WakeUP Wake County

Events

Upcoming Events

WakeUP’s 2022 Annual Reception

On November 19th, 2022, we will be hosting our annual reception with special guests and candidates for local elected offices in the Triangle
Purchase tickets here

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Raleigh District & At-Large Forums

In partnership with the League of Women Voters of Wake County and Oaks & Spokes, WakeUP Wake County is hosting a series of candidate town halls in each of Raleigh’s districts

If your organization wants to partner or sponsor these, please contact Nathan@wakeupwakecounty.org

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Past Events

Regional Investments in Regional Growth – April 2022

A two-part learning session on the economic and social impacts of a regional transportation network. In April 2022, we held an in-person event with a nationally recognized urban planner, environmentalist, and social justice advocate, who spoke about the impacts of neglect and past infrastructural racism on underserved communities, as well as the pollution and social justice issues it creates for families trying to build intergenerational wealth or protect their children from chronic illnesses.

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Regional Investments in Regional Growth – December 2021

 A two-part learning session on the economic and social impacts of a regional transportation network. Our first event was held virtually in December 2021 with a panel from around the country on the economic impacts of regional transit connectivity.

Watch the video on Youtube

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WakeUP Wake County’s 2021 Annual Reception

WakeUP’s largest fundraising event was joined by keynote speaker Mitchell Silver along with original music by composer and performer Shana Tucker

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Driven to Change: A virtual summit on transportation, housing, and the climate crisis in our region

A two-day virtual summit on land use policy changes to address transportation and sprawl—two of the largest contributors to climate change. We brought speakers in from around the world to educate elected officials and the public about the climate crisis, urban planning, and social justice, with a focus on climate policies that are within municipal control to implement.

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Midtown Raleigh: How Improved Access to Transit Is Helping Businesses

When a region invests in infrastructure, it is the businesses that bring life to it. With the Wake Transit Plan and other transit investments finally starting to appear in design and on our roads, come learn how businesses are relying on these investments to get employees and customers to and around developments as they grow. We will talk with a panel of special guests on how they plan to expand jobs and opportunities along these routes.

Join us for a virtual conversation with:

  • Bonner Gaylord, Kane Realty & Development
  • Jevon Peterson, Duke Raleigh Hospital
  • Michael Moore, Raleigh Transportation Department
  • Austin Jude Stanion, Transloc

Moderated by WakeUP’s Nathan Spencer

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Get Out The Vote: Affordable Housing Bond Information Session

Watch the video here

Learn about the affordable housing bond on this years ballot and the potential impact on the housing crisis from the organizations working everyday with struggling families

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Transit Oriented Development (TOD): What is it & How does it work

Watch the video here

Capital Area Friends of Transit (CAFT) will explore how Transit Oriented Development (TOD) fits into Wake County’s transit plan, housing affordability, and how it can shape land use in our most traveled corridors.

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Wake County Commissioners Candidates Forum

Watch the video here

United Arts and WakeUP Wake County are hosting the 2020 Wake County Commissioner Candidates Forum on Tuesday, October 6, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. This virtual event is your chance to learn more about the candidates for Wake County Commissioner before election day on November 3, 2020.

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Working Waterways: Clean Water and Green Spaces

Watch the video here

“Most flooding in our communities actually happens outside of the regulated floodplains, in areas where there is more stormwater runoff than the pipes can handle. We see this in Ellerbe Creek, where something like 40% of all floods happen outside of the floodplain and within 30 feet of a stormwater pipe or inlet… flooding and other environmental problems seem to affect lower income folks the most.”

Read more from our interview with Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association on how they impact changing urban neighborhoods to protect green spaces and combat climate change.

Join WakeUP Wake County, the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association, and the Partners for Environmental Justice on Wednesday, August 26th at Noon as we discuss how many of our small urban green spaces are providing a place for recreation while cleaning the water we drink and filtering pollutants that would otherwise end up down river or in the ocean. Learn how these spaces are strengthening our neighborhoods and easing some climate stressors.

As COVID-19 hit, more people began to discover green spaces in their neighborhoods. Many of these spaces have a dual purpose. They strengthen our neighborhoods through creating open spaces for recreational play and they clean our drinking water.

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How Will Recent Statewide Funding Cuts Impact Transportation Projects in Wake County?

Watch the video here

Join Capital Area Friends of Transit (CAFT) on Friday, July 17th, in a conversation about the state of transportation funding in our county and throughout North Carolina. During this free virtual event, we’ll be joined by NC Senator Mike Woodard (District 22), Wake County Staff, and nonprofit leaders from throughout the Triangle and greater Triad region.

State and local economies have been reeling since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic last spring, when businesses and schools were forced to shut down. In turn, the pandemic and subsequent economic downturn have had a dramatic impact on municipal budgets throughout the country, including here in Wake County. In Wake County, sales tax revenues could be down as much as 7% for the last fiscal year, which ended in June.

Earlier this year, Congress allocated funds for transit agencies and state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) through the CARES Act. This emergency funding could help keep agencies afloat, staff employed, and some projects operational. However, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) started the year with a deficit of nearly three quarters of a billion dollars. In light of the recent perfect storm of events, the NC General Assembly has decided to address this budget problem by cutting transportation-related spending by over half a billion dollars.

Project funding through the Public Transportation, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Fund and the Rail Fund are now wiped out, meaning the state cannot help municipalities build protected bike lanes or repair greenways. Heading into an already uncertain future, North Carolina cities and towns will have to come up with their own sources of funding for these and other transportation projects.

