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WakeUP Wake County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization that leads public engagement on housing, transportation, and environmental stewardship in the Triangle region of North Carolina.
WakeUP’s mission is to ensure healthy, equitable, and sustainable communities for all residents in the region by educating both citizens and policymakers about how the region should plan for growth, with a focus on social equity, environmental health, and economic viability.
Formed as a nonprofit grassroots collective in 2006, WakeUP has consistently been a leading voice representing citizens in land use issues like climate, transit, clean water, housing, and open space. The organization was created to respond to the complex benefits and challenges of rapid growth and development in Wake County and the wider Triangle Region of North Carolina. We are the only organization in the region that analyzes and acts on land use issues in the context of historic racial and socioeconomic inequities, while focusing on the changes we need so that all residents of our community thrive.

ADU Community Workshop

Community ADU Tour

YIMBYtown 2026

Annual Reception

Under One Canopy

Happy Hour

Attend public meetings

Give

ADU Sustainability Training & Tour

Under One Canopy: Supporting Roots & Roofs in Wake County

RaleighForward, WakeUP Wake County, & CITYBUILDER Happy Hour!

Meet Dean Rains, New WakeUP Board Member

Martha Eberle Joins WakeUP Board

Meet New Board Member Eric Lamb

Help Us Welcome Dwight Otwell as a Board Member

2025 Annual Reception Recap

Roberta Fox

Layal Sadik

Join us for our ADU Community Workshop on November 12th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at John Chavis Memorial Park, rooms 205 and 206. This workshop provides you with the opportunity to meet with architects and builders and hear a presentation about ADUs that will be given multiple times throughout the evening. The event is FREE, kid-friendly, and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. Thank you to BLWall Consulting for supporting this community workshop! Get Tickets Here: https://givebutter.com/adu-community-workshop #adus #wakeupwakecounty #wakecounty #housing #communityengagement Additionally, with support from BLWall Consulting, WakeUP Wake County is hosting a Community ADU Tour, which is a drop-in event. This event will take place at Walk Your Plans, 517 W Cabarrus St, Raleigh, NC 27603, from 1 pm to 3 pm. Community members will be able to walk through various ADU floor plans and hear from multiple housing-focused organizations. This event is FREE and open to the public; refreshments will be provided! Tickets can be purchased here: https://givebutter.com/community-adu-tour

We are excited to announce two upcoming opportunities to learn more about Accessory Dwelling Units! WakeUP Wake County, in partnership with BLWall Consulting, will host an ADU Community Workshop and a Community ADU Tour. The ADU Community Workshop will take place on November 12th, from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at John Chavis Memorial Park Reception Hall, rooms 205 and 206. During this event, community members will have the opportunity to meet with architects and builders and listen to a presentation about ADUs, which will be given multiple times throughout the evening. This event is kid-friendly, and refreshments will be provided! RSVP here: https://givebutter.com/adu-community-workshop Our Community ADU Tour will take place on November 14th from 1 - 3 pm at Walk Your Plans Raleigh. During this drop-in event, attendees will be able to walk through various ADU floor plans, speak with fellow community members, and hear from multiple housing-focused organizations. RSVP here: https://givebutter.com/community-adu-tour If you need ADA accommodations, please contact executivedirector@wakeupwakecounty.org #wakeupwakecounty #wakecounty #accessorydwellingunit #communityengagement #housing

The 2026 General Election is quickly approaching and will have an immense impact on our community. It is vital that all citizens exercise their right to vote and make their voices heard. By voting in local elections, you get to have a more direct impact on your community. Local governments make decisions regarding water, transit, land-use, waste management, and more. By voting on elected officials, you are voting for how these issues get managed. Voting can be a complex and difficult process, so WakeUP Wake County wants to help make this process easier and more accessible. Here is all the information you need to know about the upcoming election, how to register, and how to vote! #wakeupwakecounty #election #wakecounty #voting #vote

We are excited to share that the WakeUP Wake County, RaleighForward, and CITYBUILDER Annual Reception is on Thursday, December 3, 5.30 – 7.30 at Junction West in downtown Raleigh. There will be time for socializing over heavy hors d’oeuvres, and beer, wine and refreshments from the bar. WakeUP Wake County Executive Director Bert Fox, Board Chair Thomas Barrie, RaleighForward Director Eric Braun, and CITYBUILDER founder Jenn Truman will present plans for education and advocacy priorities in 2026. The theme is Planning for an Affordable Region. The keynote speaker is Shane Phillips, author of The Affordable City: Strategies for Putting Housing Within Reach (and Keeping it There), which argues for an “all of the above” approach to housing policy and outlines 55 strategies for improving affordability and household stability. Shane manages the Randall Lewis Housing Initiative for the UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies. His work covers a wide range of housing topics including tenant protections, housing production policies, and government revenue and financing reforms. Buy Tickets Here: https://givebutter.com/wuwc-annual-reception-2026-iyp4xb #wakeupwakecounty #wakecounty #annualreception #housing #affordablehousing

