Portland nonprofit terminates multiple Urban Alchemy staff amid arrest spree

In Portland, at least five Urban Alchemy employees have been terminated over the past year after arrests on charges ranging from domestic violence to murder and drug offenses, with a KATU investigation highlighting complaints by guests and staff about misconduct. The terms come amid ongoing scrutiny of the nonprofit’s second-chance hiring model, and Urban Alchemy says it acts quickly to terminate employees who violate standards; some cases involve multiple prior incidents and ongoing court proceedings.