>> THIS PRESENTATION WAS MADE
POSSIBLE THANKS IN PART TO THE
PATRONS OF "CHARLOTTESVILLE
INSIDE-OUT" COMMITTED TO
EXPLORING THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND
QUALITY OF LIFE THAT UNIQUELY
DEFINE CHARLOTTESVILLE AND ITS
SURROUNDINGS.
>> THE LITTLE THING THAT I USE
WITH KIDS IS ALGAE AND FREDDIE
FUNGI GOT TOGETHER AND ALICE
CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT FREDDIE AND
FREDDIE CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT
ALICE.
>> WELL PLAYED.
>> FOR WHTJ, I'M TERRI ALLARD
AND THIS IS "CHARLOTTESVILLE
INSIDE-OUT"!
Captioning Provided By:
Caption Associates, LLC
www.captionassociates.com
>> WE COULD PROBABLY STAND RIGHT
HERE FOR THREE HOURS AND FIND
ENOUGH STUFF TO TALK ABOUT AND
THINK ABOUT IT.
IT'S JUST SO MUCH TO LOOK AT.
ARE YOU A NATURE LOVER?
TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO LEARN
ABOUT A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM THAT
TRAINS AND ORGANIZES INDIVIDUALS
TO BECOME STEWARDS OF THE
ENVIRONMENT.
JOIN US AS WE TALK WITH CLAI
LANGE AND MICHELLE PRISBY OF THE
RIVANNA MASTER NATURALISTS.
COME ON.
>> IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT
POORLY NAMED PROGRAM BECAUSE YOU
DON'T HAVE TO BE A MASTER OF
ANYTHING TO BE A PART OF IT.
WE'RE SCIENCE BASED BUT WE WANT
TO ENCOURAGE ALL THE POETS AND
PHILOSOPHERS OUT THERE TO COME
AND JOIN IN AND THE ART IS
BECAUSE WE NEED ALL OF IT.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE THREE
MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAM,
MICHELLE.
>> SURE.
ONE IS THAT IT'S FOCUSED IN
NATURAL RESOURCES.
WE HAVE AMAZING NATURAL
RESOURCES IN VIRGINIA AND HERE
IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, WOODS OUR
WILDLIFE OUR WONDERFUL WATERS
LIKE THE RIVANNA RIVER.
THE PROGRAM IS REALLY FOCUSED ON
NOT ONLY LEARNING ABOUT ALL THE
NATURAL RESOURCES BUT ACTUALLY
GOING OUT THERE AND DOING
SOMETHING TO BENEFIT THEM.
WHICH IS THE SECOND BIG
IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM
WHICH IS VOLUNTEERISM.
SO WHILE THE TRAINING COMPONENT
IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO IT'S A
WAY TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE
DOOR, THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT
OF THE PROGRAM IS VOLUNTEERISM.
WE CONNECT THE TRAINEES WHO HAVE
LEARNED ABOUT THE NATURAL
RESOURCES TO PROJECTS THAT NEED
THEIR HELP TO BENEFIT NATURAL
RESOURCE CONSERVATION IN THE
COMMUNITY.
>> RIGHT.
>> THIRD ASPECT IS IT'S
COMMUNITY BASED.
WE HAVE 29 DIFFERENT CHAPTERS
AROUND VIRGINIA INCLUDING THE
RIVANNA CHAPTER AND EACH ONE
TRIES TO WORK WITH LOCAL
PARTNERS AND RESPOND TO LOCAL
NEEDS RELATING TO NATURAL
RESOURCES.
>> AS I WAS EXPLAINING TO YOU,
WE USE ELECTRICITY IN A WORLD OF
FISHERY SCIENCE TO COLLECT
ANIMALS, STUDY THEM, TAG THEM,
LOOK AT MOVEMENT, MIGRATION,
GROWTH AND LET THEM GO.
>> IT WAS JUST A REALLY
EFFICIENT WAY TO CATCH THE FISH.
THERE WAS SO MANY DIFFERENT
TYPES OF FISH AND WE GOT TO SEE
IT.
IT WAS IN THE CHUB FAMILY AND IT
HAD THE LITTLE CARTILAGE HORNS
WHICH IT USED TO DEFEND ITS
NEST.
AND THAT WAS JUST REALLY
INTERESTING.
I'D NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.
I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE
HIGHLIGHTS FOR ME.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WHAT ELSE DO I WANT TO SHOW YOU?
>> SO WHAT DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DO
TO BECOME A MASTER NATURALIST?
THEY HAVE CLASSES?
>> 40 HOURS OF CLASS TIME ONCE A
WEEK.
