- [Announcer] This is a production of PBS Charlotte.

- Just ahead on "Carolina Impact," how an immersive program at a local university gives people with disabilities a chance for a college experience.

Plus, an area non-profit veterinary clinic strives to make care more accessible.

And now that spring is in the air, we take you to a garden beautifying our region.

"Carolina Impact" starts right now.

(upbeat music) Good evening, thanks so much for joining us.

I'm Amy Burkett.

For many of us, college was a time of firsts, new independence, new friendships, and memories that have lasted a lifetime.

But for thousands with intellectual and developmental disabilities, that experience has often been out of reach.

In North Carolina alone, more than 200,000 people have these conditions.

As "Carolina Impact's" Dara Khaalid and videographer Russ Hunsinger show us, one area university is helping change that by opening the door to a true college experience.

- [Dara] You remember those days, right?

Those good old college days, when you tasted freedom for the first time living on your own.

- The most fun part is getting to wake up every day here.

- [Dara] Meeting strangers that would soon become friends for life.

- I have been able to be friends with my runners on the women's track and field team.

- [Dara] And taking tons of classes, some that weren't her favorite.

- Biology is pretty hard, I admit.

- [Dara] And others that you couldn't get enough of, like pickleball.

- I'll be doing pickleball with some of the students as a way to exercise.

- There you go.

- [Dara] Well, for students like Reagan Clark, who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, IDD, they get the same authentic college experience that any other student at Wingate University gets.

Thanks to the program, Julius Learning.

- I love the support and all the experiences I get to have that I thought wasn't possible before.

- [Dara] Julius Learning is one of the five initiatives of the North Carolina nonprofit, Julius Community, that supports people with disabilities and their families.

- It was founded based on our board of trustees member, Bob, whose daughter's name is Julia.

He wanted the opportunity for all students, regardless of their capabilities, to be able to attend college.

- [Dara] The nonprofit partnered with Wingate in 2024, launching the program that allows students to earn a two-year certificate.

- What we are providing, a living, learning, exploring experience for young adults to have that college experience.

And we like to say here that they truly become a Bulldog 'cause we're the Wingate Bulldogs.

- [Dara] Which means the nine students in the program this year get to participate in extracurricular activities like cooking club, playing sports, spending time with horses, and anything else their hearts desire.

- I'm on the color guard for Wingate and we always do football games.

Hey Megan!

- [Dara] On top of that, they take two classes each semester with neurotypical students.

- The beauty of it is that they will work with so many people throughout their lives who learn, think, act differently.

And so for them to have that opportunity to begin that process now.

- [Dara] Plus classes designed just for them.

- All right, it's exactly three o'clock guys so we're gonna get started.

- [Dara] Like responsible citizenship, which teaches life skills.

- Living in their own home or in an apartment setting with a roommate possibly.

And with responsible citizenship, exactly what that is, how to get along with people.

- [Dara] Which comes in handy for freshman Megan Massey, who's still adjusting to life in her dorm room.

- The hard part is having to deal with a roommate.

- [Dara] A reality for many college students.

But that's not stopping her from pushing forward and making Wingate home.

Inside her dorm, it's a girly girl's dream.

From a mirror with the perfect lighting to get dolled up.

- I'll just like get makeup on the counter and just start getting ready for the day.

- [Dara] To all things pink.

A perfectly made bed, vintage fridge and artsy decor on the walls.

Megan's bold personality and pieces that remind her of home are on full display.

- I have a dog, he's at home.

So I have to look like that big dog over there.

- [Dara] These independent living skills students like Megan have worked so hard to build won't fade away.

In six to eight months, construction is set to begin on a new on-campus project that'll give graduates of Julius Learning and adults with disabilities in the community the opportunity to live more independently.

Tell us what we have here and what's to come.

- So these are the apartments that will be renovated.

Again, moving to two bedroom, two bath.

And then here in between kind of these two buildings is where the community space will be that will offer that kitchen, laundry, community activity space that everybody who lives here will be able to enjoy.

- [Dara] Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Michelle Lancaster gave me an up close look at the area that'll be transformed.

The architecture and drawings are done.

The final step before construction begins is securing the last bit of funding.

- It can be and will be incredibly empowering for folks.

