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Non-profit

United National Indian Tribal Youth

Website:

unityinc.org/
Location:

Mesa, AZ
Tax ID:

73-1010390
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2019):

Revenue: $1,586,475
Expenses: $1,280,070
Assets: $1,018,466
Formation:

1976
Type:

Left-of-center youth development program with voter turnout initiative
Executive Director:

Mary Kim Titla

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United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) is a Native American youth development organization that has connections to multiple left-of-center organizations. UNITY is based in Arizona, but it has over 320 local councils in 36 states. UNITY supports programs aimed at improving the mental and physical health of Native youth, spreading awareness about suicide prevention, and addressing juvenile delinquency in Native American communities. 1

UNITY also engages in political activities. In the 2020 election, UNITY partnered with left-of-center organizations Native Organizers Alliance and Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona to increase young Native Americans’ voter turnout. 2 3 Also in 2020, four members of UNITY testified before Congress, asking for more government support for mental-health programs in Native communities. 4 UNITY receives financial support for some of its programs through government grants, notably from Health and Human Services, the Department of the Interior, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. 5

UNITY’s leadership also has connections to Democratic politics. UNITY’s executive director, Mary Kim Titla, ran for office as a Democrat in 2008, but she was defeated in the Democratic primary. 6 UNITY also receives support from multiple left-of-center organizations, including the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, and the National Education Association. 7 In 2019, UNITY had revenues totaling $1,586,475. 8

Founding and History

United National Indian Tribal Youth began in 1976 to empower and support Native American youth. Since its origin, UNITY has expanded into over 320 affiliated local councils in 36 states. 9 Every year, the National UNITY Conference gathers representatives from these local councils and votes on ten issues facing Native youth in America. Local councils are then encouraged to host events and community service projects to address those issues. In 2020, the National UNITY Conference voted that the ten issues were: drug/alcohol abuse, suicide/self-harm, school dropout/education disparities, cultural identity, bullying, unhealthy home environments, human trafficking/missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, lack of positive role models, poverty/unemployment, and juvenile/adult incarceration. 10

UNITY operates many apolitical programs, including the Wellness Warriors program and app that encourages mental and physical health in Native American youth. 11 UNITY also operates the I Will Live program that spreads awareness about suicide prevention among young people in Native American communities. 12

UNITY also operates the Healing Indigenous Lives Initiative. This project trains young people to serve as peer guides in Native communities in order to help increase public safety and address juvenile delinquency.  The project is supported by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. 13

Political Activism

During the 2015 National UNITY Conference, held that year in Washington, D.C., the keynote speaker was the leader of the Nation of Islam Louis Farrakhan, a controversial figure known for his anti-Semitism. 14 During his speech, Farrakhan told the youth at the conference that they could not trust the United States government, and he told them that the Great Spirit would never forgive white people. 15 16 As part of the same conference, Native youth spoke with then-First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House. During the event, Michelle Obama blamed the issues of addiction, poverty, and violence in Native communities on “a long history of systematic discrimination and abuse.” 17

In the 2020 election, UNITY partnered with left-of-center organizations, Native Organizers Alliance and Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona, to turnout young Native American voters. 18 19 UNITY organized in Native communities across nine states. The initiative also popularized #NativeVote on social media and created social media content encouraging young Native Americans to vote. 20 In 2021, UNITY alum Chance Rush also interviewed the director of Native Organizers Alliance, Judith LeBlanc, who was the former vice chair of the Communist Party USA. 21

On July 16, 2020, four youth leaders testified about mental health before the U.S. Congress Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States. 22 The youth advocated for increased government support for mental health in Native American communities and mental health training specifically aimed towards Native American cultures. 23 UNITY receives funding from grants and federal contracts from the U.S. Government, notably from Health and Human Services, the Department of the Interior, and and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. 24

UNITY also receives support from multiple left-of-center organizations, including the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, and the National Education Association. 25 In 2019, UNITY had revenues totaling $1,586,475. 26

Multiple members of UNITY’s leadership have connections to the Democratic Party. Mary Kim Titla, UNITY’s executive director and a former journalist, ran in the 2008 Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional District from Arizona, but she was defeated. 27  28 Jared Massey, social media specialist for UNITY, previously served on President Barack Obama’s White House Tribal Youth Gathering Steering Committee. 29