AND THEN SO FOLLOWING CLASS,
FOLLOWING THE GRADUATION, THEY
WILL PARTICIPATE IN 40 HOURS OF
VOLUNTEER WORK.
WE'RE KIND OF, LIKE MICHELLES,
WE'RE KIND OF LIKE, I MEAN I
THINK OF IT AS SORT OF WE'RE
ALMOST LIKE A TEMP AGENCY OF
VOLUNTEERS.
LIKE A SWAT TEAM, WE'LL SEND
THEM OUT TO DO A LITTLE STREAM
WATCH PARTNERING AND WE CAN SEND
THEM OUT TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS,
IVY CREEK HERE PEOPLE VOLUNTEER
SO WHATEVER THE VOLUNTEER NEEDS
ARE, THEY CAN PULL FROM OUR POOL
OF VOLUNTEERS OF TRAINEES.
SO IN ADDITION TO THE 40 HOURS
OF CLASS, DURING THAT CLASS
TIME, THEY'LL DO THREE HOURS OF
WARM-UP VOLUNTEER WORK AND THEY
DO FIVE FIELD TRIPS AND THE
FIELD TRIPS ARE REALLY THE FUN
PART BECAUSE THEY GET OUT TO GET
THEIR FEET WET LITERALLY.
AND COUNT BUGS IN THE WATER AND
FIND THE BIRDS IN THE TREES AND
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE HAVING THE
MAMMALS AND FISH CLASS.
AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO ALL OF THAT.
>> A LOT OF TIMES, YOU DON'T GET
TO SEE THE ACTUAL ANIMAL BUT YOU
WANT TO SEE WHAT'S USING YOUR
CREEK BOTTOM OR WHAT WALKED
THROUGH THE MUD OR WHAT WAS UP
ON YOUR PORCH IN THE SNOW.
YOU CAN LOOK AT YOUR TRACKS AND
SEE WHAT WAS THERE.
THERE ARE TONS OF GREAT GUIDES
OUT THERE ON TRACKS.
>> THERE'S A DIVERSE GROUP OF
FOLKS IN THE CLASS.
I THINK THEY'RE ALL FOLKS THAT
HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CURIOUS ABOUT
THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND
THE ENVIRONMENT HERE IN THE
CENTRAL VIRGINIA AREA.
SO YOU CAN BE BOTH KNOWING A BIT
ABOUT EVERYTHING BUT YOU CAN
ALSO FOCUS ON THOSE THINGS THAT
YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW MORE
ABOUT.
>> WE HAD A CLIMATEOLOGIST FROM
U.V.A. COME IN AND TALK WITH US
AND HE MADE WEATHER REALLY
EXCITING AND INTERESTING.
AND I THINK EVERY WEDNESDAY HAS
BEEN JUST NEW AND EXCITING
TOPIC.
>> WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, I
REMEMBER ONLY TWO FIELD TRIPS
AND IT'S THROUGH THE MASTER
NATURALIST PROGRAM THAT I'VE
LEARNED SOME PRACTICAL ASPECTS
AND I APPRECIATE THE NATURAL
WORLD SO MUCH MORE.
>> LET'S START WITH P.H. BECAUSE
THAT DEVELOPS ALMOST INSTANTLY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS?
>> EIGHT.
>> WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS WE
ALSO DID WAS MOVE THIS AND YOU
SEE THE CIRCLE AS YOU LOOK
THROUGH IT.
>> YEAH, IT'S CLOSER TO SEVEN, I
THINK, THAN EIGHT.
AND THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE YOU WANT
THE P.H. TO BE NEUTRAL IN THE
STREAM.
>> MICHELLE ALWAYS STARTS OFF
THE CLASS WITH THE BIG PICTURE,
YOU KNOW, THE CONCEPTS OF WIN,
WIN FOR EVERYBODY.
MUTUALISM AND ALL THOSE SORTS OF
THINGS.
>> THEN THERE ARE CLASSES ON
EACH OF THE MAJOR ECOSYSTEM
TYPES IN VIRGINIA.
FOREST, AQUATIC RESOURCES,
COASTAL RESOURCES, AND THEN
THERE ARE CLASSES ON BIRDS,
INSECTS, MAMMALS, FISH, WHAT AM
I LEAVING OUT?
BOTANY.
>> PLANTS.
BOTANY.
THERE'S SOME SKILLS BASED
CLASSES, SOME BASIC NATURALIST
SKILLS LIKE HOW TO KEEP A FIELD
JOURNAL.
HOW TO USE KEYS AND FIELD GUIDES
TO IDENTIFY ORGANISMS.
