A Trip to the Apple Store Turned Into Something Bigger

I stopped by the Apple Store the other day to get my phone battery replaced. At $100, it felt like a no-brainer compared to shelling out for a brand new phone — and honestly, it turned out to be one of the better investments I've made recently. My phone runs like new again.

But the real value of that visit had nothing to do with my phone.

While I was waiting, I struck up a conversation with a guy named Quincy. That's one of the things I love about Portland — you never know who you're going to meet or what you're going to learn when you just stay open to conversation.

Quincy introduced me to an organization called Urban Alchemy and their Safe Communities program. Urban Alchemy places trained practitioners in neighborhoods to de-escalate dangerous situations, respond to non-emergency concerns related to homelessness, mental health, and addiction, and connect people to local resources. Their staff carry naloxone and are trained in what they call "street psychology" — building relationships and activating public spaces instead of relying on over-policing or hostile architecture. They're active right here in Portland.

What stuck with me most was what Quincy said next: the next time I see someone on the street who's struggling, I don't have to just walk by feeling helpless. I can point them toward Urban Alchemy's services. That's a real, tangible thing I can do.

As someone who's built a career on networking and connecting people to the right resources, this hit home. Not every connection has to be about business. Sometimes the most important introduction you can make is between a person in need and a service that can actually help.

I walked in to save a few hundred bucks on a phone. I walked out with something worth a whole lot more.

If you want to learn more, check out Urban Alchemy's Safe Communities page.