- [Dara] But before they're ready to step into the real world with housing, Julius Learning prepares students for something else they'll need, a job.

- We have the students in career class go in and look for student jobs.

We have a couple of great partnerships with the library on campus and with the Bat Center and the McGee Center.

And so we have the students complete their application, we practice resume writing, and then they send them out and then they go in for interviews just like everybody else.

- [Dara] Through partnerships, the program connects students with various on-campus jobs that take place at the library, gym, and performing arts building.

- [Dara] For a long time, there haven't been any programs like this at all, and the option was students would go live at home and maybe not even have a job.

This really sets them up to make more money.

Studies have shown that individuals who attend a post-secondary program do make more money over the long term of their career life.

- [Dara] Like any college experience, the real lessons extend way beyond academics and lead to finding your place in the world.

For students in Julius Learning, that progress doesn't stop at graduation because here, support isn't temporary, it's forever.

For "Carolina Impact," I'm Dara Khaalid.

- Thank you, Dara.

If you're interested in learning more about the program, we've got a link to the application on our website at pbscharlotte.org.

From caring for people to caring for our furry friends, for many families, pets are more than companions.

They're part of the family.

But when care becomes too expensive, that love can be hard to sustain.

"Carolina Impact's" Chris Clark shows us how one area non-profit veterinary clinic helps make that care more accessible while taking on a bigger challenge in animal welfare.

- [Chris] Paws, whiskers, wet noses, and the way they quickly become family.

But for many pet owners, the cost of care is becoming overwhelming.

Vet visits, prescriptions, even basic treatment can add up.

And for some, getting the care their pet needs can mean the difference between holding on and letting go.

- It comes between getting my blood pressure medication and getting fluffy seen.

We try to lower our costs so, you know, you can do both.

- [Chris] In North Carolina, the state ranks second in the nation for animals euthanized in shelters.

Too many animals and not enough options for the people trying to care for them.

- The original vision for what we started out with was a spay/neuter clinic.

We started interacting with our clients and very clearly understood that lots of these folks that had cats and dogs didn't have any options in the community for affordable veterinary care.

- [Chris] What began as an effort to keep animals out of shelters quickly revealed something deeper.

The people trying to care for them didn't have many places to turn.

And when the pet at home is the one waiting at the door, sleeping at your feet, or claiming the best seat in the house, that kind of help matters.

- It's anguish to see these people that are told that their pet needs, you know, $5,000 or $10,000 worth of medical care.

It may not take care of the entire bill, but, you know, we offer those opportunities where we offer the assistance.

- [Chris] At Stand for Animals, the difference is filling a gap most clinics can't.

And almost as quickly as it started, they found one location just wasn't enough.

- We, you know, slow walked into a second facility and now we're in three buildings.

- [Chris] For people trying to hold onto the pets they love, that growth means access.

It means one more place to go when the dog in the recliner or the cat on the windowsill suddenly needs help.

- I was on the job site doing some work and it was pouring down raining outside.

When every time I walked in my van, she would run out and start jumping on my leg.

And next thing you know that she was sitting in my recliner beside me.

And it's been that way since.

I'm grateful for the assistance that I get from here because right about now I don't know what I would do, but she's still gotta be taken care of.

- [Chris] Like a lot of pets, she didn't just find a home, she found her person.

And for families like his, care isn't optional.

It's everything.

- A lot of clients come to us because they cannot afford standard care at their primaries.

It's just too expensive.

That is just what keeps me here is we are very affordable and it's really nice recognition.

- If we are not able to do a bunch of diagnostics and a full workup, I kind of have to think on my feet and do what's best for the animal and the client.

- [Chris] Every decision here carries weight, not just for the animal, but for the person standing beside them.

Because these aren't just pets, they're company in the quiet, comfort on those hard days and family for the people who love them.

While care often begins in a moment of need, the goal is to stay ahead of it.

- I love to encourage them to bring their pets in every year because that's part of preventative care.

- Having them come back and having the client express how grateful they are and seeing the pet, whether it be a skin infection, come back and be completely normal is so rewarding.

- [Chris] Because sometimes catching something early is what keeps a small problem from turning into something much bigger and keeps a playful pet playful.

- We have people that can't afford anything and we are able to say, come on in, don't worry about payment, we can help you.

