>>> 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.
>> YEY, STONY!
>> FOR WHTJ, I'M TERRI ALLARD
AND THIS IS "CHARLOTTESVILLE
INSIDE-OUT."
CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC
www.captionassociates.com.
>> IT FEELS GREAT TO BE A
HOMEOWNER, ABLE TO HAVE YOUR OWN
SPACE, YOUR OWN PLACE.
IT IS WONDERFUL, JUST A
WONDERFUL FEELING.
>> WE ARE FINALLY BEING ABLE TO
LIVE THAT AMERICAN DREAM.
SO IT WAS JUST PROUD, HAPPINESS
AND JOY INTO MY LIFE.
>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN
SEE IT, BUT THERE'S A SMALL RED
CAR BEHIND HERE?
THAT'S WHERE MY TRAILER SAT.
I WAS THERE FOR 32 YEARS.
AND I'VE BEEN AT THE PROMISE
KEEPER NOW FOR TWO YEARS.
>> TODAY WE'RE GOING TO CATCH UP
WITH THE INNOVATIVE NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION THAT CREATED
SUNRISE, THE FIRST EVER TRAILER
PARK TRANSFORMATION IN THE
COUNTRY CREATED WITHOUT RESIDENT
DISPLACEMENT.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PROVIDING
AFFORDABLE HOMES TO LOW INCOME
FAMILIES IN OUR LCOMMUNITY, JOIN
US AS WE TALK WITH DAN
ROSENSWEIG, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF GREATER
CHARLOTTESVILLE.
COME ON!
>> SO I LOVE THIS SLOGAN.
YOU ALL HAVE A SLOGAN, "WE DON'T
NEED A HAND OUT, WE NEED A HAND
UP."
EXPLAIN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A
PARTNER FAMILY.
>> WELL, YOU HIT IT RIGHT ON THE
HEAD.
WE ARE A HAND UP, NOT A HAND
OUT.
WE DON'T GIVE AWAY HOUSES.
WE HELP LOW INCOME RESIDENTS WHO
WORK HARD, REALIZE THEIR DREAM.
SO, VERY OFTEN, YOU HAVE PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WORK REALLY
HARD SERVING FOOD AT CAFETERIAS
AT THE UNIVERSITY, WORKING
RETAIL JOBS, ETC., YOU NAME IT.
BUT THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN
CHARLOTTESVILLE.
>> RIGHT
>> SO, WE PROVIDE THAT PATHWAY,
NOT ONLY TO HAVE A BETTER PLACE
TO LIVE, BUT TO EARN EQUITY
THROUGH HOME OWNERSHIP.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE
VERY EARLIEST PROJECTS.
WE VISITED YOU ALL IN 2008 ON
NUNNALLY STREET.
TALK ABOUT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> NUNNALLY STREET WAS REALLY
THE BEGINNING OF A BRAND NEW
AGE, A NEW ERA IN THE HISTORY OF
HABITAT.
AND, SO, WHEN YOU LAST VISITED
US, WE WERE AT THE EARLY STAGES
OF BUILDING WHAT WE CALL THE
PEYTON STREET COMMUNITY, WHICH
IS THE FIRST MIXED-INCOME
HABITAT COMMUNITY IN THE STATE
OF VIRGINIA.
>> SO, TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF DEVELOPING MIXED INCOME
NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> WE THINK MIXED-INCOME IS A
HEALTHIER MODEL.
IT'S A HEALTHIER MODEL
FINANCIALLY.
IT'S A HEALTHIER MODEL SOCIALLY.
WE'RE CREATING NEIGHBORHOODS
WHERE PEOPLE AREN'T SEGREGATED
BY RACE OR AGE OR INCOME.
WE'RE BUILDING COMMUNITIES FOR
ALL PEOPLE TO ENJOY AND
PARTICIPATE IN.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS
THAT WE SERVE IN THE ROLE OF
DEVELOPER AS WELL AS BUILDER.
SO WE'LL BUILD A NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE'LL SELL MARKET RATE LOTS TO
BUILDERS WHO BUILD HOMES FOR
GENERAL PURCHASE.
AND THE INCOME THAT WE GET FROM
SELLING THOSE LOTS HELPS
SUBSIDIZE THE MARKET RATE
COMPONENT OF THE MIXED INCOME
NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> AND THEN YOU -- YOUR PARTNER
FAMILIES CAN PARTICIPATE IN A
GOOD NEIGHBOR PROGRAM.
TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> YEAH, WE'VE LEARNED A LOT
ALONG THE WAY.
AND WE'VE REALIZED A NUMBER OF
THINGS.
WE'RE LEARNING ALL THE TIME.
SO AS WE'VE MOVED OUR WAY FROM
NEIGHBORHOOD TO NEIGHBORHOOD, WE
MADE A LOT OF ADVANCES IN TERMS
OF THE WAY THAT WE CREATE SPACE
AND, AND THIRD SPACES FOR PEOPLE
TO GATHER.
