Get involved with ONE Wake

You are ONE Wake!

-by Jeff Whittaker 

ONE Wake is a non-partisan, multi-racial, multi-issue group of religious congregations, associations, and other non-profits in the Wake County area with membership totaling in excess of 50,000 households. 

The Church of the Good Shepherd is joined with the members of nearly 50 other churches, mosques, synagogues, and non-profits to advocate for all voices. ONE Wake is a non-partisan, multi-ethnic, and focuses on multi- issues with a focus on affordable housing to equity, mental health and public transportation.

I attended the ONE Wake Strategic Retreat on September 25 and am enthusiastic about the progress made and the plans to get help for Raleigh housing diversity. The top actions include:

• a. Support a $200M housing bond with a simple message: “Vote Yes for homes”.
• b. Expand influence with Wake corporations, other churches, and towns
• surrounding Raleigh.
• c. Get at least 100 acres of affordable land for 2000 housing units.
• d. Establish subcommittees to focus on key areas needed to win affordable housing.
  • i. Increase fund raising
  • ii. Raleigh Bond referendum
  • iii. Expanding Municipalities representation (I joined this.)
  • iv. Land research
  • v. Broden clergy base

I volunteered for Municipalities because Church of the Good Shepherd is a downtown church
with members from the 12 surrounding towns. Connecting our members with their township
political representatives is a logical goal. ONE Wake must expand our reach.

What can you do?

• Join the CGS ONE Wake mailing list by sending me (Jeff Whittaker) an email to learn about current actions.
• If you know someone who needs housing and willing to speak, I will get their name to ONE Wake organization who cherishes testimony.
• If you live in a surrounding town, please help ONE Wake grow there. I will be contacting you.
• As you look at those on our street corners, those lined up at the Shepherds Table, our monthly lunches, or at the CGS Little Pantry or tent villages among the trees on the road ways, see these ONE Wake actions as a proven way to improve lives and increase hope.

CGS representatives at a spring 2025 ONE Wake gathering.

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Join us this October at ONE Wake events:

Please come to the ONE Wake annual meeting and the Cary Candidate Forum- October 21
If you are active in ONE Wake or want to know more about their actions in the Affordable Housing Campaign, please come to their annual meeting:

Tuesday, October 21, 2025
7 pm
Christ the King Lutheran Church

600 Walnut St
Cary, NC 27511

ONE Wake will review the year, discuss current strategy and confirm fundraising goals.
Be sure to RSVP so the number of handouts is appropriate.

RSVP ONE Wake Annual Meeting

If you want or need a ride to the Annual Meeting, please contact Jeff Whittaker.
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Please attend the ONE Wake Cary City Council Candidate Assembly - October 25
Use your presence and voice to show candidates that Affordable Housing is a key voter issue. If you've never been to an ONE Wake Assembly before, this is how it works: 

• ONE Wake will have specific proposals we want the candidates to react to with either a "yes" or "no". 
• Candidates receive these proposals in advance of the assembly so that they are not ambushed by unexpected questions.
• Each candidate gives a public affirmative "yes" or negative "no" to the proposals.
• Individually, each candidate gets an allotted time to speak. 
• We also endeavor to have our leadership meet with candidates in advance of the assembly so they what to expect.

ONE Wake Cary Council Candidates Assembly
Saturday, October 25, 10 am
Cary Presbyterian Church
614 Griffis St, Cary, NC 27511
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RSVP for Cary Council Candidates Assembly 

Learn more about ONE Wake on their website