When you think of Apex, what comes to mind? Is it the town’s charming historic district, its abundant recreational activities, or its festive cultural events? Maybe it’s Apex’s first-rate schools, affordable housing, or low crime rate? Or perhaps you recall five years ago Money magazine naming Apex the No. 1 place to live in the U.S.?
Quite possibly, it’s the simple pleasure of Apex feeling like “home.”
Apex Mayor Pro Tem Nicole Dozier knows exactly what Apex residents think of their town. In 2014, she created an initiative to encourage residents, visitors and businesses to invest in the local and unique aspects of the Apex community, in order to create a stronger economic environment and higher quality of life. “Think Apex” is the mindset that places emphasis on residents going to their community neighbor first for their needs.
To promote Think Apex, Dozier and the Town of Apex launched a website, ThinkApex.biz, with assistance from Apex High School’s Academy of Information Technology and also paired with a local business, Promotional Partners, to create Think Apex magnets and stickers. Dozier then set up a booth the following spring at PeakFest, the town’s largest festival that turns Salem Street into a wonderland for more than 22,000 arts and crafts lovers, and asked attendees one simple question: What does Apex mean to you? The comments ranged from their support of local businesses to suggestions for town improvements, to the things they admired most about the Peak of Good Living.
“Everything was positive,” Dozier says, reflecting on that valuable insight.
Think Apex Day
The enthusiasm that festival-goers displayed at Dozier’s booth helped spur an annual event to strengthen Apex’s community spirit: Think Apex Day. Held on the last Saturday in April, Think Apex Day encourages residents to give back to their community by engaging with local businesses, nonprofits and other organizations. Think Apex Day 2020 is Saturday, April 25.
Over the past three years, Think Apex Day has grown in popularity by welcoming hundreds of volunteers who selflessly give their time and energy for the betterment of the community. These efforts have included sorting food donations and cleaning supplies at Western Wake Crisis Ministry, painting fence pickets at Kelly Road Park, spreading mulch and pine straw at Apex Community Park, assembling comfort kits for those in need, brightening assisted living facilities with handmade crafts, and picking up litter on the town’s trails and greenways.
This year’s volunteer opportunities, which range 90 minutes to two hours in duration, can be found at thinkapex.biz/Think-Apex-Day/think-apex-day-2020. All participants must sign a waiver, which is available on the website.
Think Apex Day also welcomes support for less fortunate neighbors at Western Wake Crisis Ministry. During the month of April, donations of nonperishable food and cleaning items will be accepted at Apex Town Hall and Apex Community Center.
While residents can make the Peak of Good Living even better by dining, shopping and volunteering their time regularly in Apex, Think Apex Day provides a special opportunity for residents of all ages to positively impact their community.
For information about Think Apex Day 2020, visit thinkapex.biz/Think-Apex-Day/think-apex-day-2020.
Think Apex Awards
The Think Apex campaign also honors the dedicated individuals, local businesses and nonprofits that have made an invaluable contribution to the community. The annual Think Apex Awards, established in 2016, highlight members of the Apex community who’ve gone above and beyond in their commitment to service, and the impact their act of service had on others during the prior year. This generosity includes peer mentoring, donating money to local charities, providing exceptional customer service, performing a random act of kindness, and more.
Following a six-week period that welcomes the nominations of individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations for a Think Apex Award, a committee organized by the town reviews the submissions to determine who has demonstrated an exceptional act of service. Winners and those receiving honorable mentions are announced at an Apex Town Council meeting in the spring, receive a glass award, and meet the mayor, Dozier, and other members of the town council. All nominees are awarded a certificate at the ceremony.
Dozier explains her reason for creating the Think Apex Awards quite simply, “I wanted people to have the chance to recognize their friends and neighbors.” She says honoring individuals is something she has enjoyed.
The 2020 Think Apex Awards ceremony is May 5 at 6 p.m. at the Apex Town Council meeting in Town Hall for individuals and groups who were nominated February 11-March 24. View past award recipients and nominees at thinkapex.biz/Awards.
The nomination period for next year’s Think Apex Awards will be announced in early 2021 on thinkapex.biz, twitter.com/thinkapexnc, and Town of Apex communications.
Dozier is appreciative when she looks back on the success of her Think Apex initiative. “I wanted to do this because it’s my town,” she says. “And I want people to get excited about it so when I’m no longer serving on the town council, they’ll still want to help and serve their community.”
Learn more about Think Apex at thinkapex.biz.