BUT ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE
REALIZED IS THAT IT'S MAYBE A
LITTLE BIT UNREALISTIC TO SIMPLY
TAKE A VERY, VERY DIVERSE GROUP
OF PEOPLE, PUT THEM TOGETHER IN
A NEIGHBORHOOD AND JUST, YOU
KNOW, WASH OUR HANDS AND SAY,
"HEY, JUST GO MAKE IT HAPPEN."
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING
IN FAIRLY DENSE NEIGHBORHOODS
LIKE WE DO BECAUSE OF HIGH LAND
COSTS.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT
PEOPLE GET A SENSE OF
NEIGHBORHOOD AND START TO WORK
WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS BEFORE THEY
EVEN MOVE INTO THEIR HOMES.
AND, SO, IT REQUIRES THEM TO
STEP UP AND TAKE LEADERSHIP
ROLES.
IT REQUIRES THEM TO COOPERATE
AND IT'S JUST SORT OF CREATING
THAT DNA IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT THEY'RE EVENTUALLY GOING TO
OWN.
AND, SO, THEY NEED TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT.
AND THIS GIVES THEM A LITTLE BIT
OF PREPARATION AND EXPERIENCE
DOING THAT TOGETHER.
AND, SO, WE THINK OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS LAUNCH WITH A
LITTLE BIT MORE WIND IN THEIR
SAILS, THAN EVEN TYPICAL MARKET
RATE NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> YEAH, OKAY, SO, SPEAKING
ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS AND
COMMUNITY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT
THE SUNRISE PROJECT.
>> WELL, WE WERE VERY PROUD OF
SUNRISE.
SUNRISE IS THE FIRST TRAILER
PARK TRANSFORMATION IN THE
NATION WITHOUT RESIDENT
DISPLACEMENT.
WE WERE LOOKING IN 2004 FOR A
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY AND THIS
ONE KIND OF CAME IN FRONT OF US
BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN A
CONTRACT PLACED ON THIS LAND BY
A LOCAL DEVELOPER.
AND HE WAS GOING TO DO WHAT
DEVELOPERS DO AND THAT WAS GOING
TO BE CONVERT IT, MAKE HIGHEST
AND BEST USE OF THE LAND.
BUT THAT HIGHEST AND BEST USE
DIDN'T INCLUDE THE RESIDENTS WHO
WERE LIVING HERE.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO IN 2004, WHEN WE PURCHASED
IT, WE MADE A PROMISE TO THE
RESIDENTS OF SUNRISE THAT THEY
COULD STAY FOR THE REST OF THEIR
LIVES, AFFORDABLY AND WE KNEW
THAT BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY IS
SO INCREDIBLY GENEROUS, THAT WE
COULD COUNT ON THE GREATER
CHARLOTTESVILLE COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEERS, DONORS, UH,
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, NEIGHBORS,
TO STEP UP AND WORK SIDE BY SIDE
WITH US.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, SIDE BY
SIDE WITH THE RESIDENTS TO MAKE
IT HAPPEN.
AND, SO, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT
TODAY IS THE REALIZATION OF THAT
OF NOT REALLY OUR VISION, BUT
THE VISION OF THE RESIDENTS
THEMSELVES.
AND WE THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
WE THINK IT'S A REALLY GREAT
PLACE TO LIVE.
>> THIS COMMUNITY HAS THRIVED ON
FRIENDLINESS AND TOGETHERNESS
AND LOVE AND THAT'S WHAT KEEPS
US TOGETHER.
AND I TOLD THEM, TOO, THAT I
WAS BORN IN BELMONT AND RAISED
THERE; I LIVED IN BELMONT MY
ENTIRE LIFE AND I HAD PLANNED ON
DYING IN BELMONT, SO I DIDN'T
WANT TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE
AREA.
AND THEY KEPT ME HERE, WHICH IS
GREAT.
>> I WAS VERY EXCITED WHEN I
MOVED INTO MY NEW HOME, YOU
KNOW.
IT WAS JUST -- I MADE MY FIRST
HOME PAYMENT.
AND I WAS ON TIME, AND EVER
SINCE THEN, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN
KEEPING IT UP.
IT'S BEEN A WHOLE YEAR NOW, AND
IT'S VERY EMOTIONAL, YOU KNOW,
TO BE ABLE TO BE A SINGLE
PARENT, AND TO TAKE CARE OF MY
FOUR KIDS AND TO BE ABLE TO
AFFORD MY HOME, IT'S VERY
EXCITED.
>> WHAT EXACTLY IS HERE?
>> EVERYTHING FROM HOMES SOLD,
BUILT AND SOLD BY MARKET RATE
BUILDERS TO HABITAT PARTNER
FAMILY HOMES THAT THEY'VE BUILT
THEMSELVES, AND IN CONJUNCTION
WITH VOLUNTEERS AND PURCHASED.
