United Vision for Idaho (UVI) is a left-of-center organization that attempts to influence public policy in the state of Idaho. The organization organizes campaigns and protests in support of a left-progressive policy agenda, including a universal government-controlled health care system, expanded entitlement programs, universal student loan forgiveness, an end to all deportations of illegal immigrants, environmentalist regulations, and increased unionization. ¹

UVI has organized several protests featuring civil disobedience, resulting in the arrest of several UVI members, including executive director Adrienne Evans, in support of left-of-center policy goals. Evans has praised the arrests as evidence that UVI is “represented in the resistance” to right-of-center policy. ^{2 3}

UVI is also affiliated with left-wing institutions across the United States. The organization is a member of People’s Action Institute, a national, left-wing public policy organization. ⁴ UVI also lists organizations including Wellstone, the Midwest Academy, the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), and the Center for Popular Democracy (CPD) as its national partners. ^{5 6}

UVI is also a member of the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN), a national coalition of policy organizations backed by labor unions. ⁷

Background

United Vision for Idaho (UVI) was formed in 1994. Three years later, the organization received tax-exempt status from the IRS. ⁸ UVI works to advocate for a left-progressive policy agenda through community outreach campaigns and “educational” events across the state of Idaho, particularly in rural areas. ⁹

Activities

As of 2020, United Vision for Idaho claimed 177 volunteers in its home state and several thousand across the country. That year, the group claimed to have “reached 1.2 million Idahoans” and provided “57,000 people to access emergency aid and join campaigns” in support of left-of-center policy goals. ¹⁰

UVI advocates for a broad left-wing agenda, including a universal government-controlled health care system, mandatory paid family leave, a $15 minimum wage, increased unionization, heavy taxation of the wealthy, expanded entitlement programs, universal student loan forgiveness, an end to all deportations of illegal immigrants, a reduction in prisons, environmentalist regulations, and increased publicly subsidized housing. UVI encourages visitors to its site to visit the left-wing People’s Action Institute for more information on its campaigns. ¹¹

UVI completes most of its advocacy work through campaigns and protests. In March 2016, UVI called for an increase to the Idaho minimum wage, organizing 40 demonstrators alongside the Idaho AFL-CIO in support of the measure. ¹²  In 2017, UVI organized protests against conservative speakers, including then-U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and right-of-center author Charles Murray. ¹³ The following year, UVI joined protests in an attempt to bar Idaho state lawmakers from joining the call for a constitutional convention to add a balanced budget amendment to the federal Constitution. ^{14 15}

In September 2019, UVI pressured the Boise City Council into passing a resolution denouncing the Trump administration for allegedly supporting white supremacy and “white nationalism.” The Council ultimately passed a resolution against racial bias but opted not to include language regarding the Trump administration. ¹⁶

Civil Disobedience and Arrests

UVI is a frequent advocate for civil disobedience in pursuit of left-wing goals, resulting in the arrest of several of its leaders. In 2018, UVI sent twelve members to Washington D.C. to protest the Trump administration’s immigration policy. Eight of the twelve members were arrested on Capitol Hill for their role in the protest, which UVI executive director Adrienne Evans praised as being “represented in the resistance.” The week after the Capitol Hill protests, UVI joined other left-of-center organizations in Idaho to protest right-of-center immigration policy at the state capitol. ¹⁷

In 2019, UVI leaders Cal Whedbee, Nimi Sandhu, Angela Housley, and Adrienne Evans were arrested by U.S. Capitol Police for organizing a demonstration outside the office of then-U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in support of government-controlled health care. According to an Idaho newspaper report, the group of approximately 70 activists assembled in the hallway next to Sen. McConnell’s office door, at one point chanting “we need a leader, not a grim reaper.” ¹⁸

Leadership and Funding

According to the latest public records made available by the IRS, United Vision for Idaho earned approximately $68,000 in the 12-month period running from February 2017 through January 2018. ¹⁹

Edwin Vining is the president of the organization. ²⁰ Adrienne Evans is the executive director of UVI. Evans also works as the executive director of United Action for Idaho, UVI’s 501(c)(4) affiliate, and as the state director for People’s Action Institute, while also holding professional roles at other organizations affiliated with UVI. ²¹

Affiliated Organizations

United Vision for Idaho is a member of People’s Action Institute, a national, left-wing public policy organization with a presence in 27 states. As a member of the People’s Action Institute, UVI is part of an extensive network of “independently operated” organizations that help advance the Institute’s far-left priorities at the state and local level. ^{22 23}

UVI also teams up with variety of national movements advocating for federal left-of-center policy implementation, such as Health Care for All, Make Medicines Work, the PA National Cohort of Rural Organizing, Movement Politics, and the Federal Policy Brain Trust. ²⁴ UVI also lists a number of left-of-center and left-wing national affiliates on its website, including Wellstone, the Midwest Academy, the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), and the Center for Popular Democracy (CPD). ²⁵

In response to the threat posed by alleged “white nationalism” leading up to and following the 2020 U.S. presidential election, UVI entered into partnerships with various far-left organizations, including Bend the Arc, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), and the Western States Center. ²⁶