HOW TO EDUCATE AND INTERPRET
NATURE FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
>> AND WHERE THE, WHERE THE
URBAN AND, YOU KNOW, RURAL AREAS
INTERSECT AND WE HAVE SOME OF
THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE LIKE
STORMWATER RUNOFF ISSUES AND
THINGS LIKE THAT AND HABITAT
RESTORATIONS FOR IN THE CITY AND
PLANTING GARDENS AND THINGS FOR
PEOPLE THAT ARE IN
CHARLOTTESVILLE, FOR EXAMPLE,
AND NOT OUT IN THE COUNTRY.
>> RIGHT.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER FIELD
TRIPS?
>> ONE OF THE MOST RECENT FIELD
TRIPS THAT EVERYBODY ALWAYS
LOVES IS WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF
HAVING LINDA FINK WHO IS AN
ENTOMOLOGIST DOWN AT SWEET BRIAR
COLLEGE AND SHE INVITES THE
CLASS TO COME DOWN TO HER LAB.
THEY FEED BUTTERFLIES SOMETIMES
OR IT'S JUST A GREAT EXPERIENCE
THERE.
>> THERE'S ALWAYS A SPRING
BOTANY FIELD TRIP.
GO OUT AND LEARN TO IDENTIFY
WILD FLOWERS IN AROUND APRIL
WHEN THEY'RE STARTING TO BE VERY
DIVERSE AND PLENTIFUL.
>> ALL RIGHTY!
GRAB SOME TWEEZERS.
WE HAVE TWO LITTLE FISH!
>> YOU KNOW, USUALLY WALK DOWN
TO A STREAM AND YOU SEE ALL THE
ROCKS AND YOU LOOK AT THAT AND
YOU SEE THE WATER ROLLING OVER
IT.
YOU DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT
WHAT'S UNDER THOSE ROCKS OR
BETWEEN THOSE ROCKS AND SO WE
GOT TO SEE SOME OF THE LARVAE OF
MAYFLIES AND CATTIS FLIES AND
DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT AND
THAT WAS QUITE COOL.
>> WE HAVE A NATURAL AREA,
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE
ARE ALL DEPENDENT.
SO I THINK THE MORE PEOPLE KNOW
AND APPRECIATE THE NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT, THE MORE LIKELY
THEY ARE TO BE CAREFUL IN THAT
ENVIRONMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT
WE PRESERVE THIS NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
>> I THINK THOSE ARE GILLS.
>> THAT'S A GILL.
>> THOSE ARE GILLS.
>> GILLS.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO VOLUNTEERISM, GOING BACK
TO THAT, GIVE US SOME EXAMPLES
IN THIS COMMUNITY OF WHAT PEOPLE
DO.
WHERE THEY TAKE THIS NEXT AND
SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WITH
WHICH THEY WORK.
>> THERE'S SOME NATIONAL
PROGRAMS LIKE THE NATIONAL
BUTTERFLY COUNT.
AND PEOPLE WILL, YOU KNOW, START
SMALL THAT WAY AND START WITH A
LITTLE HAND HOLDING AND IF THEY
WANT TO BE A GUIDE HERE AT IVY
CREEK.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT.
>> THERE'S A PROGRAM FOR THAT.
SO THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF
DIRECTIONS YOU CAN BE FUNNELED
INTO.
>> YEAH, SO THE VOLUNTEERING
THAT THE FOLKS IN THE RIVANNA
CHAPTER DO KIND OF FALLS INTO
THREE REALMS.
ONE WOULD BE EDUCATION.
SOME OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED
LIKE TEACHING KIDS HERE AT IVY
CREEK NATURAL AREA OR LEADING
SCHOOL PROGRAMS AT CAMP
ALBEMARLE OR ACTUALLY IN THE
SCHOOLS, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
OR EDUCATION ABOUT NATURE FOR
ADULTS AS WELL AND WE HAVE
VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE DONE THAT.
CITIZEN SCIENCE AND THAT WOULD
INCLUDE THE GREAT BACKYARD BIRD
COUNT, BUTTERFLY COUNTS THAT
THIS CHAPTER ORGANIZES EVERY
YEAR.
>> HAWK WATCH, SO THERE ARE
THINGS THAT, OTHER BIG PROGRAMS
THAT YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN.
>> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT, YOU HAVE GREAT
INSTRUCTORS, WHERE ARE THEY
COMING FROM?
>> WOW, EVERYWHERE.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE
UNIVERSITY AND THEN WE HAVE THE
DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND INLAND
FISHERYS WHICH IS WHERE WE HAVE
OUR WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST TEACHING
THE MAMMALS CLASS RIGHT NOW.
>> DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY IS
BASED HERE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE SO
WE HAVE INSTRUCTORS FROM THERE
AND AS WELL AS MASTER
NATURALISTS, VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE
BEEN IN THE PROGRAM FOR MANY
YEARS AND HAVE BECOME EXPERTS
REALLY THEMSELVES.
AND ARE GREAT INSTRUCTORS.
>> IF I HAVE THIS, 1,000
MILLILITERS OF WATER AND THAT
REPRESENTS ALL OF THE WATER ON
EARTH, ABOUT 97% OF THAT IS SEA
WATER.
AND YOU CAN'T DRINK SEA WATER
WITHOUT SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY
DESALINATING IT SO THAT LEAVES
THIS AMOUNT OF WATER THAT IS
FRESH.
80% OF THAT IS FROZEN IN THE ICE
CAPS ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH
POLES.
BUT OF THIS AMOUNT, 75% IS
UNDERGROUND AND UNAVAILABLE TO
US.
SO OF THAT AMOUNT, 3/1,000TH OF
1%, IT'S ONE DROP THAT'S
AVAILABLE TO US.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IT
CLEAN.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO CLEAN IT
UP IF IT GETS DIRTY.
>> LET'S CLOSE THIS OUT BY
TALKING ABOUT HOW EVERYONE
BENEFITS FROM THIS PROGRAM.
>> AND THAT GO TO THE QUESTION,
TOO, OF WHY BECOME A MASTER
NATURALIST?
BECAUSE YOU COULD JUST SIT AT
HOME AND, YOU KNOW, WALK AROUND
AND LOOK AT ALL THE GREAT
ANIMALS.
BUT WE -- I THINK PEOPLE WHO
COME HERE FEEL THAT THEY FOUND
THEIR TRIBE.
YOU KNOW, YOU ALWAYS WANT THAT
SORT OF SITUATION.
YOU'RE A MUSICIAN AND YOU LOVE
BEING AROUND OTHER MUSICIANS.
PEOPLE HERE REALLY LOVE BEING
AROUND OTHER PEOPLE WHO FEEL AT
ONE WITH NATURE.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
I THINK WE OFFER THE VOLUNTEERS
A REALLY MEANINGFUL WAY TO DO
SOMETHING GOOD FOR NATURAL
RESOURCES AND THEN WE OFFER ALL
THE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND
OUR STATE NATURAL RESOURCE
AGENCIES WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS
WHO ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND
SKILLED BECAUSE THEY'VE GONE
THROUGH THE TRAINING AND CAN
REALLY HELP MAKE A BIG
DIFFERENCE.
>> THE NUMBERS, I MEAN WE TALK
ABOUT IT, IT HAS A REAL VALUE TO
THE STATE.
>> RIGHT.
RIGHT!
IT'S NOT JUST -- IT'S A GREAT
THING.
>> AS FAR AS THE CONTRIBUTION OF
TIME.
>> LAST YEAR, YOU ALL PUT IN
7500 HOURS THE VOLUNTEERS PUT
IN.
>> 7,647.
>> THIS YEAR SO FAR AT LEAST
1700 HOURS.
AND PROBABLY MANY, MANY MORE
THAN THAT, TERRI BECAUSE THOSE
ARE JUST THE HOURS THAT GET
DOCUMENTED THAT THE PEOPLE CAN
GET THE COUNT THEIR 40 HOURS FOR
CERTIFICATION AND CONTINUING
CERTIFICATION BUT REALLY, THERE
ARE MANY, MANY MORE HOURS THAT
GO.
>> YEAH AND PEOPLE CREATING
PROGRAMS THAT DIDN'T EVEN EXIST.
YOU KNOW, PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS
THAT WERE NOT EVEN HERE BEFORE.
>> I THINK WE CURRENTLY HAVE
ABOUT 20 PROJECTS IN THE CITIZEN
SCIENCE AREA AND ABOUT THAT MANY
ALSO IN THE EDUCATION AREA.
AND SLIGHTLY FEWER IN THE
STEWARDSHIP AREA WHERE PEOPLE
YOU CAN GO OUT AND BUILD TRAILS,
YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S YOUR THING.
>> THIS IS SO GREAT.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR
SPENDING TIME WITH US TODAY.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU, TERRI.
>> YOU CAN SEE THIS TREE FELL
DOWN DURING THAT STORM.
>> I ENJOY BEING AN INSTRUCTOR
IN THE MASTER NATURALIST PROGRAM
BECAUSE IT GIVES ME AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A LOT OF
THINGS THAT I KNOW ABOUT LIKE IN
TERMS OF GEOLOGY.