THERE ARE SOME RENTALS.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF SUNRISE
RESIDENTS, LONG-TIME SUNRISE
RESIDENTS, WERE AGING AND SO,
THEY WANTED SENIOR-ORIENTED
HOUSING.
SO THE FIRST THING WE BUILT WERE
WHAT WE CALL THE PROMISE KEEPER
APARTMENT BUILDING.
AND IN THE PROMISE KEEPER, THERE
ARE PLACEMENT RENTALS, ZERO STEP
ENTRY, COMPLETELY ACCESSIBLE
APARTMENT HOMES FOR THE LONG
TIME RESIDENTS.
THERE ARE SOME CONDOMINIUM UNITS
THAT HABITAT PARTNER FAMILIES
HAVE PURCHASED.
AND, THERE'S THE REAL JEWEL IN
THE CENTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH
AARP.
WE CONSTRUCTED A COMMUNITY
CENTER, THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER,
WHICH IS A PLACE FOR ALL THE
DIVERSE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY
TO GATHER AND HAVE FELLOWSHIP,
ENJOY MEALS.
THERE'S A COMPUTER LAB, FOR THE
CHILDREN OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE'S HOMEWORK HELP FOR KIDS
WHO NEED IT.
>> YEAH.
>> THERE'S JUST A VARIETY OF
ACTIVITIES THAT GO ON THAT
PROMOTE WELLNESS AND
TOGETHERNESS.
>> YEAH. AND IT'S SUCH A
COMMUNITY.
THERE'S SUCH A SENSE OF
COMMUNITY.
SO, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
SOUTHWOOD PROJECT.
>> WE WERE APPROACHED BY THE
OWNER OF THE SOUTHWOOD MOBILE
HOME PARK IN 2007 WHO HAD HEARD
ABOUT OUR NON-DISPLACEMENT
PLEDGE TO THE SUNRISE RESIDENTS.
AND SHE REALLY LIKED IT.
SHE WAS INCREDIBLE.
SHE SOLD US SOUTHWOOD AT A
DISCOUNT PRICE, AND SHE
OWNER-FINANCED IT WHICH ALLOWED
US TO INVEST QUITE A BIT OF
MONEY IN NECESSARY IMMEDIATE
REPAIRS TO MAKE IT IN THE MEDIUM
TERM, A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE.
>> BUT THIS IS A LARGE PROJECT.
IS IT 350 HOMES?
>> YEAH, CURRENTLY THERE ARE 346
TRAILERS.
1500 RESIDENTS AT SOUTHWOOD.
AND IT'S A GREAT COMMUNITY IN
MANY WAYS.
THE PEOPLE REALLY IDENTIFY WITH
SOUTHWOOD.
THEY TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.
IT'S JUST VERY UNDER-RESOURCED.
AND THE TRAILERS THEMSELVES ARE
ASSETS THAT FADE IN VALUE OVER
TIME AND OVER THE LONG HAUL
THEY'RE NOT LIVABLE.
AND, SO, IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE
REDEVELOPED IN A WAY THAT'S MORE
SUSTAINABLE.
AND WE THINK THAT THE MODEL WE
USED HERE AT SUNRISE CAN BE DONE
IN A WAY THAT'S GOING TO BE AN
INCREDIBLE ASSET FOR THE GREATER
CHARLOTTESVILLE COMMUNITY.
AND MUCH MORE IMPORTANT, IT'S
GOING TO BE AN EVEN BETTER PLACE
TO LIVE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE
THERE CURRENTLY.
>> YEAH, IF SOMEONE CAME IN AND
JUST DEVELOPED IT, AND SAID THAT
YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN, YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT 1500 PEOPLE WHO
WOULD SUDDENLY HAVE TO FIND A
PLACE TO LIVE, IN THIS AREA.
>> YEAH, I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW
HOW THIS COMMUNITY COULD ABSORB
THAT.
IT WOULD OVERTAX SERVICES IN THE
AREA AND THERE JUST AREN'T HOMES
TO REHOUSE PEOPLE.
YOU'D HAVE MASS HOMELESSNESS AND
WE JUST COULDN'T LET THAT
HAPPEN.
AND, SO, WE ARE COMMITTED TO
REBUILDING SOUTHWOOD ON A
NON-DISPLACEMENT PLEDGE AND, SO,
WE'RE FACILITATING HEALTHY
HOUSING CHOICES FOR EACH
RESIDENT IN THE PARK.
WE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A
FABULOUS PLACE, LONG RUN.
>> SO THIS IS ALL VERY EXCITING,
BUT YOU HAVE EVEN MORE PROJECTS.
TELL US ABOUT BELMONT COTTAGES.