- [Chris] To meet that demand, they didn't just hire more people, they built their own pipeline.

- We offered this vocational training to people who wanted to get into doing this kind of work and then it helped us have veterinary assistance so that we have people to provide the services that we wanna provide.

- We really truly work as a team.

I could not do my job without the assistance of technicians.

I have a lot of trust in them.

- [Chris] And it's not always about helping someone keep a pet.

Sometimes it's about giving one a chance to be chosen at all.

- Some of the workmen found him sitting kind of on the edge of campus.

So we brought him home and he's done great.

They're gonna give him his rabies shots and his starter vaccines and they're gonna take care of that.

They're gonna make sure he's ready to go for his forever home and it's just awesome 'cause I alone couldn't do that.

- [Chris] For the people walking through these doors, it's not just about treatment.

It's about a chance to hold on or a chance to start over, about keeping a family together or helping one come together for the first time.

- It's really fulfilling to know that I'm still making a difference in people's lives because everyone wants a pet.

Everyone loves their animal and they wanna do what's best.

- [Chris] And in a place where the cost of care can mean losing what matters most, this is where people come to keep that tail wagging, that seat on the couch occupied and that bond intact.

For "Carolina Impact," I'm Chris Clark.

- Who doesn't love a good pet story?

Makes me wanna go home and love my little kitty girls.

Thanks, Chris.

Stand for Animals says its mission goes beyond treatment, focusing as well on prevention, access and the bond between pets and the people who care for them.

Turning from a passion for pets to a passion for a hobby that's grown.

When Amazon sold its first book in 1995, it helped spark a retail revolution that would touch countless industries including small independent hobby shops.

Online shopping has made it tough to compete.

But as producer reporter John Branscum shows us, one shop in Landis has found its unique value proposition, service.

(upbeat music) - [John] From the outside, Chuck's Trains & Hobby Depot doesn't give much away.

But step inside and it's a different story.

Shelves packed with trains, toys, games, puzzles, paints and collectibles create a kind of sensory overload for hobbyists of all ages.

- [Chuck] We stock more puzzles than most anybody else anywhere.

More model cars than other people.

We've got all the paints, we've got the glues, we've got trains, all the accessories for the trains.

If you wanna play Monopoly, we have Monopoly under about 45 different titles.

Old candy, the old toys.

- [John] For owners Chuck and Deanna Freeze, a store this full doesn't run itself.

- Prepping website orders, bringing in new merchandise, shopping for new merchandise.

That's Chuck's favorite.

- [John] And it doesn't take long before the first customers come through the door.

- Chuck's has everything.

Like on the outside, it might just seem like a model train store.

I mean, they've got everything from rockets right here, we've got the Warhammer section, you got a D&D section over there, you got puzzles, you got model cars, you got board games, like you got the model train stuff, like anything that you could want that's like a hobby or a game, it's in here.

- [John] But what's now a thriving retail space began with much more modest roots.

- We started out 25 years ago, just shipping on eBay.

eBay was fresh and it just started and we were up here at night, shipping out, shipping out, shipping out.

People's like, well, can you get this?

Can you get this?

Till we ended up with a whole store full of stuff.

- [John] Their first retail space was just half the size of what they have now.

- Predominantly model trains, N scale, HO scale and O scale.

We were bursting at the seams.

Had as much as we could in every square inch of that building and it allowed us to build our business there.

- [John] Then came the chance to grow.

- It's about four years ago, I got the opportunity to buy these buildings and add in all the toys.

- [John] But even a growing small town hobby shop has its challenges.

- It's mostly just the exposure.

It's like trying to figure out where to advertise or anything else.

It's like, there's no real reason to advertise locally because everybody knows you're here.

You gotta branch out and get out further than that but then it's like, then who are you trying to get?

Do you want to train people?

Do you want to model people?

- [John] And to stand out among the competition, the Freezes lean into something online retail just can't offer.

- [Chuck] We've got more to selection.

You can actually put your hands on it and see what it is.

We got people in here that can tell you what it is and how to use it.

And we actually have people here that can work on the stuff if it breaks down.

- [John] For many customers, that hands-on experience is a big part of the appeal.

- There's a lot of stuff you can buy off the internet but I'm the type of guy I want it.

I want it now.