BUT IT ALSO GIVES ME A TIME TO
REJUVENATE MYSELF AND TO LEARN A
LOT MORE AND TO HAVE A BROADER
APPLICATION OF NATURE.
>> IN ALBEMARLE COUNTY, WE STILL
HAVE OUR NATURE AND THE MORE I
LEARN ABOUT IT, THE MORE I'M
AWED BY ITS CREATION.
>> THE RIVANNA MASTER NATURALIST
PROGRAM IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO
REALLY CARE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE
LEARNING ABOUT AND WANT TO
SPREAD THE WORD AND WANT TO
EDUCATE OTHERS ABOUT THEIR
FAVORITE TOPICS AND HOW EVERYDAY
ACTIONS IMPACT THE EARTH.
>> WHEN YOU'RE NOT REALLY USED
TO SAVING, IT CAN BE AN ISSUE
BECAUSE YOU REALLY MAY SAY,
HMMM, I REALLY WANT THAT BUT IS
IT A NEED OR A WANT?
SO I HAVE REALLY LEARNED HOW TO
DEFINE WHAT NEED AND WANT IS.
>> YOU KNOW THIS PLACE IS OLD
AND IT NEED AN UPGRADE.
AND I BELIEVE IT WILL BE MORE
COMFORTABLE LIVING FOR THE
RESIDENTS AND SO YEAH, IT WILL
BE WONDERFUL.
>> TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO LEARN
ABOUT AN ORGANIZATION THAT
BELIEVES THAT EVERYONE SHOULD
HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME.
AND THROUGH EDUCATION, LENDING,
AND DEVELOPMENT, THEY'RE HELPING
TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN
OUR COMMUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS
AND FAMILIES.
JOIN US AS WE VISIT WITH FRANK
GROSCH AND CLAUDETTE GRANT OF
PIEDMONT HOUSING ALLIANCE.
COME ON.
>> WE HAVE SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS
IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE
INVOLVED IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
TELL US WHAT MAKES P.H.A.
UNIQUE.
>> OUR PART OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
REALLY FOCUSES ON THE EDUCATION
AND LENDING THAT'S AROUND HOME
OWNERSHIP.
SO WE'VE HELPED 1,000 FAMILIES
TO BUY THEIR FIRST HOUSE.
NOT JUST IN OUR COUNSELLING
PROGRAM BUT ALSO WE CAN LEND
FOLKS MONEY FOR A DOWNPAYMENT
AND CLOSING COSTS AND TO DATE,
WE'VE LENT OVER $8 1/2 MILLION
ON THE MOST FAVORABLE TERMS YOU
COULD IMAGINE, RIGHT, TO HELP
PEOPLE BUY THEIR FIRST HOUSE.
AND WE'RE THE ONLY ONES IN
CHARLS CHARLOTTESVILLE, THE
ONLY PRIVATE ORGANIZATION THAT
IS DOING AFFORDABLE RENTAL
HOUSING AND THAT'S REALLY OUR
GREATEST STRENGTH IN TERMS OF
HOUSING PRODUCTION IS IN THE
RENTAL SPACE.
BUT WE'RE NOT PUBLIC HOUSING.
WE ARE A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION.
>> RIGHT, YOU KNOW WE KNOW IT'S
INTIMIDATING TO TRY TO BUY A
HOUSE OR EVEN LOOKING FOR
HOUSING.
TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE WAYS THAT
YOU HELP TO MAKE THAT AN EASIER
PROCESS AND ONE THAT PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND.
>> SURE.
SO WE HAVE A STAFF OF COUNSELORS
THAT ARE ALL CERTIFIED BY H.U.D.
AND VERY HIGHLY TRAINED.
>> H.U.D. IS FOR PEOPLE WHO
DON'T KNOW?
>> SORRY.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN
DEVELOPMENT.
>> GREAT.
>> AN AWARD-WINNING STAFF AND
FOLKS COME TO US WITH A WHOLE
HOST OF HOUSING QUESTIONS AND
CONCERNS.
SOMETIMES IT'S UNDERSTANDING THE
BUYING PROCESS, SOMETIMES IT'S
UNDERSTANDING THE MORTGAGE
PROCESS.
SOMETIMES THAT'S MYSTIFYING TO
MANY OF US.
SOMETIMES FOLKS COME TO US ABOUT
CONCERNS OF DISCRIMINATION.
WE DON'T THINK THAT TODAY QUITE
AS MUCH AS MAYBE WE USED TO.
IN FACT, IT STILL HAPPENS.