>> WELL, BELMONT COTTAGES IS
PART OF WHAT WE CALL PROJECT 20.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE MADE A
PLEDGE TO THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE
WOULD BUILD A MINIMUM OF 20
HOMES A YEAR ANNUALLY, IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH LOW INCOME
RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND THIS COMING UP FISCAL YEAR,
THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF THE
LOCAL DONOR COMMUNITY IN
PARTICULAR, WE'LL BE WORKING ON
32 HOMES IN ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND BELMONT COTTAGES IS OUR NEXT
MIXED-INCOME NEIGHBORHOOD ON
AVON STREET.
IT'S WONDERFUL.
IT WAS MADE POSSIBLE VIA A LAND
DONATION FROM LANE BONNER, A
LOCAL REALTOR.
AND, SO, WE'RE CREATING A
15-UNIT MIXED-INCOME DEVELOPMENT
WITH HABITAT PARTNER FAMILIES
AND HOMES FOR SALE.
>> THIS HOUSE IS A HOUSE THAT
WAS BUILT WITH ME.
AND WITH A LOT OF LOVELY PEOPLE.
SO THIS IS, I GUESS, YOUR FIRST
HOUSE, IS JUST WONDERFUL.
IT JUST DRIVES SOMETHING IN ME
TO THINK THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE
WHO REALLY DO CARE.
AND THEY REALLY DO HAVE FEELINGS
TOWARDS YOU AND THEY WANT YOU TO
SUCCEED IN LIFE.
SO, IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD.
LIFE HAS ITS WAY OF CATCHING UP
WITH YOU.
>> YOU COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT
MANY, MANY, MANY VOLUNTEERS.
TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> EXACTLY.
VOLUNTEERS ARE OUR ENGINE.
OUR HOMES ARE BUILT WITH
VOLUNTEERS.
WE SUPERVISE AND TEACH AND TRAIN
VOLUNTEERS, AND YOU COME DOWN
AND JOIN US AT THE JOB SITE,
WE'LL TEACH YOU HOW TO BUILD AND
YOU CAN BUILD SIDE BY SIDE WITH
WONDERFUL LOW INCOME FOLKS WHO
ARE WORKING THEIR TAILS OFF TO
ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS.
>> OH, FANTASTIC.
SO WHAT'S DOWN THE ROAD?
>> DOWN THE ROAD.
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP
MARCHING FORWARD WITH PROJECT
20.
THIS COMING UP YEAR, WE'LL BE
BUILDING AT ELLIOT AND A COUPLE
OF OTHER PLACES AS WELL.
WE HAVE A BRAND NEW PROJECT ON
5TH STREET CALLED HARMONY RIDGE,
THAT'LL BE ANOTHER 14-UNIT,
MIXED-INCOME COMMUNITY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP LOOKING
FOR OPPORTUNITIES, BECAUSE THE
NEED IN THIS COMMUNITY IS
INCREDIBLE.
AND IT'S NOT GOING AWAY.
THIS IS A VERY, VERY WONDERFUL
PLACE TO LIVE.
WE ALL LOVE LIVING HERE, BUT
IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT PLACE TO
LIVE IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
MONEY TO AFFORD HOUSING.
AND IN CHARLOTTESVILLE ALONE,
25% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY
PAY MORE THAN 50% OF THEIR
TOTAL INCOME ON HOUSING.
AND UNTIL WE START TO ADDRESS
THAT NEED, THIS IS NOT GOING TO
BE THE COMMUNITY THAT REALIZES
ITS INTENTION OF BEING A WORLD
CLASS CITY.
IT'S NOT THE KIND OF COMMUNITY
THAT WE ALL WANT IT TO BE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A COMMUNITY
FOR EVERYBODY.
AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO REST ON
OUR LAURELS AND WE'RE NOT GOING
TO STOP BUILDING UNTIL EVERYBODY
IN THIS COMMUNITY HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SAFE,
DECENT, AFFORDABLE PLACE TO
LIVE.
>> I STAYED DOWN IN BUCKINGHAM
IN A TRAILER FOR 15 YEARS AND I
HAD TO TAKE A 45-MINUTE DRIVE TO
GET TO WORK AND IT IS SO MUCH
BETTER BEING HERE.
I CAN WALK TO WORK.
I CAN DRIVE TO WORK.
I CAN CATCH THE BUS TO WORK.
IT FELT LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE
WHEN I FIRST MOVED IN THE DOOR.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT, AND IT
WAS BEAUTIFUL.
>> DAN CAME TO ME WHILE
CONSTRUCTION WAS BEING DONE ON
THE BUILDING AND HE ASKED ME
WHAT SHOULD THE BUILDING BE
CALLED?
AND I TOLD HIM THE PROMISE
KEEPER BECAUSE HABITAT KEPT ITS
PROMISE TO THE SUNRISE TRAILER
COURT PEOPLE.
>> YOU KNOW THEY GIVE YOU
ENCOURAGEMENT, THEY GIVE YOU
COURAGE.