SAVE THE DATE for the WakeUP Wake County, RaleighForward, and CITYBUILDER Annual Reception! Plan on attending this year’s WakeUP Wake County, RaleighForward, and CITYBUILDER Annual Reception! As in the past, this is a gathering of friends who share a vision of a sustainable and equitable region. You can see highlights of last year’s reception here. https://wakeupwakecounty.org/2025-annual-reception-recap/ The Annual Reception is on Thursday, December 3, 5.30 – 7.30 at Junction West in downtown Raleigh. There will be time for socializing over heavy hors d’oeuvres, and beer, wine, and refreshments from the bar. WakeUP Wake County’s Executive Director Bert Fox will report on the Regional Coalition and plans for education and advocacy priorities in 2027. This year’s theme is Planning the Affordable City. Stay tuned for announcements about the keynote speaker and honorary chair. Tickets will go on sale in September. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Executive Director Bert Fox executivedirector@wakeupwakecounty.org #wakeupwakecounty #wakecounty #annualreception #affordability #sustainability

The next board member we would like to reintroduce is Martha Eberle! Martha Eberle is a Senior Landscape Architect with Biohabitats’ Southeast Atlantic Bioregion Office in Raleigh, NC. She has more than 20 years of experience in design and planning, with a focus on the successful integration of high-performing ecological systems within urban, suburban, and rural environments. Through partnerships with academic, institutional, and governmental clients, Martha has worked on award-winning projects throughout the United States and beyond. Her experience ranges from large-scale coastal resiliency and brownfield restoration efforts to small-scale urban interventions tailored to community character. In addition to her design background, Martha is skilled at community engagement, policy development, funding procurement, and landscape operations. She is passionate about creating high-functioning, equitable, and beautiful places rooted in ecology and community. #wakeupwakecounty #wakecounty #boardmembers

We’re excited to begin reintroducing the members of the WakeUP Wake County team over the coming weeks! We’ll kick things off by spotlighting our board members and sharing a little about who they are, the expertise they bring, and the important work they do. This week’s Board Member Spotlight features Jonathan Blasco! Jonathan Blasco is a landscape architect and Senior Project Manager at WithersRavenel. He has a Master of Landscape Architecture from North Carolina State University, where he has also served as an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in the Landscape Architecture Department. Additionally, he has served multiple terms as chair of the Garner Planning Commission. Stay tuned as we continue introducing the WakeUP Wake County team! #wakeupwakecounty #boardmember #communityengagement #wakecounty

Check out this event coming to Raleigh in November! Registration and Call for Proposals are open! Go to @yimbytown for more information. #yimby #wakeupwakecounty #housing #engagement

WakeUp Wake County is excited to begin working with Bridget Wall-Lennon and her team at BLWall Consulting as we continue building a broad coalition of residents, advocates, and community partners committed to expanding housing choices throughout Wake County. Together, we’ll be engaging older adults, families, and community leaders in conversations about the many benefits of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), including aging in place, multigenerational living, caregiving, and creating more flexible housing options for our communities. This partnership will also help us grow a stronger pro-housing coalition by bringing new voices into the conversation and ensuring that housing solutions work for people of every generation. We’re looking forward to the work ahead and to building a more connected, more inclusive, and more affordable Wake County. #WakeUpWakeCounty #BLWallConsulting #HousingChoices #ADUs #communityengagement

In collaboration with RaleighForward and CITYBUILDER, WakeUP Wake County hosted an ADU Accelerator Program Professional Training and tour of five ADUs. During the morning’s training, experts shared practical lessons from completed ADU projects, as well as detailed information on zoning and permitting, site planning, construction logistics, sustainability strategies, and common challenges. Our speakers included: Trent Mollison, Senior Planner, City of Raleigh Zoning Team/Land Division; Aaron Lubeck and Jenn Truman, The Rocket Shop; and Joel Lubell, Armature Design Build. A self-paced ADU Sustainability Tour was held that afternoon, and five accessory dwelling units of different types (attached, detached, and internal) were open to the public. Square footage of the units ranged from 300–1,200+ sq. ft. Visit our website for more details!