SO FAIR HOUSING IS AN IMPORTANT
CONCERN FOR PIEDMONT HOUSING AND
WE WORK WITH PEOPLE TO ADDRESS
ISSUES AROUND DISCRIMINATION IN
HOUSING.
>> IN MAY OF 1993, I WAS INJURED
IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT.
PARALYZED AND BECAME A
QUADRIPLEGIC SO I GOT LUCKY WHEN
I FOUND THIS PLACE BECAUSE AT
THE TIME, IT WAS REALLY THE ONLY
DECENT HANDICAPPED HOUSING IN
CHARLOTTESVILLE.
THE DOOR HANDLES ACTUALLY HAVE
HANDLES INSTEAD OF KNOBS.
ALL THE DOORS ARE 3-0 DOORS,
THREE FOOT WIDE, 36 INCH WIDE
DOORS.
AND THE HALLWAYS ARE 42 INCHES.
AND THE BATHROOMS ARE BIG AND
SPACIOUS.
AND SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE
PLENTY OF ROOM.
>> TELL US ABOUT THE FRIENDSHIP
COURT COMMUNITY.
>> OK.
FRIENDSHIP COURT COMMUNITY IS
LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN
CHARLOTTESVILLE.
SO WE HAVE PORTICO CHURCH WHO
COMES IN TWICE A WEEK AND THEY
TUTOR THE KIDS AND HELP THEM
WITH THEIR HOMEWORK.
AND WE HAVE A YOUNG MAN WHO
COMES IN AND DOES AFRO-BRAZILIAN
DRUMMING AND SINGING AND DANCING
AND THEN WE TRY TO MAKE THAT
INTERGENERATIONAL AND SO WE HAVE
AN ADULT VERSION THAT WE HOPE TO
TIE EVERYONE IN TOGETHER.
SO THAT ALL THE DIFFERENT AGES
GET TO WORK TOGETHER.
AND WE ALSO HAVE PARKS AND REC.
THEY COME IN AND THEY DO A
VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES AND FIELD
TRIPS WITH THE CHILDREN.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE -- WE'RE
GOING TO BE GETTING A RUNNING
PROGRAM FOR OUR YOUNG BOYS AND
SO IT'S AN EXCITING TIME FOR
THEM, FOR MANY OF THE RESIDENTS
AS WE LOOK AT REDEVELOPMENT OF
FRIENDSHIP COURT WHICH IS ABOUT
40 YEARS OLD.
>> SO TALK ABOUT THE PROJECT.
TALK ABOUT THE GOALS FOR THE
PROJECT.
AND THE PLANS FOR WHEN YOU START
IN 2018, RIGHT?
>> SO FRIENDSHIP COURT TODAY IS
HOME TO 150 FAMILIES, SOME 500
PEOPLE LIVE HERE TODAY.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE AT LAST
COUNT ABOUT 266 ARE KIDS UNDER
THE AGE OF 18.
MOST OF THOSE ARE KIDS UNDER THE
AGE OF 12.
SO WE HAVE LOTS OF KIDS HERE.
AND 96% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS HERE
ARE HEADED BY A SINGLE FEMALE.
A MOTHER OR GRANDMOTHER.
AND THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME IS
UNDER $11,000 A YEAR.
SO FOR REFERENCE, THE MEDIAN
FAMILY INCOME IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY IS
$84,000 A YEAR.
>> WOW.
>> SO WE BECAME INVOLVED IN 2002
WHEN THE ORIGINAL OWNER OFFERED
TO SELL THE PROPERTY AND THERE
WAS A REAL CONCERN AMONG FOLKS
HERE IN TOWN THAT THE PROJECT
WOULD BE CONVERTED TO MARKET
RATE OR REDEVELOPED IN THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING LOST.
THAT'S HOW WE GOT INVOLVED.
>> RIGHT.
>> ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS SO
EXCITING HERE IS THAT THE
COMMUNITY IS VERY INVOLVED IN
THIS PROJECT.
YOU HAVE AN ADVISORY BOARD THAT
YOU'VE PUT TOGETHER FROM
FRIENDSHIP COURT AND YOU HAVE
ADULTS AND YOU ALSO HAVE A YOUTH
LEADERSHIP TEAM.
TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
>> OK.
SO WE DO HAVE AN ADVISORY
COMMITTEE AND WHAT'S EXCITING
ABOUT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS
THAT THE RESIDENTS ELECTED THEIR
OWN MEMBERSHIP.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> SO IT WAS A REALLY FUN TIME
FOR THEM TO GET INVOLVED.