Like I'm working on scenery right now and I need some more syringery material.

It's gonna save a few bucks but I just come here and get it.

Support my local hobby shop.

- [John] But for many customers, the biggest difference.

- [Mike] Expertise, knowledge.

- Especially if you're trying something new or you want to try something new.

They're the ones you need to talk to.

Keep you out of trouble.

- [John] James Wagner stopped by Chuck's to pick up a few things for his great-nephew, Brantley's model railroad.

Passing his own love of the hobby onto the next generation.

- He's done as much or more good for me than I will ever do for him.

But it's been a true delight to do these trains with him.

- [John] Now the hobby doesn't end at the store for Brantley.

It comes to life here.

- This space basically is just like the train layers, my home away from being upstairs and just my place to come down and relax.

It takes a lot of hard work.

Money-wise, extreme and really just passion for it.

You gotta see the things that people don't really see and just little tiny details and stuff like that.

- [John] Now for Brantley, this is about more than trains.

- [Brantley] It really just brings out the happiness in me that I get to spend the time with him to build this and just have fun with trains with him.

Really blessed just to have all of this and just to have my great-uncle and everybody else that's encouraged me to do this and helped me through the hard times with this stuff.

- [John] And back at Chuck's, that passion is easy to see.

- You get to know your customer.

You get to know their story and their family.

- I like seeing it ship out through the back.

I like seeing it go out through the front door.

I like buying the stuff and seeing it come in.

So I mean, that's just me.

I like to buy it and I like to watch it go out.

- To see kids light up and practically scream with excitement, it makes my day.

- [John] With all the trains inside Chuck's, you might expect to find a model layout too, but you won't.

- No, we got a full-size one across the street.

So you can stay here all day long and watch them go back and forth.

- [John] For "Carolina Impact," I'm John Branscum.

- Thanks so much, John.

At Chuck's Hobby Depot, success isn't just built on sales, but on service, relationships, and a passion shared with the customers.

For our final story tonight, a little springtime inspiration.

The Carolinas are coming back to life with warmer days, fresh blooms, and that familiar coat of pollen reminding us the season has changed.

It's a perfect time to visit a garden, but the one you're about to see wasn't exactly planned.

"Carolina Impact's" Jason Terzis takes us there.

- Well, when you think of gardens in the area, chances are one of the bigger ones comes to mind, like the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, or the Duke Mansion Gardens in Myers Park.

Then there are smaller ones, more off the beaten path, like Wing Haven in Myers Park, or the McGill Rose Garden in Noda.

Then there's MapleWalk Garden, which at the beginning, wasn't even supposed to be a public garden in the first place.

(birds chirping) (upbeat music) - [Jason] One by one, they show up, knowing there's good food to be had.

- So I'm trying to train them to a bell and a whistle.

- [Jason] There's traditional seed.

- Tom doesn't know how much I spend on bird seed, and that's a good thing.

- [Jason] Grape jelly.

- They love this grape jelly, and I have to fill it up.

Tom and I laugh that we should have stock in Welches.

- [Jason] And the coveted high-protein, nutrient-rich mealworms.

- If they're around, they'll come.

- [Jason] Oh, and they'll come all right.

Everything from Orioles to Cardinals and yellow finches.

As one takes off, another one arrives, and they all have names.

So you know who they are?

- [Liv] I do.

- [Jason] And so this guy is who?

- [Liv] That's Carl.

- [Jason] Keeping the birds well-fed is just one of the many things happening in Liv Jones and Tom Nunnenkamp's backyard.

And over time, their little backyard oasis has grown into something much more.

- MapleWalk Garden, I think, is something different to everyone.

- It's a wonderful escape.

- Almost any time you're here, they are out walking around.

They always come up and talk to you.

- We have a few weddings a year.

We have some proposals.

- Well, we have 1,600 feet of stone-lined paths here in MapleWalk.

- I think we've brought a lot of joy to a lot of people.

- [Jason] What started out as a simple backyard garden some 35 years ago has evolved into a wooded nature trail for all to enjoy.

- [Tom] It has become, I think, for me, part of my legacy.

- It's a spiritual connection for me to be out in the garden where there is life happening all around me.

- It's a place where people can find beauty, they can find solitude.