Join us after the ADU Sustainability Tour for an informal gathering at Standard Beer + Food! 4pm-6pm 205 E Franklin St, Raleigh, NC #wakeupwakecounty #adus #adu #happyhour

CITYBUILDER, WakeUP Wake County, and Raleigh Forward are excited to announce the 2026 ADU Sustainability Tour! This is a citywide open-house event celebrating thoughtfully designed, energy-efficient, and context-sensitive small-scale housing built after Raleigh’s 2020 text change. This tour will feature Accessory Dwelling Units (detached, attached, garage conversions, and internal units) and Tiny Homes. RSVP Here: https://tockify.com/eventsbycitybuilder/detail/192/1780765200000 #wakecounty #raleigh #wakeupwakecounty #accessorydwellingunits #adu

Join us for a workshop introducing architects and builders to ADU design, permitting, and sustainable construction methods! To RSVP visit: https://tockify.com/eventsbycitybuilder/detail/193/1780750800000 #wakecounty #wakeupwakecounty #raleigh #accessorydwellingunit #adu

We are excited to announce the speakers for this event will be: - Bill Shroyer - Geoff Fritz - Brooke Costanza - Basil Camu There's only two days left until our event, but there is still time to RSVP! #wakeupwakecounty #raleighforward #wakecounty #earthday #treecanopy

Martha Eberle is a Senior Landscape Architect with Biohabitats’ Southeast Atlantic Bioregion Office in Raleigh, NC. She has more than 20 years of experience in design and planning, with a focus on the successful integration of high-performing ecological systems within urban, suburban, and rural environments. Through partnerships with academic, institutional, and governmental clients, Martha has worked on award-winning projects throughout the United States and beyond. Her experience ranges from large-scale coastal resiliency and brownfield restoration efforts to small-scale urban interventions tailored to community character. In addition to her design background, Martha is skilled at community engagement, policy development, funding procurement, and landscape operations. She is passionate about creating high-functioning, equitable, and beautiful places rooted in ecology and community. #wakeupwakecounty #wakecounty #newboardmember

Join us this Earth Day for an event celebrating Wake County’s trees! Under One Canopy is a public event aimed at highlighting the importance of Wake County's urban tree canopy. Leading experts will showcase research-based strategies that anyone, from individual residents to policymakers, can take to be good stewards of green spaces in a rapidly growing region. Topics will range from the latest Wake County tree canopy assessment to healing our environment one back yard at a time. Attendees will leave with an understanding of how policies that improve environmental resiliency can support sustainable and intentionally planned growth. #wakeupwakecounty #wakecounty #earthday #trees #treecanopy #environment

Dean Rains is a Principal and Project Manager at LS3P with three decades of experience shaping the spaces where we live, work, and play. Since starting his career in Indianapolis in 1995 and moving to the Triangle in 2008, Dean has focused his passion on civic architecture, community-centric design, and the art of placemaking. Deeply committed to the local community, Dean’s leadership extends far beyond the drafting table. He spent a decade serving the City of Raleigh—six years on the Appearance Commission and four on the Planning Commission. He’s also an active voice in the industry, having served on various American Institute of Architects committees and currently contributing to the Urban Land Institute Triangle Programs Committee. Dean is a proud graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s DAAP School of Architecture and Interior Design. #wakeupwakecounty #wakecounty #newboardmember

Dwight Otwell earned a BS in Forest Management and an MS in Natural Resource Management from NCSU and currently works as a Goespatial Program Leader and Project Manager for Moffatt & Nichol Engineers in Raleigh, NC. Dwight served 6 years on the Raleigh Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, including 2 years as the Commission Chair. He is currently in his second term as a commissioner on the Raleigh Planning Commission and is the chair of the Planning Commission Text Change Committee. #wakeupwakecounty #wakecounty #newboardmember

Save the date for the ADU Professional Training is taking place June 6th prior to the ADU Sustainability Tour, which will be held in the afternoon. For more details visit: https://wakeupwakecounty.org #wakeupwakecounty #wakecounty #ADUs #ADUevent #CITYBUILDER #RaleighForward

CITYBUILDER, WakeUP Wake County, and Raleigh Forward are seeking completed (or substantially completed) Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Tiny Homes to feature in the 2026 ADU Sustainability Tour, a citywide open-house event celebrating thoughtfully designed, energy-efficient, and context-sensitive small-scale housing built after Raleigh’s 2020 text change. The tour date will be Saturday June 6th, with a rain date of June 20th. We’re looking for a diverse range of ADU types: detached, attached, garage conversions, and internal units, that demonstrate high-quality design and successful navigation of Raleigh’s permitting process. Please apply by March 10, 2026. To submit, complete the application form and upload photos, a brief project description, and basic project details. More information can be found at: https://wakeupwakecounty.org Help us show how small homes can make a big impact! Photo credit: https://housingsolutionsnetwork.org/adu/ #wakeupwakecounty #wakecounty #ADUs #ADUevent #CITYBUILDER #RaleighForward

