THE CHALLENGES OF RURAL AMERICA FACE US ALL

Our Model: Relational Organizing for a People-Powered Democracy

United Vision for Idaho has developed a unique and transformative model for authentic relational organizing, grounded in decades of work in one of the most conservative regions of the country. Through this deep and intentional approach, we’ve built a community across Idaho—and increasingly, the nation—made up of people who are willing to step into difficult conversations, ask hard questions, confront painful truths, and co-create a new path forward together.

Rather than sacrificing our values to technology, we’ve leveraged digital tools to strengthen—not replace—human connection. Starting with statewide community wellness checks, followed by personal phone calls, virtual gatherings, and intentional follow-up, we’ve designed a distributed organizing infrastructure that centers relationships, deepens engagement, and builds long-term leadership capacity.

Meeting People Where They Are

In communities isolated by geography and bombarded by extremist rhetoric, fear and division can take root easily. But when we meet people at their source of pain and listen deeply—grounding the conversation in shared values—the transformation is powerful.

Through these conversations, we’ve seen:

• Ideological shifts
• Increased civic participation
• Sustained voter engagement

This is the result of consistent, on-the-ground engagement—not moments, but movements.

A New Kind of Movement Strategy

Our work is built in partnership with communities and key allies, rooted in the lived experiences of everyday people. We've intentionally moved beyond a transactional model of politics toward a transformative, values-based approach—one that fosters belonging, agency, and purpose.

To date, we’ve:

• Reached over 600,000 people across five states
• Had more than 94,000 deep, values-based conversations
• Enlisted thousands of volunteers
• Developed a scalable model that is now being highlighted and adapted across the national progressive movement

Building a Bigger “We”

At the heart of our narrative strategy is the goal of “building a bigger we.” We’re creating a foundation of belonging—especially in rural and small-town communities—that bridges the urban-suburban-rural divide and strengthens our collective power.

In this defining moment, everything is at stake. But there is hope. Our lives are interdependent, and the values we share connect us in a common struggle for dignity, justice, and possibility.

At a time when many feel powerless or overwhelmed, taking action is a radical act of hope—a way to reclaim agency and help remake a democracy that works for all of us.

CHECK US OUT ON YOUTUBE

Rural America is not a monolith—but it’s too often treated like one. Dominant narratives flatten the richness of rural life, ignoring the diversity, innovation, and progressive traditions that exist within these communities. As a result, rural people are frequently dismissed—written off as either unreachable or irrelevant. This misrepresentation erases complexity and fuels division.

For decades, rural communities have faced systemic neglect. Hollowed out by corporate exploitation and political abandonment, they now shoulder immense burdens: unaffordable and inaccessible healthcare, a devastating overdose crisis, underfunded schools, stagnant wages, and environmental disaster. Resources remain scarce—there’s never enough support, funding, or access to basic services. Yet despite all of this, rural communities endure. They organize, advocate, and demand better—not just for themselves, but for the country as a whole.

Young people often leave—not because they reject rural life, but because economic necessity gives them no choice. Still, deep roots remain: family ties, cultural heritage, and a profound sense of belonging. Those who stay face a stark reality—many of the jobs that remain are low-wage and insecure. With few real strategies to rebuild rural economies, a vacuum has formed—one increasingly exploited by extremist, anti-government, and militia movements. The far right has weaponized despair to consolidate power, while the Left has too often been absent. Reversing this trend requires more than short-term outreach; it demands deep, consistent, year-round organizing that reaches beyond election cycles to build lasting change.

Rural communities are not just political battlegrounds; they are indispensable to our collective future. They grow our food, power our homes, preserve cultural traditions, steward natural landscapes, and have borne the brunt of harmful federal policies. Despite playing such a vital role, rural areas receive less than half the per capita philanthropic investment of urban and suburban areas. As a result, grassroots organizers are asked to do more with far less. But building power in rural America takes time, care, and sustained investment—far beyond the span of a single campaign or legislative session. Without a fundamental shift in how we resource and strategize, rural America will remain at the center of intersecting crises: climate change, economic inequality, and rising extremism.

