>>> 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.