Andrew Villeneuve is the founder of the Northwest Progressive Institute and its sibling, the Northwest Progressive Foundation. He serves in leadership roles in both organizations. NPI, founded in 2003, has an advocacy focus, powered by research, whereas NPF, formed in 2018, has an educational focus. NPI is organized as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization; NPF is organized as a 501(c)(3) charity.
Andrew has worked to advance progressive causes for over two decades as a strategist, speaker, author, and organizer. He is also a cybersecurity expert, veteran facilitator, a delegate to the Washington State Democratic Central Committee, and a member of the Climate Reality Leadership Corps. On his personal website, you can learn more about his work to keep people safe online, read his cybersecurity tips, and download his best practices guide for hardening WordPress.
In recent years, besides leading NPI, Andrew was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2012 for Barack Obama, an organizing fellow for the Progressive Change Campaign Committee in 2013, and a delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention for Bernie Sanders.
A lifelong Pacific Northwestener, Andrew was raised in Redmond, Washington. His interest in community service and technology took root while he was a freshman in the Lake Washington School District. From 2001-2002, he led Redmond Junior High’s web team and responsible for designing and managing the school’s website. At Redmond High School, Andrew was instrumental in helping to form the Eastside Liberal Students group, which he led as President during his senior year. Andrew was also a member of Redmond High School DECA, an active chapter of the national business and marketing association, where he served on the Executive Board as the Technology officer (2003-2004) and Public Relations officer (2004-2005).
Andrew twice participated in the City of Redmond’s Youth in Government Day and worked on the city’s Transportation Master Plan. For his community involvement, he received the Mayor’s Circle of Leadership Award from past Mayor Rosemarie Ives in 2005.
Andrew’s involvement in state and regional politics began following the passage of Tim Eyman’s Initiative 695, which cut funding for roads, transit, and ferries. (The initiative was thrown out by Washington’s Supreme Court as unconstitutional, but reinstated by the Legislature in 2000).
In 2002, not long after Eyman announced I-776 (intended to force the cancellation of Sound Transit’s Link light rail system), Andrew formed Permanent Defense to publicly oppose Eyman’s initiatives, which continues to fight against senseless schemes to wreck government. Permanent Defense subsequently became a key project of the Northwest Progressive Institute when NPI was launched in August 2003.
Andrew has worked on ballot measures since becoming an activist, organizing support for campaigns to pass worthy progressive ideas as well as organizing opposition to destructive right wing schemes purposely intended to undermine our Constitution and commonwealth.
Under his leadership, the Northwest Progressive Institute has grown from a simple idea to a nimble political startup influential in the politics of the Pacific Northwest, known for its insightful research, imaginative advocacy, uplifting photojournalism, and informative events.
NPI’s principal publication, The Cascadia Advocate, is indexed by Google and Bing News, syndicated by Authoritative Content, and has been repeatedly listed as one of The Washington Post’s Best State Political Blogs. During his almost two decades in politics, Andrew has covered many noteworthy events, including the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Democratic National Conventions, the 2009 inauguration of Barack Obama, the FCC’s final public hearing on media ownership in 2007, the Wake Up Walmart bus tour in 2006, and fourteen consecutive Netroots Nation gatherings, beginning in 2006.
Andrew is passionate about building infrastructure and keeping people safe. At NPI and NPF, Andrew builds sorely needed infrastructure to advance progressive causes. When not at work building progressive infrastructure, he is often reading, writing, or speaking in his capacity as a cybersecurity expert and facilitator.
Andrew’s other interests include traveling (when there isn’t a public health crisis!), hiking, cooking, geology, oceanography, photography, and watching cross country races.
You can reach Andrew either through NPI’s website or his personal website.