WE HAVE FROM -- WE HAVE A
VARIETY OF AGES THAT ARE
REPRESENTED ON THE ADVISORY
COMMITTEE AS WELL AS WE HAVE A
TEENAGER.
SHE WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AT THE
TIME THAT SHE GOT ELECTED TO BE
ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
>> SHE ACTUALLY ORGANIZED HER
FRIENDS TO VOTE FOR HER.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> WHICH WE THOUGHT WAS AWESOME.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> THEY'RE MAKING CHANGE IN
2019.
IT'S CALLED THE MASTER PLAN SO
WE GO OUT HERE TO THE RESIDENTS
TO LET THEM KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW,
EVERYTHING IS OK, YOU KNOW,
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT IF THEY
HAVE TO MOVE AND THIS AND THAT.
WE CAN EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT
BASICALLY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO
BUILD CERTAIN PARTS AND MOVE
THEM OUT AND PUT THEM IN LIKE
THAT SO NOBODY HAS TO LEAVE.
>> IT WAS KIND OF COOL TO GET
VOTED BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF
KIDS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO
BE A TOP LEADER OF THE
NEIGHBORHOOD, IT FEELS GREAT!
>> SO NOW, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY IN THE NEXT FEW
YEARS TO REDEVELOP.
AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING
THIS WITHOUT DISPLACEMENT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> AND YOU HAVE PLANS FOR THE
COMMUNITY CENTER AND YOU HAVE
PLANS FOR EDUCATIONAL --
UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
FOR THE CHILDREN.
TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> SURE.
SO NO DISPLACEMENT REALLY IS THE
CENTERPIECE OF THE PLAN.
RIGHT?
WE HAVE WORKED OUT WITH OUR
PLANNING TEAM, OUR ARCHITECTS, A
FAIRLY COMPLEX PHASING PLAN THAT
MEANS WE CAN REDEVELOP
FRIENDSHIP COURT WITHOUT
DISPLACING ANY RESIDENTS AT AT
ANY TIME DURING OR AFTER
CONSTRUCTION.
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THIS
COMMUNITY INTACT.
IT'S A VIBRANT COMMUNITY AND WE
ARE NOT HERE TO DESTROY IT.
YOU'RE HERE TO BUILD IT UP.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO OUR PLANS INCLUDE A MIXED
INCOME PROJECT OF UP TO 600
UNITS ON THIS SITE.
AND A MIXED USE PROJECT SO WE
IMAGINE APARTMENTS OVER GROUND
FLOOR RETAIL AND OFFICE SPACE.
AND RIGHT AT THE CENTER,
LITERALLY RIGHT AT THE CENTER OF
THE SITE, WE HAVE PLANS FOR AN
EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER.
SO WE HAVE LOTS OF KIDS HERE.
WE KNOW THAT OUR KIDS GET TO
CLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE
LOCAL ELEMENTARY, THEY GET THERE
OFTEN TWO YEARS BEHIND IN
READING AND IN MATH.
THAT'S IN KINDERGARTEN.
WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT.
>> RIGHT.
>> WE THINK THE WAY TO DO THAT
IS THROUGH DEVELOPING AN EARLY
CHILDHOOD CENTER.
AFFORDABLE DAYCARE, A TOP NOTCH
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, AND HELP FOR
KIDS AFTER SCHOOL.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT BUILDING NEW
BUILDINGS.
IT'S ABOUT CHANGING THE
TRAJECTORY OF THE LIVES OF OUR
KIDS HERE.
>> WELL, I'M EXCITED BECAUSE
THEY'RE PLANNING TO MAKE A GREEN
SPACE.
AND WE GET TO VOTE LIKE WHAT'S
GOING TO BE ON THERE SO LIKE A
BASKETBALL COURT OR A SPRINKLER.
>> BY US HAVING HANDS-ON,
THEY'RE GIVING US WHAT WE WANT.
YOU KNOW WE'RE GIVING THEM OUR
OPINION OF WHAT WE THINK WILL
WORK AND WHAT WON'T WORK.
WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE HEALTH
OF THE KIDS, AND THE SAFETY OF
THE KIDS AND STUFF LIKE THAT
AROUND HERE.
WHAT PEOPLE WANT AND WHAT THEY
DON'T WANT ON THE INSIDE AND
OUTSIDE.
MAKING SURE THEY GET THE JOB
DONE.
THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT.
MAKE SURE THAT THEY CHOSE ME TO
DO IT TO MAKE SURE THEY DO WHAT
THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE
OTHER PROGRAMS.
P.H.A. PROGRAMS.
SO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND
SAVINGS PROGRAMS.
