We are: ONE Wake

Two perspectives on ONE Wake July Assembly

Written by Emma Kate Rick after attending the July 12^th Assembly

ONE Wake is a non-partisan, multi-racial, multi-issue group of religious congregations, associations and other non-profits. When ONE Wake is introduced to a problem, they will do whatever they can to solve that problem. This year’s main issue is affordable housing in Wake County. So, in October 2024 the community met with Raleigh City Council candidates and other local government officials to talk about the issue of affordable housing. During that meeting the candidates promised to gather again and report their progress if elected. That follow-up meeting was on a hot Saturday in July, when over 901 people gathered in Watts Chapel Missionary Baptist Church to hold our elected officials accountable. Instead of spending their Saturday chilling, those 901 people rallied together to make sure OUR voice was heard, because as Rev. Dr. Donna Coletrane Battle said early in meeting, “We must build our own power.”

Raleigh City Council members spoke in two groups. The first group included Mayor Janet Cowell, Jonathan Lambert-Melton, Mitchell Silver and Corey Branch. During the meeting they introduced a scorecard so they could record whether or not the Mayor and City Council members fulfilled their promises. In that moment the room filled with cheers and laughter, which made it feel like you knew everyone in the room, and they knew you like a brother or sister. Rev. Mycal Brickhouse talked about togetherness and how WE gathered there to solve a common issue in our community. Before the City Council members spoke, Marla Cloud and Rev. Whitney Hall both shared a story about how housing was too expensive in their chosen area so they had to live in a more rural county, which took them away from family and friends and their job. Those two stories really made the problem of affordable housing an issue for those that have a house, because when others, especially people you love or care about are being held back because they don’t have a house, that makes you notice how much of an issue it really is.

Rev. Lisa Yebuah says to lead from the Yes's! So that is what we will do, because we achieved a lot from just gathering in that church. We the people made that church an Ebenezer.  We reached out to City Council members as was needed. As Rev. Henry White said “We are the people of God doing the work of God." So let’s keep pushing and fighting to get people not only what they need, but also what they deserve as Rev. Lisa Yebuah would say.     

Written by Patti Sprinkle  after attending the July 3^rd and 12^th Assemblies

At noon on Tuesday, July 3, five WRPC members joined a One Wake assembly of 300 representatives from member organizations to pray over and bless 100 acres of land in SE Raleigh, acres which One Wake wants on which to build affordable housing. At noon on Saturday, July 12, over twenty WRPC members joined a gathering of 1000 members to hold elected officials accountable for promises made at October’s Candidates’ Assembly to prioritize affordable housing if elected. We were all astonished as the huge sanctuary filled and two overflow rooms overflowed to standing room in the hall!  

The mayor and city council members attended both gatherings, and both events were an impressive reminder of how people of faith can unite even at noon in July to work for justice.

The identified land is part of a 500-acre parcel jointly owned by Wake County and the City of Raleigh, and some of the land is already being considered for the completion of 540 and a fire department training facility, so many hurdles will have to be overcome before it can be donated. Because One Wake is a faith-based organization, its leaders called the prayer meeting to call down God’s power on this endeavor. Prayers were led by One Wake pastors, and the last one inspired us all as she began, “Lord, you know I never insult you by asking for too little.”

That was the spirit at both meetings. Please read on, because each was an exciting illustration of what people of faith can accomplish when they work together for justice. 

On July 3, after praying in the sanctuary, the group went outside under a tree, which is a sacred space in Hebrew and African cultures. There Soil of Promise from property in Cary approved for affordable housing was comingled with Soil of Hope taken from the requested land. Libations of water were poured out to honor American Indians and black slaves who lived and worked that land in the past, then water was added to the comingled soil and a caravan drove to the property itself to see the land and place the comingled soil there.  

On July 12, the mayor and elected council members were present to answer four questions about what they have done to prioritize affordable housing since taking office. They admitted that Federal budget cuts have impacted amounts they can designate for housing, but candidates who joined One Wake’s trip to view the Nehemiah Project in Brooklyn were enthusiastic about it and expressed hope it can be a model for housing in Raleigh. Each official spoke of ways affordable housing in being prioritized through rezoning, and several mentioned a project to use a former DMV site for affordable housing. They pointed out that some of One Wake’s requested parcel is already committed to the completion of 540 and to a fire department training facility, and they do not know what land will be available there. However, they are committed to continuing to work with One Wake on this issue. Everybody left both meetings feeling hope that affordable housing for all residents is attainable in Wake County.