About WakeUP Wake County

WakeUP is a nonpartisan group of citizens concerned about the future of Wake County. We are voters, business people, educators, homemakers, grandparents, volunteers, and more who want to ensure that Wake County is healthy and competitive in the long run. We love living in our area for its quality of life, and we want to ensure a bright future for ourselves and those who come after us. WakeUP is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization.

Mission Vision Board of Directors Membership Growth Management Empowerment / Accountability WakeUP's Commitment 2009 Annual Report (Word doc)

WakeUP's Mission
The mission of WakeUP Wake County is to educate our members, the public and government officials concerning growth and development issues affecting our quality of life now and for decades to come. WakeUP advocates on behalf of our members and is following the actions of municipal governments, the Wake County Commissioners and the state legislature, as they pertain to sustainability.

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WakeUP's Vision
The vision of WakeUP is to ensure that Wake County is healthy and competitive in the long run. To realize this vision, WakeUP advocates for better management of growth in Wake County. Since the issues we face today are often not realized until years later, WakeUP considers many of the long term affects of our current issues.

Our vision specifically focuses on:

• Fiscal responsibility and fairness in public policy
• Sound policies for managing growth and promoting the positive development of our communities
• Spending public funds wisely on the things that matter most
• Conserving the things that make our community a great place to live

Wake County and the cities and towns in it have much to offer: good schools, beautiful parks and natural areas, recreational activities for all ages, a reasonable cost of living, opportunities for higher education, excellent medical facilities, and superlative colleges and universities. We enjoy abundant cultural opportunities and a solid base of good jobs.

Everyone agrees that our good educational systems and overall quality of life not only attract companies and employees, they also help us retain the best local brains and talent. These assets keep our region vital and growing strong.

Fiscal responsibility means investing wisely in and preserving these resources - instead of spending taxpayer funds on subsidies for special interests.

Our vision focuses on adequately funding and preserving these critical investments in our future. They are our competitive edge. If we act wisely, we will continue to be a vibrant place with abundant opportunities for residents and newcomers alike.

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WakeUP Board of Directors
WakeUP is governed by a Board of Directors (elected by the members) and an Executive Committee that consists of the executive director, board officers, lead advocates on key issues and general advisors on various issues and topics.

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WakeUP Members
WakeUP relies on volunteers to make it strong and effective. We invite members to participate in the following ways:

• Working on a specific issue based on personal interests
• Offering professional expertise to support an issue or WakeUP in general
• Staying Informed: Receiving (and forwarding!) WakeUP announcements
• Helping coordinate meetings and events
• Donating money from time to time
• Click here for more information on ways to get involved!

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Promote better management of growth
When we say "growth management," we don't mean stopping growth - just as business management is not about stopping business. Growth management means just that: handling the effects and costs of growth; deciding how it is all going to be paid for; and planning ahead so we don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

What are the potential negative effects of growth? People in Wake County are all too familiar with them: jammed schools, congested roads, new subdivisions without adequate utilities and services where farmland and forest used to be and not enough parks or open space. Water shortages and polluted lakes and rivers; unbalanced commercial and residential development; and increasing storm water runoff are also problems.

The good news is, there are many sensible tools for preventing these problems. WakeUp was started by ordinary people who want to make sure that our communities make use of the best available tools to manage and pay for growth.

Learn more about the tools for managing and paying for growth.

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Empower citizens and promote government accountability
In addition to better management of our communities' growth, we have another, overarching purpose: to help our local and state governments be more accountable to citizens.

For too long our community decisions have been controlled by special interests, big politcal campaign contributors and well-connected insiders. Too often, the real choices are made in the back rooms and under the influence of campaign donations.

WakeUP believes it's time for local government to answer to ordinary people, and those who don't have a vested financial interest in development. Our goal is to make sure that the policies and decisions by local government serve the interests of the entire community over the long run.

To make this happen, citizens must speak up about public policy issues and elect city, county and state officials that will work for well-planned growth and who will put policies in place that will ensure our community has the infrastructure and natural resources needed for a sustainable future for generations.

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WakeUP's Commitment

With issues ranging from regional transit plans, to funding for our schools, to long-range water resource guidelines, WakeUP Wake County is the responsible voice with the vision to shape public policy for a sustainable future.  Our grassroots efforts require volunteers and financial resources in order to go "toe to toe" with the well-funded lobbyists and PACs of special interests who do not always embrace a long term vision for Wake County.  We seek to build relationships with those who support responsible growth, to apply our collective resources, knowledge, creativity, and energy to educate our fellow citizens about good growth and to make sure we achieve it. We are committed to doing what we can to ensure Wake County continues to be a special place to work and live.

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