AND THEY TEACH YOU NEW SKILLS
YOU KNOW THAT YOU NEVER THOUGHT
THAT YOU WOULD LEARN WITH
HABITAT SO IT'S A VERY GOOD
EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH HABITAT.
>> IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS BUT
IT STILL IT BRINGS PRIDE AND
HAPPINESS AND JUST THAT PRIDE
FACTOR.
YOU KNOW YOU FEEL PROUD OF
YOURSELF THAT I HAVE SUCCEEDED.
♪ ♪
>>> THIS IS JUPITER.
SHE HAS A LOVING CARETAKER WHO
PROVIDES HER WITH FOOD AND
SHELTER AND THE FREEDOM TO
EXPLORE.
UNFORTUNATELY, MANY PARROTS ARE
NOT SO LUCKY AND ARE FORCED TO
EXIST IN BLEAK AND LONELY LIVING
CONDITIONS.
JOIN US TODAY AS WE TALK WITH
MATT SMITH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
AND FOUNDER OF PROJECT PERRY,
THE CENTRAL VIRGINIA PARROT
SANCTUARY, TO FIND OUT WHAT HE
AND HIS ORGANIZATION ARE DOING
TO RESCUE BIRDS IN NEED.
>> THIS IS A DOUBLE DOOR SETUP.
WE COME IN THROUGH ONE DOOR,
SHUT IT BEHIND US AND THEN YOU
CAN OPEN UP A SECOND DOOR. AND
THAT IS BECAUSE MOST OF THE
PARROTS WE HAVE HERE ON THE
SANCTUARY ARE FLIGHTED AND THEY
COULD ESCAPE WITH A SINGLE DOOR
SYSTEM, SO WE'RE VERY CAREFUL SO
THAT WE HAVE NO ESCAPEES.
>> OH, HO, HO.
THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL AVIARY.
SO THIS IS ONE OF FIVE, RIGHT?
>> YEP, THIS IS THE AFRICAN GRAY
AVIARY AND THIS IS FOR OUR
FLIGHTED GROUP OF AFRICAN GRAYS
THERE'S 40 OF THEM WHO LIVE IN
HERE.
>> AND THEY HAVE BEAUTIFUL
PLANTS.
OH, I HEAR A WATERFALL.
OH, LOOK AT THIS.
> I CREATED A WATERFALL SYSTEM
IN HERE TO GIVE THEM THE
ENRICHMENT OF FLOWING WATER.
THEY CAN BATHE IN IT IF THEY
WISH, IT JUST ALSO ADDS A
CALMING ATMOSPHERE TO THE
AVIARY.
>> OH, THIS IS GREAT.
WELL, LET'S KEEP GOING.
I HEAR BIRDS, I'M SEEING SOME
BIRDS.
>> IT'S LIKE WALKING THROUGH A
MINIATURE FOREST.
>> SO, MATT, WHAT INSPIRED YOU
TO BUILD A SANCTUARY IN THE
FIRST PLACE?
>> ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO AFTER
COLLEGE I GOT INVOLVED IN
PARROTS AS PETS JUST LIKE A LOT
OF PEOPLE DO.
AND ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO I HAD A
CONYER NAMED PERRY AND PERRY WAS
A BLUE CROWNED CONYER, AND SHE
WAS VERY YOUNG.
SHE BECAME ILL AT THAT YOUNG AGE
AND SHE ENDED UP PASSING AWAY;
NOTHING I COULD DO AND THE
VETERINARY TEAM COULD DO COULD
SAVE HER.
AND THAT LED ME INTO THE WORLD
OF RESCUE WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY I
BEGAN VOLUNTEERING AT AN
EXISTING RESCUE SANCTUARY
ORGANIZATION IN MASSACHUSETTS.
IT WAS THEN THAT I BEGAN TO SEE
ANOTHER SIDE OF PARROT
OWNERSHIP; OF THE SIDE OF THE
NEGLECTED, ABUSED, DISCARDED
THOSE KIND OF PARROTS THAT
AREN'T SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE A
GREAT, PERMANENT LOVING HOME.
>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WORLD
OF RESCUE.
WHY THE NEED FOR A SANCTUARY
LIKE THIS?
>> A LOT OF PARROTS OUT THERE
ACTUALLY COME FROM REALLY BAD
SITUATIONS.
THEY'RE EITHER NEGLECTED OR
ABUSED, THEIR NEEDS ARENT' BEING
MET.
TWO OF THE BIGGEST NEEDS FOR
PARROTS ARE FLIGHT AND FLOCK.
AND THOSE ARE THE TWO VERY
THINGS THAT A LOT OF PARROTS
JUST DON'T GET AS PETS.
THEY'RE KEPT IN A CAGE, OFTEN
TIMES AS A SINGLE BIRD, AND FROM
THAT THEY CAN DEVELOP ISSUES
THAT PREVENT THEM FROM BEING A
WELL-SOCIALIZED BIRD THAT
THRIVES IN A HOME SETTING.
