We have just launched the most robust rural organizing campaign in Idaho, one that is built on issues and values, not political platforms. We are regular, ordinary people coming together on our shared issues and values and rising up to lift up the voices of Idahoans: working together in all our communities across the state, particularly those communities that have been left out and forgotten to build organizations and future leaders in every part of the state.
We are Idahoans who are creating our own platform to change politics as usual, create real change in people's lives and to take back our democracy community by community across Idaho. Please join us!
We estimate it will take a minimum of $20,000 from now through the end of October to fulfill our objectives to deliver training, to accommodate for the extensive travel across Idaho, provide resources and training for volunteer area leaders, to secure meeting space and accommodations, and provide essential materials.
With your support and based on endless hours of dedicated volunteer talent, skills, passion and time we will May through November, 2018 to:
- Reach 24,000 people in five rural areas in door-to-door deep canvasing (and actually listening to people where they are) especially where people have not voted, and are disengaged.
- Reach 1,000 rural Idahoans in community meetings.
- Provide training to 500 leaders in rural communities to build local infrastructure across the state.
- Staff regional leaders to build local infrastructure and provide ongoing training.
- Provide high school seniors with part-time paid intern social justice training opportunities.
- And mobilize voters on the issues that matter!
Testimonials
May 3, 2018
“UVI delivered a day-long workshop in Idaho Falls and it was profoundly important. It gave us a HUGE surge of confidence and energy! We really felt we had the tools to build a movement. We are more confident about approaching people: we know what to ask and how to ask it. We have a greater sense of our purpose and how we can get there: we need to build a movement, not a reaction. We know how to develop a process for building that movement: steps to organizing and why a plan is important. We understand the need for strategies and tactics and the difference between the two: critical to planning. We have a better understanding of what it takes to make organizing successful: know your assets, know your allies and opponents, find what issues and interests will move them (know their interests!). It's not enough to be right; be strategic! Build power; leverage power strategically. Recognize that building a movement is the key to change. These are just some of the many highlights of this training that were particularly important to our organizing efforts in a rural part of the state.” -Judy Schmidt
United Vision for Idaho provides leadership that leads to real
improvements in the lives of people in Idaho and is a terrific partner in
national struggles for democracy and justice. They work in hard terrain.
And so, their impact is all the more remarkable and needed. Adrienne is a
gem. We should all be grateful for her leadership.
- Heather Booth, Midwest Academy: Founder and Civil Rights Leader
I have done sessions in far larger and more progressive states with far
smaller leadership groups. As I travel around the country, I use UVI as an
example of the kind of effective work that can be done, even in the most
difficult contexts.
The voices of women, people of color, and those struggling in today’s
economy is far better represented in Idaho because of the work of UVI
and Adrienne. I can’t recommend UVI highly enough to you."
- Judy Hertz, Executive Director, Midwest Academy
"I worked with Adrienne and UVI at USAction. She is smart, collegial, thoughtful, passionate. She's taken on the hard work of building the progressive movement in a tough place, and she's stayed at that task for enough years to have developed a lot of wisdom about how to succeed. We need more people and organizations like them - grassroots, creative, coalitional - all over, and we need them to succeed in Idaho if we are to turn the tide nationally.”
- Jeff Blum, USAction executive director, 1999-2013
"United Vision for Idaho plays an important part in advancing progressive policies and worldview in the state. The work that they do - particularly in the areas of advancing economic and gender justice - cannot be understated. Their ability to bring together various stakeholders under one common umbrella with the ability to move - through grassroots organizing - a progressive vision of our future is critical to our movement.”
- Sarah Chaisson Warner, M.P.P., Campaign Director - Fight for Families
“United Vision of Idaho is the leader in Idaho in advocating and organizing for economic justice. Adrienne Evans has been an unwavering champion for increasing minimum wage and understands the disproportionate impact of our country’s economic policies on girls, women and people who are gender nonconforming. We look to the United Vision of Idaho for guidance and leadership on all economic issues across the gender spectrum.”