References

  1. “About UNITY.” United National Indian Tribal Youth. Accessed May 1, 2021. https://unityinc.org/about/about-unity/.
  2. “Illuminatives Celebrate the Power of the Native Vote!” United National Indian Tribal Youth. November 10, 2020. Accessed May 1, 2021. https://unityinc.org/illuminatives-celebrate-the-power-of-the-native-vote/#more-11666.
  3. UNITY 2020 Annual Report.” United National Indian Tribal Youth. Accessed May 1, 2021. https://unityinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/UNITY-2020-Annual-Report_V4_DRAFT_01262021-1.pdf.
  4. “Subcommittee Hearing: Remote SCIP Oversight Hearing – July 16, 2020.” Natural Resources Committee. July 16, 2020. Accessed May 3, 2021. https://naturalresources.house.gov/hearings/remote-scip-oversight-hearing_july-16-2020.
  5. “United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc.” Govtribe.com. Accessed May 3, 2021.  https://govtribe.com/vendors/united-national-indian-tribal-youth-inc-dot-unity-5xn60.
  6. Stearns, Chris. “Mary Kim Titla to run for Congress.” Indian Country Today. September 12, 2018. Accessed May 3, 2021. https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/mary-kim-titla-to-run-for-congress.
  7. “UNITY 2020 Annual Report.” United National Indian Tribal Youth. Accessed May 1, 2021. https://unityinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/UNITY-2020-Annual-Report_V4_DRAFT_01262021-1.pdf.
  8. United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc Form 990. 2019. Accessed May 1, 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/731010390/10_2020_prefixes_68-74%2F731010390_201909_990_2020100817363787.
  9. “About UNITY.” United National Indian Tribal Youth. Accessed May 1, 2021. https://unityinc.org/about/about-unity/.
  10. “UNITY 2020 Annual Report.” United National Indian Tribal Youth. Accessed May 1, 2021. https://unityinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/UNITY-2020-Annual-Report_V4_DRAFT_01262021-1.pdf.
  11. “UNITY Wellness Warriors.” Accessed May 3, 2021. https://unityinc.org/wellness-warriors/.
  12. “I Will Live.” United National Indian Tribal Youth. Accessed May 3, 2021. https://unityinc.org/i-will-live/.
  13. “Healing Indigenous Lives Initiative.” United National Indian Tribal Youth. Accessed May 3, 2021. https://unityinc.org/programs-initiatives/unity-peer-guide-program/.
  14. “The Nation of Islam.” Anti-Defamation League. Accessed January 15, 2019. https://www.adl.org/resources/profiles/the-nation-of-islam
  15. Muhammad, Richard. “The unity of the Black and the Red: A powerful message for Native Youth.” The Final Call. July 22, 2015. Accessed May 3, 2021. http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_102492.shtml.
  16. Bahl, Andrew. “UNITY brings large group of Native youth to the nation’s capital.” Indianz.com. July 13, 2015. Accessed May 3, 2021. https://www.indianz.com/News/2015/018162.asp.
  17. “First Lady Obama speaks to Native youth at White House Session.” Indianz.com. April 8, 2015. Accessed May 3, 2021. https://www.indianz.com/News/2015/017039.asp.
  18. “Illuminatives Celebrate the Power of the Native Vote!” United National Indian Tribal Youth. November 10, 2020. Accessed May 1, 2021. https://unityinc.org/illuminatives-celebrate-the-power-of-the-native-vote/#more-11666.
  19. “UNITY 2020 Annual Report.” United National Indian Tribal Youth. Accessed May 1, 2021. https://unityinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/UNITY-2020-Annual-Report_V4_DRAFT_01262021-1.pdf.
  20. “Illuminatives Celebrate the Power of the Native Vote!” United National Indian Tribal Youth. November 10, 2020. Accessed May 1, 2021. https://unityinc.org/illuminatives-celebrate-the-power-of-the-native-vote/#more-11666.
  21. “Learn with Alumni: CHANCE W/GR8NESS hosts Judith LeBlanc.” United National Indian Tribal Youth. January 25, 2021. Accessed May 1, 2021. https://unityinc.org/learn-with-alumni-chance-w-gr8ness-hosts-judith-leblanc/#more-11933.
  22. “UNITY’s Native Youth Leaders Will Participate in Congressional Hearing on Mental Health.” Indianz.com. July 16, 2020. Accessed May 3, 2021. https://www.indianz.com/covid19/2020/07/14/united-national-indian-tribal-youth-inc-unity-3/.
  23. “Subcommittee Hearing: Remote SCIP Oversight Hearing – July 16, 2020.” Natural Resources Committee. July 16, 2020. Accessed May 3, 2021. https://naturalresources.house.gov/hearings/remote-scip-oversight-hearing_july-16-2020.
  24. “United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc.” Govtribe.com. Accessed May 3, 2021. https://govtribe.com/vendors/united-national-indian-tribal-youth-inc-dot-unity-5xn60.
  25. “UNITY 2020 Annual Report.” United National Indian Tribal Youth. Accessed May 1, 2021. “UNITY 2020 Annual Report.” United National Indian Tribal Youth. Accessed May 1, 2021. https://unityinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/UNITY-2020-Annual-Report_V4_DRAFT_01262021-1.pdf.
  26. United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc Form 990. 2019. Accessed May 1, 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/731010390/10_2020_prefixes_68-74%2F731010390_201909_990_2020100817363787.
  27. “Mary Kim Titla.” LinkedIn.com. Accessed May 3, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-kim-titla-81199161/.
  28. Stearns, Chris. “Mary Kim Titla to run for Congress.” Indian Country Today. September 12, 2018. Accessed May 3, 2021. https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/mary-kim-titla-to-run-for-congress.
  29. “Unity Staff.” United National Indian Tribal Youth. Accessed May 3, 2021. https://unityinc.org/about/leadership/unity-staff/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: September - August
  • Tax Exemption Received: February 1, 1977

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2019 Sep Form 990 $1,586,475 $1,280,070 $1,018,466 $27,216 N $530,343 $1,044,976 $2,733 $90,193 PDF
    2018 Sep Form 990 $513,976 $507,502 $727,500 $42,655 N $237,791 $259,933 $16,239 $18,734 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $1,684,338 $1,101,447 $873,850 $195,479 N $347,914 $1,336,405 $19 $87,081 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $1,212,102 $1,113,559 $673,603 $578,123 N $616,658 $584,334 $10,510 $84,433 PDF
    2016 Jun Form 990 $1,098,376 $979,094 $359,514 $362,577 N $446,189 $648,671 $-3,010 $84,080
    2015 Jun Form 990 $859,174 $746,103 $411,285 $115,405 N $332,614 $511,172 $-268 $84,435 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $839,723 $902,054 $206,148 $52,207 N $133,074 $687,699 $134 $0 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $467,728 $522,742 $223,229 $0 N $460,452 $0 $4,611 $0 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $499,171 $715,013 $333,202 $54,959 N $488,975 $0 $-4 $0 PDF
    2011 Jun Form 990 $540,050 $854,907 $521,173 $27,085 N $538,478 $0 $1,397 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    United National Indian Tribal Youth

    953 E JUANITA AVENUE SUITE C
    Mesa, AZ 85204-6640