THIS LEADS A LOT OF PEOPLE TO
SURRENDERING A BIRD TO ANOTHER
HOME OR AN ORGANIZATION.
IN ADDITION TO THAT THERE'S
CRUELTY CASES FROM TIME TO TIME
WHICH PARROTS ARE INVOLVED IN.
THIS CAN BE FROM BIRD MILLS OR
HOARDING SITUATIONS.
>> YEAH, SO TALK ABOUT BIRD
MILLS, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE
THINK ABOUT THAT.
>> EVERYONE'S FAMILIAR WITH THE
CONCEPT OF A PUPPY MILL BUT
THERE'S ALSO PARROT MILLS AND
THESE ARE PLACES THAT HAVE
HUNDREDS, IF NOT A FEW THOUSAND
BIRDS ON PREMISES, IN ROWS OF
CAGES THAT ARE SIMPLY THERE TO
PRODUCE EGGS AND BABIES FOR THE
PET TRADE, WHETHER THEY BE SOLD
ONLINE, SHIPPED TO PET STORES TO
BE SOLD OR SOLD DIRECTLY TO THE
CONSUMER.
AND IT'S A LARGELY HIDDEN PART
OF THE PARROT WORLD THAT PEOPLE
DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
>> RIGHT.
>> IT'S THE ONE THING I TRY TO
DO IS EDUCATE THE PUBLIC TO
TEACH THEM ABOUT SOME OF THE
ISSUES.
>> TALK ABOUT THE OTHER
AVIARIES, SO WHAT OTHER BIRDS DO
YOU HAVE OUTSIDE?
>> TOTAL THERE'S 160 ON THE
PROPERTY AND THAT'S MADE UP OF
ABOUT 15,000 SQUARE FEET OF
AVIARY SPACE FOR THEM.
>> THE MAJORITY ARE THE AFRICAN
GRAYS, RIGHT?
>> A THIRD OF OUR POPULATION ARE
AFRICAN GRAYS.
THEY'VE BEEN HEAVILY MARKETED AS
YOUR, AS A GREAT PET TO HAVE
WITH YOU.
AND THEY ARE VERY INTELLIGENT.
THEY'VE BEEN PROVEN TO HAVE THE
EMOTIONAL CAPACITY AND THE
INTELLIGENCE OF A 3- TO
5-YEAR-OLD HUMAN CHILD.
SO IT IS SUPERIOR INTELLIGENCE.
SO AFRICAN GRAYS MAKE UP QUITE A
LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE
SURRENDER REQUESTS THAT WE DO
RECEIVE FROM PEOPLE AND THE FACT
THAT WE ALSO SPECIALIZE IN WILD
CAUGHT EX-BREEDING AFRICAN GREYS
THAT HAS LED US TO BUILD THESE
AVIARIES LIKE THIS FOR AFRICAN
GREYS WHERE THEY CAN LIVE MORE
OF A NATURAL LIFE WITH EACH
OTHER AND NOT BE CONSTANTLY PUT
IN THE FACE OF HUMANS IN TERMS
OF A PET.
>> SO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE A WILD CAUGHT BIRD.
>> ONE OF THE UNIQUE AND SPECIAL
THINGS ABOUT OUR SANCTUARY AND
SOME OTHER SANCTUARIES THAT
EXIST FOR PARROTS IS THAT
THERE'S STILL A WILD CAUGHT
POPULATION OF PARROTS IN THIS
COUNTRY; MOSTLY BIRDS THAT
REMAIN IN BREEDING SITUATIONS,
NOT PETS.
ALMOST 50% OF PARROTS THAT LIVE
HERE ON SANCTUARY ARE WILD
CAUGHT.
WHAT THE ESSENTIALLY MEANS IS
THAT THEY WERE BORN IN THEIR
NATIVE COUNTRIES.
WHETHER IT BE AFRICAN GREYS
BEING FROM AFRICA, SOME OF THE
MACAWS OR CONYERS FROM SOUTH
AMERICA, AND WE'RE TALKING, 20,
30, 40 PLUS YEARS AGO THEY WERE
CAPTURED IN THEIR NATIVE
HOMELANDS ONLY TO BE PUT IN A
SITUATION THAT WAS JUST
ABSOLUTELY TRAGIC FOR THEM AND
SO BEING ABLE TO TAKE IN BIRDS
FROM BREEDING SITUATIONS OR
CRUELTY CASES THAT HAVE THAT
HISTORY IS JUST ONE OF THE MOST
REWARDING THINGS ABOUT THIS WORK
AND WHAT I DO.
AND TO SEE THESE BIRDS ONCE
AGAIN BE ABLE TO FLY AROUND AND
HAVE FLOCK WITH EACH OTHER IS
JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
>> AND YOU HAVE TWO MACAWS
INSIDE THE HOUSE AND THEY HAVE
INTERESTING STORIES, ONE IS
MISSING SO MANY OF HIS FEATHERS
AND THEY WON'T GROW BACK.
TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> HIS NAME IS TRENT.
HE'S A GREEN WINGED MACAW.
HE COULD VERY WELL BE IN HIS
FORTIES, FIFTIES, MAYBE EVEN
SIXTIES OR MORE, HE'S AN OLD
GUY.
AND BEING A WILD CAUGHT, WHAT
THAT MEANS IS HE WAS BORN IN
SOUTH AMERICA, TRAPPED, AND
SHIPPED TO THIS COUNTRY, IN HIS
CASE TO BECOME A BREEDER BIRD
BEFORE COMING HERE.
THAT'S THE AVERAGE STORY OF A
BREEDER BIRD THAT COMES HERE.
SO HE, HIS HEAD IS BALD BECAUSE
WHEN HE WAS A BREEDER BIRD HIS
MATE ACTUALLY HAD NOTHING TO DO
EXCEPT MATE, BREED AND PLUCK
HERSELF AND PLUCK HIM AND THAT'S
WHY HIS HEAD IS BALD.
>> AND HE LIKES PEOPLE OKAY, HE
DOESN'T REALLY WANT YOU TO TALK
TO HIM OR PET HIM BUT YOU CAN BE
IN THE ROOM WITH HIM BUT HE'LL
TAKE OR LEAVE YOU, RIGHT?
>> WHICH IS AMAZING BECAUSE WHEN
HE FIRST CAME HE WAS SO AFRAID
OF PEOPLE.
AND HE WAVES NOW, HE TALKS, YOU
KNOW HE MIMICS WHAT VOLUNTEERS
AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO
HIM IN THERE.
AND WHILE HE'S STILL NOT A
HANDS-ON BIRD HE REALLY DOES
ENJOY WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON
IN THE HOUSE SO HE'S, HE'S AN
AMAZING STORY.
>> SO, OKAY, SO HOW DO YOU AND
YOUR STAFF TAKE CARE OF 160
BIRDS?
HOW DOES THAT WORK?
THERE MUST BE A DAILY ROUTINE.
>> THERE'S A DAILY ROUTINE AND
WE HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF THINGS
EVERY SINGLE DAY IN ORDER TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF THE SANCTUARY,
OF THE RESIDENTS.
I CUT UP FRESH FRUITS AND
VEGGIES, A BIG BOWL OF IT EVERY
MORNING AND THE VOLUNTEERS AND
STAFF COME IN AT 9:00 AND THEN
THEY START WITH THE CLEANING
PROCESS OF THE ROOMS, THE CAGES,
FRESH NEWSPAPER IN SOME OF THE
CAGES IN THE HOUSE, MOPPING AND
SCRUBBING THOSE FLOORS.
AND THEN WE CLEAN THE FOOD BOWLS
EVERY DAY, GIVE THEM FRESH WATER
AND FRESH FOOD AND THAT PRETTY
MUCH TAKES CARE OF OUR GENERAL
MORNING ROUTINE.
BY THE END OF THE DAY IT'S ALL
DESTROYED.
>> YEAH, YEAH!
>> AND THE NEXT MORNING WE START
IT OVER AGAIN.
SO IT'S A MATTER OF JUST KEEPING
ON TOP OF THAT SCHEDULE, THAT
ROUTINE, STAYING ON TOP OF THE
CLEANLINESS AND CARE AND THAT
HELPS KEEP THINGS, MAINTAINS
THINGS THE WAY THEY SHOULD.
>> WELL, AND THE SANCTUARY IS
ACCREDITED.
EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MEANS.
>> WE ARE DOUBLE ACCREDITED, WE
ARE ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN
SANCTUARY ASSOCIATION AND THE
GLOBAL FEDERATION OF ANIMAL
SANCTUARIES.
THEY REVIEW YOU ON PAPER, THEY
REVIEW YOUR STANDARDS OF CARE,
YOUR FACILITIES, YOUR
ENVIRONMENTS.
>> RIGHT.
>> YOUR VETERINARY CARE.
IT IS A VERY GRUELING AND
DETAILED PROCESS AND ONCE YOU'VE
GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS AND
THEY GIVE YOU THE THUMBS UP YOU
GET ACCREDITATION.
IT'S JUST THAT EXTRA STEP THAT
WE WENT TO ASSURE PEOPLE THAT WE
ARE DOING THINGS ETHICALLY IN
THE BEST WAY WE CAN.
>> SO, OKAY, YOU HAVE 160 BIRDS
AND I HAVE HEARD THAT YOU KNOW
THE NAMES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
THE SMALL BIRDS, YOU KNOW THE
NAMES OF ALL THE BIRDS.
>> YES, ME AND MOST OF THE STAFF
AND VOLUNTEERS HERE.
