ABOUT US
WakeUP Wake County is a 501(c)3 non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization that leads public engagement on housing, transportation, climate change, and other land use issues in the Triangle region.
WakeUP’s mission is to ensure healthy and sustainable communities for all residents in the region by educating both citizens and policy-makers about how the region should plan for growth with a focus on social equity, environmental health, and economic viability.
OUR ROOTS
WakeUP began as a grassroots collective in 2006, that started out of concern for the challenges of rapid growth and development in the region.
Since then, WakeUP has become the leading voice representing citizens in land use issues such as climate, transit, clean water, housing, and open space. We are the only organization in the region that ties these issues to the context of historic racial and socioeconomic inequities while focusing on the change needed for a better future for all residents to thrive.
As a longstanding voice that has spoken up for sustainable growth planning in this area for almost two decades, WakeUP’s leadership on these issues has helped the area meet current demands for water quality, education, transportation, and housing – setting this region up to be recognized nationally as a “best place” to live. With growth in urban areas continuing at a rapid pace, the Triangle needs to continue efforts to advocate for environmental care and community development that includes all voices in decisions around land use, housing, and transportation.
Planning for tomorrow today has served Wake County well. WakeUP’s leaders have engaged expertise and community passion since the beginning, uniquely positioning the organization to enact change in one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States. As the longest standing voice at the intersection of social, economic, and environmental sustainability, WakeUP will continue to do the work of engaging members and leaders toward a thriving future for Wake County.
OUR ADVOCACY
Overall, WakeUP advocates for issues that meet at the intersection of social, environmental, and economic well-being and the long term sustainability of our area. This includes issues like:
- Well-planned development that promotes vibrant, mixed-use, walkable communities
- Diverse housing choices & transportation options
- Assess to clean and adequate drinking water
- Improved air quality
- Protected open spaces
- High quality and diverse public schools with infrastructure that accommodates student growth and ensures high academic achievement for all
- Creating public policies that meet long-term needs
- Infrastructure that is paid for with methods that are fair and equitable to all taxpayers, and which do not unfairly burden those on fixed or low incomes