incarcerated individuals as frontline practitioners who leverage their lived experience to build trust, deliver services, and foster mutual dignity and healing in high-trauma communities.
- Ensure accountability and confidentiality in operations accountability_and_confidentialityAddresses reported concerns through respectful, fair, and confidential review processes, emphasizing organizational responsiveness and accountability.
- Promote housing stability as a pathway out of homelessness housing stability initiativeSupports individuals in exiting homelessness and achieving long-term stability through targeted housing-focused services.
- Transform public spaces through integrated social services and community engagement integrated social services and urban revitalizationCombines social services with urban revitalization to address homelessness, public safety, and disorder by activating high-trauma public spaces and fostering community-centered environments.
named programs · 5
what they call their work
Ambassadors program
Street-based program in San Francisco focused on reducing crime and activating public spaces.
Community-Based Public Safety Programs
Innovative service models for public safety.
Connected Communities
Fosters human connection as the foundation of dignity and belonging, building trust, de-escalating crises, and supporting community healing
Housed Communities
Dedicated to helping people exit homelessness and achieve long-term stability through shelters, tiny home villages, care coordination, and outreach programs
Safe Communities
Addresses public safety concerns through relationship-building; Practitioners are trained to provide immediate interventions that promote peace and reduce crime in public spaces
relationships · 7
who they work with
- City of San Francisco Partner — Collaborates with city leadership, including Mayor London Breed, to provide street-based services and support public safety and cleanliness.
- Community Based Public Safety Collective Partner — Aqeela Sherrills, Co-Founder of Community Based Public Safety Collective, serves on Urban Alchemy’s Board of Directors, indicating an organizational affiliation.
- Cooley LLP Government — Eduardo Santacana, Partner at Cooley LLP, serves on Urban Alchemy’s Board of Directors, indicating a professional affiliation.
- Detours Mentoring Group Inc. Partner — Ben “Taco” Owens, Director of Detours Mentoring Group Inc., serves on Urban Alchemy’s Board of Directors, indicating an organizational affiliation.
- Mayor London Breed Government — Praises Urban Alchemy for making streets cleaner and safer in San Francisco's Tenderloin and Mid-Market neighborhoods
- San Francisco Partner — Operates the Ambassadors program in San Francisco, delivering public safety and outreach services.
- The Hidden Genius Project Partner — Sean Valentine, Chief Strategic Initiatives Officer at The Hidden Genius Project, serves on Urban Alchemy’s Board of Directors, indicating an organizational affiliation.