THEY EACH HAVE THEIR OWN
DIFFERENT BEHAVIORS AND THE
CHARACTERISTICS.
FOR EXAMPLE, SAMMY, UP HERE, I
KNOW HIM BECAUSE OF HIS PLUCKING
PATTERN.
AND THE FACT THAT HE TALKS.
>> [LAUGHS] YEAH.
>> HE TALKS LIKE THAT.
EACH ONE OF THEM JUST HAS A
DIFFERENT LOOK OR BEHAVIOR TO
THEM THAT TELLS ME WHO THEY ARE.
>> MAX LIKES TO STAY WITH YOU.
>> MAX.
>> MOODY MAX.
>> HE'S EASY TO PICK OUT BECAUSE
HE HAS A LOOK TO HIM.
AND WHEN YOU SPEND EVERY DAY
WITH THEM YOU CAN USUALLY LOOK
AT A BIRD AND KNOW RIGHT AWAY
WHO THEY ARE BECAUSE OF A LOOK.
AND HE HAS THIS INTENT, FOCUSED
LOOK THAT HE GIVES PEOPLE.
>> YEAH.
>> AND SOMETIMES IT'S A FRIENDLY
THING AND SOMETIMES IT'S A VERY
NAUGHTY THING.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT LED HIM
TO RESCUE.
HE'S GOTTEN BETTER IN HERE,
BECAUSE HE HAS MORE EXERCISE AND
HE'S HAPPIER IN HERE BUT EVERY
ONCE IN A WHILE THAT AGGRESSION
ISSUE DOES COME OUT.
>> IF YOU COULD CLOSE WITH A BIT
OF ADVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE
INTERESTED IN GETTING BIRDS,
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
>> I WOULD RECOMMEND A LOT OF
RESEARCH GOING INTO PARROT
OWNERSHIP BEFORE YOU JUMP INTO
IT.
MOST OF THE FAILED PARROT
OWNERSHIPS HAVE COME FROM PEOPLE
WHO HAVE NOT DONE THEIR FULL
RESEARCH.
THEY'VE MAYBE GONE INTO A PET
STORE, SEEN A REALLY CUTE,
CUDDLY BABY BUT GETTING ONE
IMPULSIVELY OFTEN LEADS TO
DISASTER BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT
FULLY PREPARED FOR THEIR
LONGEVITY, THE DESTRUCTION THAT
THEY MIGHT CAUSE TO YOUR HOUSE,
THE LOUD VOCALIZATIONS.
THERE'S A WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES
THAT DO NOT MAKE THEM SUITABLE
AS PETS FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON.
AND YOU CAN SPEND TIME HERE AT
THE SANCTUARY AS A VOLUNTEER TO
SEE REALLY WHAT IT IS THAT
YOU'RE GETTING INTO.
TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THE
VOCALIZATIONS, SEE SOME OF THE
DESTRUCTION, EVEN SOME OF THE
DESTRUCTION IN THAT HOUSE, SOME
OF THE TRIM CHEWING, FLOOR
CHEWING
>> YEAH.
>> YOU GET TO REALLY SEE THESE
THINGS AND THEN MAKE A DECISION,
CAN YOU REALLY CARE FOR A PARROT
FOR ITS LIFE?
AND THEN IF THE ANSWER IS YES,
THEN WE ALWAYS STEER PEOPLE
TOWARDS ADOPTING A PARROT VERSUS
BUYING A PARROT BECAUSE THERE'S
SO MANY BIRDS OUT THERE THAT
NEED NEW HOMES AND A LOT OF
THESE BIRDS ARE JUST GREAT,
WELL-ADJUSTED BIRDS WHAT WOULD
DO OKAY IN THE RIGHT HOME.
ANOTHER REASON WE HAVE PEOPLE
VISIT HERE TO LEARN ABOUT
PARROTS AS PETS IS THAT THEY CAN
SEE SOME OF THE AVIARIES OR BIRD
ROOMS THAT WE'VE DONE TO SHOW
PEOPLE THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENT
WAY TO KEEP PARROTS AS PETS.
>> YEAH, THEY --
>> IT'S NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE
A CAGE WITH THE BIRD IN IT WHILE
YOU LEAVE DURING THE DAY AND
LEAVE THAT BIRD ALONE AND SO YOU
CAN DO A BIRD ROOM WITH OTHER
BIRDS AROUND.
>> YEAH.
>> SO THEY ALWAYS HAVE
COMPANIONSHIP OF ANOTHER BIRD.
AND THOSE TYPE OF SITUATIONS
TEND TO WORK OUT MUCH BETTER
THAN A SINGLE PARROT IN A CAGE.
AND SO WE TRY TO PREPARE PEOPLE
TO THINK OUTSIDE THE CAGE IN
TERMS OF BETTER PARROT
COMPANIONSHIP.
>> YEAH. THAT IS GREAT.
MATT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.
>>> 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.