Nearly 20 percent of Americans live in rural communities—and many feel a deep disillusionment with a political system that fails them no matter who is in charge. This disillusionment demands a bottom-up response. It’s time to stop speaking like academics or pundits armed with polished talking points. It’s time to show up—year-round, in different places, and in different ways—to build something real.

Right now, two dominant narratives compete for control. One says rural America is in terminal decline, irrelevant to the nation’s future. The other pits rural and urban communities against each other, as if their values and fates are mutually exclusive. Both are wrong. Both simplify reality and entrench division. In truth, rural and urban communities are deeply interconnected—their futures inseparable.

Rural America has never been passive. It is a place of constant contest and resilience, where people have long mastered the art of survival and resistance. We can face our current reality head-on—and imagine a better future. But that future must include rural voices, leadership, and vision. To make it real, we must invest in rural communities not as charity or strategy, but as a moral and political necessity. Only then can we restore trust and build the cultural, social, and political infrastructure required to meet this moment.

“I'm amazed by what your organization is doing, especially in a state as red as Idaho. Combining your bold agenda with the reach, expertise and volunteer support of People's Action feels like a powerful tandem. While many campaigns seem to ask a lot of straight forward or yes/no questions, your campaign is asking how people feel, which I think is important. I was somewhat skeptical at first, but your campaign showed me how text-banking can create the opportunity to have a meaningful conversation if the responses are rooted in compassion.”

 -Volunteer

“The United Vision Project  has given me the opportunity to get beyond the disbelief and anger built up over the last 4 years (and more) by finding the courage to be empathetic while reaching out to the Far Right. It’s frightening to me to think we could be heading towards an increasingly ‘white supremacist’ society, so I am motivated to do my part in the protection of our democracy.”

 -Volunteer

“The United Vision Project has given me hope that there is a path to healing our divide, to finding common ground, and to bringing civility back to our discourse. It has provided me a way to channel my energy into something that can make a real difference.”

 -Volunteer

"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. UVI is a 

gem. We should all be grateful for their leadership."

- Heather Booth, Midwest Academy: Founder and Civil Rights Leader

"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."

- Community Member

To See Each Other is a documentary series that complicates the narrative about rural Americans in our most misunderstood, and often abandoned, communities. Host George Goehl - a leading grassroots organizer - travels to Michigan, Iowa, New Jersey, North Carolina and Indiana to reveal how small town folks are working together in fights for everything from clean water and racial justice to immigrant rights and climate change.When we see each other, we’ll understand that we can never give up on each other.Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and anywhere you listen

SUBSCRIBE HERE

George Goehl is on a mission. 

“I want people to see the humanity of folks in rural communities first and foremost,” Goehl tells Shondaland. “We would be succeeding if people thought: Okay, I’m going to drop the preconceptions for a minute, listen to these stories, and have a different perspective on what’s possible in rural communities.”

GEORGE GOEHL, People's Action

"We cannot continue to cede these areas to anti-democratic extremists. White supremacy threatens us morally, physically and politically. While the stakes vary from person to person (say a black man in Portland and a white woman in Boise), we all suffer if the alt-right and anti-democratic movements persist and grow. These movements are a cancer on our democracy, and they are a parasite that feeds on the chaos and division."

By Eric Ward and Adrienne Evans

READ HERE

"These times are unusual, and not just because of COVID-19. What distinguishes this time from others is that we are truly seeing the culmination of an entire system that is at odds with the people it should have been designed to serve. What remains unknown is whether this will be the moment to usher in a 21st-century civil rights movement or a new civil war.

What will make the difference in these two starkly different visions of the future?"

READ HERE

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Authoritarian State or Inclusive Democracy? 21 Things We Can Do Right Now

Shutting Down White Nationalist Movements, Extremism And The Myths That Surround Them

In the Struggle for Racial and Economic Justice, Don’t Forget Rural America

We Need to  Orient Differently