Kelly Miller, Executive Director, Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence
UVI is the largest and most important progressive coalition in one of the most reactionary states in the union. As such, it serves to organize the efforts and amplify the voices of the members of all of our diverse communities. Absent their efforts, what progress we have made as a state would undoubtedly be greatly diminished, and one can only guess at the number of regressive policies that they have thwarted by their resistance. Despite these dark days, the energy and enthusiasm that has been cultivated and channeled by United Vision for Idaho gives me hope for our future.
- Martin Orr, Ph.D., Boise State University
“UVI is a primary source of accurate information for individuals and organizations throughout the state on issues that affect and impact our lives. UVI is a voice for thousands of Idahoans with respect to multiple pertinent issues, as well as being a key promotor of progressive values that bring citizens together in common purpose.
UVI is unquestionably the leading grassroots organization championing real, systematic, economic, and social change in Idaho while promoting human rights and environmental justice. UVI is clearly one of the most essential organizations in Idaho.”
– Steven Gracie, Idaho Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
The Idaho AFL-CIO has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with United Vision for Idaho and worked closely together on issues including pay equity and minimum wage for a number of years now. This critical work requires the strength of each of our organizations and without the leadership of United Vision for Idaho and executive director, Adrienne Evans, our capacity to move labor’s agenda forward would be diminished.” – Aaron White, President, The Idaho AFL-CIO
We are proud to partner with United Vision for Idaho and to work on our shared goals of justice, particularly in regard to persons of color, those undocumented and our growing refugee population. UVI is an important vehicle for collaborative planning and joint action between groups that are both far flung around a large, sparsely populated state, and groups whose missions sit within different interests, but is more powerful when coordinated together. Thank you for your consideration to support this important work in Idaho.
- Julianne Donnelly Tzul, Boise RESCUE Committee
“United Vision for Idaho and United Action for Idaho is made up of people committed to making our community and world a better place for us all to live. They work to build a collaborative approach in making positive progress on the social needs of our society, giving a voice to those who have none.”
-William Bones, Boise Police Chief
“Now, more than ever, we need United Vision for Idaho, to be vigilant and work together to protect the rights of all, regardless of race and gender. Equality for all!” -Susan Lincoln
“United Vision for Idaho, a wonderful umbrella organization that empowers diverse Idahoans facing challenges for health care, decent wages, equal rights, and more. Through UVI, many voices are heard, hearts are touched, and eyes are opened.” - Kerry Cooke
” United Vision for Idaho is Idaho's largest statewide coalition and rooted in a core belief that far more unites than divides us, and together we must work to dismantle oppression and enhance the equality, dignity and power of all people.” -Kyle Daniel Barrow
“United Vision for Idaho has exceeded my expectations in service and support for All people of Idaho in their uphill battles for justice, which can only exist within the coordinates of equality.” - Joe Alcala
"United Vision for Idaho; This non-profit champions a host of causes, all of which support the rights, needs and dignity of our population. Support of this organization will make us all better.” -Tammy Seley Elliott
“United Vision for Idaho is our best chance to bring needed changes/improvements to overall level of social services and public attitudes in Idaho.” - Fran Collette
“United Vision of Idaho’s undaunted work across Idaho for justice, equality, respect for all our citizens is critical for our future. UVI is the one statewide organization working for all marginalized persons.” - Edwin Keener
“United Vision for Idaho’s mission is to unite and bring people together to usher in equality for everyone. It is needed now more than ever before!”
- Julie Wiley
“United Vision for Idaho works to better not only the lives of Idahoans but Americans, thus, giving hope to ALL.” - Janet Beauchamp
“United Vision for Idaho is an outstanding organization who unites people on their commonalities, rather than their differences, advocates for fairness and equality, and promotes the common good of the people in all it does.” - Ron Goodman
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