As someone who works tirelessly to support myself and build a future, I am deeply disappointed by the treatment I received at Alo in the Prudential Center in Boston. This experience was not only disrespectful, but it was also completely uncalled for—especially for someone who simply needed to charge their phone to continue working.

I don’t know the names of the employees involved, but it’s important that this message reaches the appropriate people, especially management and corporate leadership at Alo. What happened to me should not happen to anyone else.

Like many others, I rely on my phone to do delivery work and stay connected to the business I’m building. Charging my phone at the Prudential Center is something I’ve done countless times quietly and respectfully. I don’t cause problems, I don’t speak to people unnecessarily, and I certainly don’t make anyone feel uncomfortable. Yet, on this particular occasion, I was confronted in a manner that felt deeply unfair and prejudicial.

To be accused of making staff feel “uncomfortable”—when I hadn’t spoken to a single person aside from a manager—is not just a misunderstanding. It’s a reflection of misplaced judgment and bias. I was there for one purpose: to charge my phone so I could continue making an honest living. Instead, I was treated like a problem, rather than a person.

Let me be clear: I am not someone to be harassed or made into a spectacle. I am not someone you bother or target. I mind my business, work hard, and stay focused on my goals. In the last eight months alone, I’ve worked hard enough in revenue—all while navigating real-life challenges and building a brand with integrity.

I don’t ask for favors. I don’t expect handouts. All I ask is to be treated with respect and decency, especially in a public space like the Prudential Center. No one should be treated the way I was, especially not someone just trying to get through the day, pay their bills, and build a better future.

If Alo is serious about its brand values—especially those of mindfulness, community, and inclusion—then the team at the Boston Prudential Center has clearly missed the mark. The individuals responsible for this disrespectful treatment should be held accountable. They should be reported, investigated, and, if necessary, removed so that no other hardworking person is made to feel the way I did.

Let this be a message: Don’t mess with people who are simply trying to live and work in peace. You never know what someone is going through, or what they’ve overcome. I’m not asking for special treatment—just basic human decency.

I will not be silent about this. My experience deserves to be heard, and Alo’s leadership must do better.

— Jeremy Manning

Entrepreneur | Delivery Worker | Builder of the Future