What is Neuropharmacology? Luke Phelan could tell you. He's a student and Real Change vendor who is currently getting his Associates Degree in Science at Seattle Central Community College.
A native of Ballard, Luke possesses a strong and meaningful relationship with his customers and community. He sells in neighboring Fremont at the family-owned Marketime Foods, where he knows nearly every customer and staffer from the manager on down. He even used to work at the store himself. "I know so many people in the neighborhood," he smiles, "I spend more time just talking with people than actually selling the paper."
That sense of community proved vital when Luke became homeless. "That connection felt really good because a lot of times it's really lonely," he says. "I don't think a lot of people get that about being homeless.... It's a mind-numbing, mind-crushing experience."
90-second video interview with Luke Phelan, by Alex Becker, Real Change Intrn & Contributing Writer.
"I used to party a lot, that's what got me here" Luke says. And then he went "straight" on the street by himself. "I had to isolate myself from people who perpetuated those habits... and it gets worse if they go homeless," he says, "That's a hard and vicious cycle to get out of."
But Luke got out of it. And it would have been even harder without the support he received from other people. "Now I've got a lot of good friends up here that I can go talk to," he says, "I don't need to go back to that stuff."
You can find Luke selling Real Change nearly every day at Marketime Foods on 44th and Fremont, so be sure to go buy a paper, or just stop by and chat. He's saving money for school, and every dollar counts.