How will transportation funding cuts affect projects in our neighborhoods? How long will these cuts remain in effect? Do major transportation projects like Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Commuter Rail still have a chance?

Let’s find out. On Friday, July 17, 2020, Capital Area Friends of Transit will host a panel conversation to learn what the future might hold for transportation projects here in Wake County and throughout North Carolina.

Join us for Transportation Funding: Impacts from the Downturn and Funding Cuts, a free virtual event, on Friday, July 17 at 12:00pm, EST.
Register Here

The following elected officials, experts, and statewide, local, and regional leaders will join us for the conversation:

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Learn about the Raleigh Greenway Master Plan Update

For the first time since 1989, Raleigh is updating it’s Greenway Master Plan. With over 100 miles of mostly interconnected trails and pathways, the Capital Area Greenway system has grown and evolved considerably over the past 30 years. As more residents in Wake County look to become less dependent on cars, our greenways have also taken on a new role in our region’s transportation network. Now, Toole Design Group is looking for your input on how the City of Raleigh’s greenways should be used in the future.

At our June CAFT meeting, Ashley Schultz with Toole Design Group. Terry Landsdale, Executive Director of BikeWalk NC and Nick Neptune, Commissioner for the Raleigh Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) will join in the discussion and help us talk about what the future could look like for the area’s greenway system.

  • Meeting the needs of existing and potential greenway users
  • Envisioning the greenway system as a part of the City’s active transportation network
  • Prioritizing future greenways for implementation
  • Exploring best practices in City policies and development requirements for greenway land acquisition and development
  • Ensuring consistency with the City’s Strategic Plan and other Council adopted plans

Join us at noon on Friday, June 19, 2020 on Zoom (details with registration) for transportation updates and a discussion about the past, current, and future plans for our greenways.

If you can’t join us, you can read about the Greenway Master Plan Update on the City of Raleigh’s website and take the survey here

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Let’s Re-envision How We Use Our Streets

How does transit work in a social distant world?

What do sidewalks look like if we’re staying socially distant?

How do we safely ride bikes now that traffic is lighter?

Join speakers from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), City of Raleigh Planning, Town of Garner, GoRaleigh, HNTB, and Transloc – Noon, Friday, May 15th at noon for a virtual and fun discussion.

“Capital Area Friends of Transit (CAFT) wanted to get some thought leaders together to discuss what cities might look like or could look like in the future. So, we’re opening our May 2020 CAFT meeting to the public and we hope you’ll join in the discussion.”

Note: This discussion isn’t to influence municipalities. Rather, it’s meant to be a creative exercise in what could be possible.

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To be sure that our members get every opportunity to be informed, WakeUP is a co-sponsor this year for League of Women Voters of Wake County’s candidate forums.

WakeUP is proud to announce our new Town Hall series — a district focused forums where we bring the candidates to you who are hoping to represent you in city council. This is a moment that WakeUP has been hard at creating a more personal approach to the traditional forum.

Two of our town halls and our upcoming mayoral forum, based off data by our Policy Analyst, will feature Spanish interpretation. Those districts will be A, B, and C. 

District C – August 21st 6-8pm 
Passage Home
Spanish Interpretation will be available*

District E – August 26th 6-8pm
Temple Beth Or
Sponsored by the Hillsborough Street Community Service Corporation and the Blue Ridge Corridor Alliance

District A & B – August 29th 6-9pm
Marsh Creek Multipurpose Building
Spanish Interpretation will be available*

District D – September 9th 6-8pm
Royal Bakery Conference Room

Sponsored by the Blue Ridge Corridor Alliance

Mayoral Forum – September 4th 6-8pm
Raleigh Brewing Company

More info to be available soon
Sponsored by the Hillsborough Street Community Service Corporation and the Blue Ridge Corridor Alliance
Spanish Interpretation will be available*

We’re giving our members an opportunity to ask questions to the candidates with an open question submission form! Pass it on and share it with friends.

May 17th

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Bike to Work Day WakeUP Pit Stop

WakeUP Wake County Bike Your Way to Work Day Pit Stop from 7am-9am at WakeUP Wake County offices. We’re going to have snacks and swag for riders It’s Mobility May! For the whole month of May WakeUP will be showcasing all the ways to get around in the Triangle. We’re going to be discussing topics on social media and hosting and attending events that you can use to make your transit life easier! This will all lead to the Cross Triangle Greenway Ride from Durham to Raleigh on June 8th.

See our daily topics!

WakeUP After 5

WakeUP After 5 returns! This time we discuss transit oriented development on the planned BRT.

Successful transit is surrounded by density and transit oriented developments near stops. As we build a comprehensive transit system, we need to think about how we design transit supportive and affordable housing along the route. But how do we keep the culture of our neighborhoods while not causing home prices or property taxes rise out of reach for families. At WakeUP After 5 we’ll discuss density around transit, TOD, and how we manage our land use with a growing Raleigh and a state of the art transit system.

Clouds Brewing
June 26th, 2019 @ 7pmChanges: Opportunities & Challenges

August 14, 2019 | Jiddi Space & Sitti Courtyard | 6-8pm

Change is a constant in Wake County today! WakeUP is working hard to make sure that our communities are sustainable and vibrant as we make decisions together about the future. We do that by engaging citizens — by working with elected and community leaders to encourage informed, smart planning that takes the natural and built environment into account. We believe that this work has never been more important than it is today.

Join us for our marquee fundraising event of the year! We will host a night of drinks and food provided by our friends at Empire Properties. We will have a night of fun, music, and a raffle with tons of local prizes! With your continued support we can continue all the hard work we do for the community.

Tickets available now!

$50 – Single

$75 – Couple