 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. | |
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. (Return to Top of page)
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. Wake residents benefit from 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. (Return to Top of page)
WakeUP Awards WakeUP's growth management efforts continue to gain MOMENTUM!
Recognized as a community leader advocating for good growth practices, WakeUP
has received several awards: - 2011 Woman of the Year Award of Women in Transportation NC Triangle Chapter - awarded to Executive Director Karen Rindge of WakeUP Wake County. Read more
- Lookout 2011 Award of Blueprint North Carolina - awarded to the Great Schools in Wake Coalition of WakeUP Wake County. Read more
- 2010 Defender of Justice Award of the North Carolina Justice Center - awarded to the Great Schools in Wake Coalition of WakeUP Wake County. Read press release
- 2010 Distinguished Leadership Award for Citizen Planner of the American Planning Association's N.C. Chapter - awarded to Karen Rindge, WakeUP's Executive Director. Read press release
- 2009 Community Organizer Award of the Women's Transportation Seminar's NC Triangle Chapter - awarded to WakeUP Wake County.
- 2008 Citizen Award of the Independent Weekly - awarded to Karen Rindge, WakeUP's Executive Director.
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WakeUP Board of Directors and Staff 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. Karen Rindge - Executive Director Tappan Vickery - Program Coordinator Patty Williams - Great Schools in Wake Program Coordinator WakeUP Wake County 2012 Board of Directors / Advisors:
Bryan Andersen – Vice President, Global Wealth Management, Merrill Lynch; Civil-Military Liaison Officer, U.S. Marine Corps; Raleigh
Yevonne Brannon - CHAIR; Director, NCSU Center for Urban Affairs; former member, Wake Board of Commissioners; Clean Water Management Trust Fund board; Raleigh
Beverley S. Clark – former member Wake County Board of Education; previously SE Regional Attorney for The Nature Conservancy; mediator in Wake County; Raleigh
Matthew Danielson - Land and Development Broker, Byrd Commercial; member of NC REAL Board of Directors; former member Town of Cary planning and zoning board; Cary
Robin Hammond - environmental attorney; associate member, Wake Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors; Raleigh
Greg Hatem - Managing Partner, Empire Properties; Co-Chair, Southeast Raleigh Assembly; Downtown Raleigh Alliance board member; Raleigh
Daniel Kadis – President, Centrex Properties, Inc.; Triangle Land Conservancy board member; Raleigh
Brent Laurenz - Director of Outreach, NC Center for Voter Education; field organizer with environmental non-profits; Raleigh
Ross Massey – Office Manager, Civil Engineer, LandDesign; member, Cary Site Design Focus Group; Raleigh
Don Mial – Unit Manager, NC Department of Juvenile Justice; former vice-president, Raleigh Wake Citizens Association, member, NC Board of Elections; Knightdale-Raleigh
Margaret Newbold – Associate Director, Conservation Trust for North Carolina; member, Wake County Open Space Committee; Garner
Phil Poe - former chair, Raleigh Citizen Advisory Council; retired financial officer, Johnson & Johnson; Raleigh
Tom Rhodes – CO-TREASURER; Chaplain, Rex Hospital; former Minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh; Raleigh
Nilesh Surti - Civil Engineer; Chairperson, SEANC Minority Council; Vice President, Garner Citizen Coalition; Garner
Michelle Yip - Manager of New Product Innovation, AICPA; member, Raleigh Storm Water Management Advisory Commission; Raleigh
Anne-Lise Knox Velez – CO-TREASURER; graduate student in Public Administration, NCSU; Raleigh
| | | | | Board of Advisors: | Cynthia Ball Norm Camp Larry Dickens Abeni El-Amin Greg Flynn Anne S. Franklin Bill Holman Sig Hutchinson | Ron McFarlane John Shaw Anna Stein Nina Szlosberg Susan Parry Susann Wigger |
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WakeUP Volunteers
WakeUP relies on volunteers to make it strong and effective. We invite volunteers 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. (Return to Top of page)
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. (Return to Top of page)
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. (Return to Top of page) | 
