WakeUP Wake County

Staff

Denzel Burnside, Executive Director

Denzel has years of experience in environmental activism and campaign management with Climate Nexis and Dogwood Alliance. He has spent time as a community organizer, campaign manager, political educator & consultant, and as a public speaker. He holds a B.A. from Florida International University, a Public Policy Certificate from the National Institute of Lobbying and Ethics, and is a registered NC lobbyist.



Angie Haugen,
Development Director

Angie works to engage members while also working with our funding partners to make sure that WakeUP can keep having a positive impact for our community. Her work is to empower and educate residents on current issues that will have long term ramifications and seeks to make sure equity and inclusion are a part of the solution.

Christina Perella,
Policy Analyst

Christina works hard to help residents and leaders understand the connection between current issues and long-term strategic planning that will help shape the future our communities deserve. Her research and applied climate science expertise is utilized in much of our work. She is entering her second year at NC State as a PhD student and attended Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA for undergrad in Environmental Science.

Brittany Salmons, Communications Consultant

Brittany works with staff to develop the monthly newsletter, press releases, blog posts, and emails to help keep our community updated on important issues. She has a gift in helping communicate the very complex and interconnected areas we cover in very accessible ways. She has a BA in History with a minor in Environmental Science and a Master of Climate Change and Society from NC State University.

Layal Sadik, Student Intern

Layal is a Sophomore at Appalachian State University. This summer she has led many projects with WakeUP including a self-initiated study of walkability, bikeability, and transit across our country.  Her research includes looking at how eco-friendly mobility looks in similarly-sized cities across the country along with some exciting local efforts in the area.