WakeUP is excited to announce we are hiring a Coalition Manager. Individual consultants and business entities are invited to apply. We are accepting applications on a rolling base, with a first review deadline of March 13, 2026. Raleigh and Wake County are entering a pivotal period of growth and change, with major decisions ahead that will shape housing options, transportation investments, and environmental outcomes for decades. As the City of Raleigh undertakes its next Comprehensive Plan update, there is a clear need for stronger coordination among civic organizations working on these interconnected issues. We have created the role of Coalition Manager to provide dedicated capacity to organize, align, and build a sustainable coalition of organizations and community leaders. This coalition will use effective public engagement techniques to implement long-term planning principles across Raleigh and Wake County. For details regarding anticipated contract term, budget, organizational context, scope of work, selection criteria, and more, please view the 4-page RFP that describes this exciting opportunity in detail. https://wakeupwakecounty.org/open-position-coalition-manager/ #wakecounty #hiring #openposition #coalitionmanager #wakeupwakecounty #newjob

SAVE THE DATE! We are excited to be hosting a Happy Hour on February 5th, 5.30-7.30 in collaboration with RaleighForward! This event will take place in North Raleigh at Bottle Rev 3. #wakecounty #wakeupwakecounty #raleighforward #happyhour

Eric Lamb is a plangineer with STV, Inc. with more than 30 years of management and development transportation projects and programs. His career includes 22 years with the City of Raleigh, most recently as Transportation Planning Manager, where he was responsible for the development and oversight of a multimillion-dollar Capital Improvement Program for Transportation, including five successful transportation bond referenda. Eric helped develop concepts and secure grants for the Raleigh Union Station, and served as the principal liaison to NCDOT for numerous major transportation projects in Raleigh. Eric oversaw the development and implementation of the City's first bicycle and pedestrian plans and successfully implemented the City’s first bikeshare system in 2019. Eric holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master's of Civil Engineering from NC State University, and he is currently registered as a professional engineer in North Carolina. He is a Fellow with the Institute of Transportation Engineers and is active with its North Carolina Section (NCSITE). #wakecounty #wakeupwakecounty #newboardmember

WakeUP Wake County wants to wish you and your family a happy holidays! ❄️ #wakeupwakecounty #wakecounty #happyholidays

Thank you for joining us for our Annual Reception! We are extremely grateful to Dr Jenny Schuetz and Senator Jay Chaudhuri for attending and speaking at our event. Many great ideas were shared amongst community members and we are optimistic about the future of housing in Wake County! #wakecounty #wakeupwakecounty #housing #affordability #annualreception #annualevent #raleighforward #citybuilder #raleigh

Looking ahead, exciting new opportunities are on the horizon. In 2026, WakeUp Wake County will focus on building a coalition of aligned organizations to address housing, transportation, and environmental issues across the region. We are also preparing to hire a Coalition Manager to support our advocacy efforts and help expand our impact. To make this work possible, we need your continued support. Your contribution helps ensure that we can continue hosting events like this one, elevating data-driven conversations, and building the capacity needed to shape a more sustainable and inclusive future for our region. Additional information about our work, upcoming events, and ways to give can be found at: https://wakeupwakecounty.org/. Thank you again for being part of this community and for supporting a more informed approach to housing and growth in Wake County. #wakecounty #wakeupwakecounty #endofyeargiving #donations #housing #transportation

WakeUP Wake County wishes you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!

In January of this year the WakeUP Wake County Board of Directors adopted an ambitious Strategic Plan for the next three years. The plan expands on WakeUP’s mission to promote sustainable, healthy communities and equitable planning through education, civic engagement, and advocacy. The plan focusses on building coalitions to educate and advocate for housing choices, multimodal transportation, and environmental stewardship. Goals include Educating municipalities, organizations, community leaders, and residents, Convening broad-based, representative, and diverse constituencies, and Advocating for equitable and sustainable growth countywide.

HAPPY HOUR THIS WEEK! Join RaleighForward, WakeUP Wake County, and CITYBUILDER for a happy hour on Thursday, November 20th at 5:30pm. This informal event will bring together members of the community to share ideas and thoughts over refreshments and snacks. Raleigh Wine Shop, 317 S Bloodworth St. Raleigh NC. #raleigh #wakecounty #wakeupwakecounty #raleighforward #happyhour #citybuilder

Through WakeUP Wake County and its partners advocacy, real change has taken place throughout Wake County! Swipe to find out more! Additionally, we are hosting an annual reception in partnership with RaleighForward and CITYBUILDER. This event is taking place on Thursday, December 4, 5.30 – 7.30, at Junction West, downtown Raleigh. Event registration can be found in our bio along with more details about this event. #wakecounty #wakeupwakecounty #raleighforward #citybuilder #ADUS #housing #transit #annualreception

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