TALK ABOUT HOW YOU'RE INVOLVED
IN THAT?
>> SO OUR EDUCATION AND LENDING
PROGRAMS ARE REALLY BUILT AROUND
AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP.
FOLKS OFTEN COME TO US WITH A
GOAL OF BUYING THEIR FIRST HOME.
BUT WITH THINGS THEY NEED TO
WORK ON.
SOMETIMES THEY JUST DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND THEY
TRUST US AS AN UNBIASSED SOURCE
OF INFORMATION.
SOMETIMES THEY COME TO US WITH
CREDIT ISSUES OR NEED TO REPAIR
THEIR CREDIT SO WE'LL WORK WITH
THEM THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
AND THEY'LL COME TO US NEEDING
TO BUDGET AND SAVE.
AND SO WE CAN HELP FOLKS GET A
PROGRAM FOR THAT.
THAT WORKS FOR THEIR FAMILY.
>> RIGHT, THAT'S THE VIDA
PROGRAM.
RIGHT?
>> THE VIDA PROGRAM IS ONE OF
THE UNIQUE PROGRAMS FOR US, IT'S
A PROGRAM SPONSORED BY THE STATE
OF VIRGINIA.
IT'S A SAVINGS PROGRAM.
THERE'S A STRONG INCENTIVE FOR
FOLKS TO SAVE.
IT'S AN ACTUAL 8-1 MATCH.
IF SOMEONE SAVES $500, THEY CAN
GET $4,000 FROM THE
COMMONWEALTH.
AND THEY CAN USE THAT MONEY FOR
DOWNPAYMENT ON A HOUSE, THEY CAN
USE IT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, OR
THEY CAN USE IT TO START A
BUSINESS.
IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM AND A VERY
STRONG INCENTIVE TO SAVE.
IT COMES WITH EDUCATION,
BUDGETING, AND PLANNING.
RIGHT?
IF YOU WANT TO START A BUSINESS,
YOU HAVE TO WRITE A BUSINESS
PLAN.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT
AROUND THE VIDA PROGRAM.
AND WE'RE REALLY PLEASED TO BE
ABLE TO OFFER IT TO FOLKS.
>> IT IS A TOOL THAT HAS REALLY
BEEN A LIFE SAVER.
I HAVE STRUGGLED PROBABLY FIVE
YEARS TRYING TO REALLY HAVE A
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS.
AND MONEY HAS BEEN LIKE THE
BIGGEST MOUNTAIN AND HURDLE THAT
I HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
I COULD HAVE A GREAT IDEA BUT IF
I DON'T HAVE THE FINANCING OR
THE HELP TO DO THAT, IT'S NOT
GOING TO GO ANYWHERE.
SO WITH MY BUSINESS NOW, I FEEL
REALLY CONFIDENT AND IT HAS
REALLY HELPED ME TO REALIZE MY
DREAMS.
>> WELL, AND YOU ALSO HELP
PEOPLE FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND APARTMENTS.
HOW DO YOU ALL DO THAT?
>> WE DO.
IN FACT, WE DEVELOP AND OWN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO WE OWN A
SMALL PORTFOLIO OF RENTAL
HOUSING HERE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
AND ALBEMARLE COUNTY PRIMARILY.
AND WE SERVE FOLKS WHOSE INCOMES
RANGE FROM A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS
A MONTH, RIGHT, ON UP.
WE SERVE FOLKS WHO ARE ELDERLY
AND DISABLED AS WELL AS
FAMILIES.
AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE HOUSING
PEOPLE, TERRI, RIGHT?
WE BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF
HOUSING AS A FOUNDATION FOR A
GOOD LIFE, RIGHT, FOR
INDIVIDUALS, FOR FAMILIES, FOR
KIDS IN PARTICULAR.
STABLE HOUSING IS REALLY THE
UNDERPINNING FOR A SUCCESSFUL
LIFE.
>> I'M EXCITED FOR YOU.
I CAN'T WAIT.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW
EVERYTHING GOES.
THANK YOU FOR WHICH SORE
SPENDING TIME WITH US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK.
FOR WHTJ, I'M TERRI ALLARD.
JOIN US NEXT TIME ON
"CHARLOTTESVILLE INSIDE-OUT"!
>> THIS PRESENTATION WAS MADE
POSSIBLE THANKS IN PART TO THE
PATRONS OF "CHARLOTTESVILLE
INSIDE-OUT" COMMITTED TO
EXPLORING THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND
QUALITY OF LIFE THAT UNIQUELY
DEFINE CHARLOTTESVILLE AND ITS
SURROUNDINGS.
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