UVI is also a member of the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN), a national coalition of policy organizations backed by labor unions. ²⁷

1. United Vision for Idaho. “EVERYONE HAS A PLACE.” United Vision for Idaho. Accessed March 3, 2021. https://uvidaho.org/.
2. Foy, Nicole. “Idaho Rallies for Immigrant Families This Weekend.” Idaho Press, June 28, 2018. https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-rallies-for-immigrant-families-this-weekend/article_0784a94c-cd82-53fc-9cff-712b44bd9731.html
3. Idaho Press Staff. “Idaho Activists Arrested in D.C.” Idaho Press. Last modified May 2, 2019. Accessed November 2, 2020. https://. www idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-activists-arrested-in-d-c/article_e6e6500a-3ce4-58f2-bb98-39d3976bd6e8.html.
4. “Institute Member Organizations.” People’s Action. Accessed December 16, 2020. https://peoplesaction.org/institute/institute-members/.
5. “About.” United Vision for Idaho. Accessed March 3, 2021. https://uvidaho.org/about.
6. United Vision for Idaho. “The Year in Review.” United Vision for Idaho. Accessed February 5, 2021. https://uvidaho.org/what-a-year-1.
7. https://earn.us/members/united-vision-for-idaho/
8. Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Ken Schwencke, Brandon Roberts, Alec Glassford. “United Vision for Idaho Inc – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed October 27, 2020. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/820481853.
9. United Vision for Idaho. “The Year in Review.” United Vision for Idaho. Accessed February 5, 2021. https://uvidaho.org/what-a-year-1.
10. United Vision for Idaho. “The Year in Review.” United Vision for Idaho. Accessed February 5, 2021. https://uvidaho.org/what-a-year-1.
11. United Vision for Idaho. “EVERYONE HAS A PLACE.” United Vision for Idaho. Accessed March 3, 2021. https://uvidaho.org/.
12. Goins, Dave. “Protesters Rally at Idaho Capitol for Higher Minimum Wage.” Idaho State Journal, March 15, 2016. https://www.idahostatejournal.com/members/protesters-rally-at-idaho-capitol-for-higher-minimum-wage/article_d240013b-6ef2-5106-9c00-28f6c67df139.html.
13. Wright, Samantha. “Progressive Group Plans ‘Counter Action’ Against Author Charles Murray’s Idaho Visit.” Boise State Public Radio, August 25, 2017. https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/post/progressive-group-plans-counter-action-against-author-charles-murrays-idaho-visit#stream/0.
14. Tegethoff, Eric. “Constitutional Convention On the Table Again in Idaho.” Public News Service, January 26, 2018. https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2018-01-26/civic-engagement/constitutional-convention-on-the-table-again-in-idaho/a61183-1.
15. Russell, Betsy Z. “Backers, Opponents of Constitutional Convention Both Rally in Front of Idaho Capitol.” Spokesman.com. The Spokesman-Review, January 18, 2018. https://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2018/jan/18/backers-opponents-constitutional-convention-both-rally-front-idaho-capitol/.
16. Harding, Hayley. “Boise Council Unanimously Denounces White Nationalism, Refrains from Calling out Trump.” Idaho Spokesman, September 24, 2019. https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/community/boise/article235429697.html.
17. Foy, Nicole. “Idaho Rallies for Immigrant Families This Weekend.” Idaho Press, June 28, 2018. https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-rallies-for-immigrant-families-this-weekend/article_0784a94c-cd82-53fc-9cff-712b44bd9731.html.
18. Idaho Press Staff. “Idaho Activists Arrested in D.C.” Idaho Press. Last modified May 2, 2019. Accessed November 2, 2020. https://. www idahopress.com/news/local/idaho-activists-arrested-in-d-c/article_e6e6500a-3ce4-58f2-bb98-39d3976bd6e8.html.
19. United Vision for Idaho Inc, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990-EZ). 2018.
20. “Board of Directors.” United Vision for Idaho. Accessed October 27, 2020. https://uvidaho.org/about.
21. “Adrienne Evans.” LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-evans-776a5a11/. Accessed 25 Feb. 2021.
22. “Institute Member Organizations.” People’s Action. Accessed December 16, 2020. https://peoplesaction.org/institute/institute-members/.
23. “Member Organizations.” People’s Action. Accessed December 16, 2020. https://peoplesaction.org/member-organizations/.
24. United Vision for Idaho. “The Year in Review.” United Vision for Idaho. Accessed February 5, 2021. https://uvidaho.org/what-a-year-1.
25. “About.” United Vision for Idaho. Accessed March 3, 2021. https://uvidaho.org/about.
26. United Vision for Idaho. “The Year in Review.” United Vision for Idaho. Accessed February 5, 2021. https://uvidaho.org/what-a-year-1.
27. “United Vision for Idaho.” EARN. Economic Analysis and Research Network. Accessed March 3, 2021. https://earn.us/members/united-vision-for-idaho/.