- We get people, almost on a daily basis, that say, "Oh, I didn't know you all were here."

- This tree that we're passing is a Chinese redbud, and it's a variety called Don Egolf.

And as you can see, it blooms all the way up and down the trunk.

- [Jason] MapleWalk Garden is the most visited residential garden in Charlotte, home to about 100 different Japanese maples, hence its name.

- This is a Japanese maple called Kiyohime Yatsubusa.

There'll be a quiz later.

You need to remember that name.

- Tom was very interested in Japanese maples initially.

- I prune it on my back.

Takes me three hours.

- I'm not allowed to prune his maples.

- [Jason] Here, you'll find all sorts of trees, plants, and shrubs, and tons of camellias.

- We have over 175 different camellias in the garden.

The ones blooming now are the Camellia japonicas.

This particular variety is Kramer Supreme.

- [Jason] Adding to MapleWalk's uniqueness, it's location, right in the middle of South Charlotte, just off Carmel Road.

- It is very unique, and I believe it's great that this place is here.

As Charlotte has become more urbanized, it's good to have these nature retreats where you don't have to drive so far away from Charlotte to go to them, that you have places and hidden gems like this.

- We get a tremendous amount of joy seeing other people enjoy the property.

Hello, how are you doing?

- [Jason] What MapleWalk is, isn't what it was originally intended to be.

When Tom and Liv bought the home in 1990, they wanted a lush backyard garden.

- In the spring, I love to see what's popping up through the leaves and the mulch, and is waking up from the winter.

- [Jason] But they soon realized they had a little situation on their hands, in the form of a vacant lot directly behind them.

- We had a big rainstorm, and seemingly all the water in the world ran toward our house.

Our property sits lower than all the surrounding properties.

- [Jason] A few years later, they made an offer, purchasing that vacant lot from a neighbor and extending their already lush backyard garden.

- It took us two and a half years to clean up the property.

- [Jason] Tom and Liv enlisted the help of Dr.

Larry Mellichamp, the director of UNC Charlotte's Botanical Garden.

- He would walk around and indicate, as we walked around, different plants that he thought would look great in this particular area.

- [Jason] Tom and Liv then acquired another property, one that had a house on it, bringing their three parcel lot total up to two and a quarter acres.

- The joke is, that as we acquired the property, people thought we were crazy.

When we tore that house down, they knew we were crazy.

- The division of labor kind of evolved into Tom being more the tree person, and I am the perennial person.

Next is this snowball viburnum that is in full bloom right now.

It's right off of our sunroom.

- [Jason] Rescue bunnies now live here as well, in their own custom home, and sure love it when visitors show up with food, like fresh oregano.

- I've been here many times, and kids just run in from the neighborhood, and they feed the bunnies.

- It's definitely a labor of love for us.

Tom and I don't have children.

We have four-legged children.

- [Jason] With their sun porch providing the perfect viewing spot, Tom and Liv have created something special, even if unintended.

MapleWalk Garden has a perfect 5.0 rating on Google, as well as TripAdvisor.

- Right now, we're number 33 out of 399 things to do in Charlotte on TripAdvisor, which just flabbergasts me.

- It really feeds my soul.

- Liv and I have been very fortunate that here we are well into our 70s, and we're still able to do this, enjoy it.

- [Jason] It's a labor of love indeed, with the fruits of that labor being enjoyed not just by Tom and Liv, but by the entire community.

- Okay, so now I have to ask, is there a fee?

- No, and that's the best part.

Absolutely nothing.

They welcome visitors all the time.

It's open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset.

Dogs, welcome too.

All Tom and Liv ask is that you keep 'em on a leash.

And good chance you'll see them out there as well, because as they said, there's always something that needs to be done.

So even during the time that I was there, visitors were coming and going, and they're just making conversation with everyone.

They want everyone to feel welcome and just come enjoy what they've created.

- I love it.

I'm gonna check it out this spring.

Well, thanks so much for joining us.

That does it.

If you have a compelling story idea like the one we just saw, please send us an email with all the details to stories@wtvi.org.

That's all the time we have this evening.

Thanks so much for joining us.

We always appreciate your time.

And I look forward to seeing you back here again next time on "Carolina Impact."

Good night, my friends.

(bright music) - [Announcer] A production of PBS Charlotte.