Everywhere I go, people tell me some version of the same story. They are working hard, juggling responsibilities, doing everything they were told to do, and yet it feels like the ground keeps shifting underneath them. When people talk to me about affordability, what they are really talking about is whether the American Dream still feels possible. They want to know if their hard work will lead to stability, not constant stress.

Housing prices jump faster than incomes. Groceries cost more each week. Utility bills creep up with no clear reason. Property taxes rise as appraisals climb. Childcare can cost as much as a mortgage. And medical bills show up with no warning at all. Families are seeing homeowners insurance premiums rise with little transparency.

People are not imagining it. They are feeling the combined weight of several pressures hitting at the same time. That is what makes affordability feel so overwhelming. It is not one thing. It is everything.

Every strong community has strong public schools at its center. Families decide where to live based on the quality of the schools. Businesses decide where to invest based on the strength of the local workforce. And students decide how far they can dream based on the opportunities available in the classroom. When our schools thrive, everything around them thrives too.

Too many educators, parents, and students in Southern Wake tell me the same concerns. Classrooms are crowded. Teachers are asked to do more with less. Support staff are stretched thin. Mental health needs keep growing. School buildings often struggle to keep pace with the population around them. These pressures do not come from a lack of commitment from educators. They come from policy decisions that have put a larger financial burden on local districts rather than funding from the state as is mandated in the NC constitution.

Strong schools require stable funding, a respected workforce, and a state that understands public education is not an expense to cut. It is the foundation of every thriving community.

Southern Wake is one of the fastest-growing areas in North Carolina. People choose to live here because it is a place with strong neighborhoods, good schools, natural beauty, and a sense of community that is hard to find elsewhere.

Families feel the impact of growth in traffic, strained infrastructure, disappearing green space, and development that moves faster than the communities asked to absorb it.

A thriving community is one where people feel connected, supported, and able to build a life with confidence. It is a place with safe streets, strong public spaces, protected natural resources, and local businesses that form the heart of our small towns. It is a place where newcomers feel welcomed and long-time residents feel valued. A thriving community sees different levels of government partner with the community to plan for a future that reflects the needs of the people who live here.