Meet SWIWC
Who We Are
History (Herstory)
SWIWC’s Two-Spirit and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Advisory Council (2SLGBTQ+) was created in 2015 to guide and provide leadership in developing effective and culturally sensitive responses for survivors of domestic and sexual violence from the Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ community. Our advisory council adds lived experience and subject matter expertise to the work provided by SWIWC in helping tribes to increase their capacity to address and respond to this community.
Vision and Mission and Service Area
SWIWC’s vision: To have safe indigenous communities.
SWIWC’s mission: To increase the capacity of indigenous communities to address and respond to violence through education, training, technical assistance, policy advocacy, and culturally sensitive and supportive services.
SWIWC’s service area: All 22 tribes in Arizona are welcome to receive services from SWIWC. However, SWIWC’s sister tribal coalition, the Hopi-Tewa Women’s Coalition to End Abuse serves the Hopi Nation and some tribes such as the Navajo Nation, Kaibab-Paiute, and Zuni participate in other tribal coalitions that are geographically closer to them.
Meet Our Governing Board
SWIWC’s Governing Board is comprised of Native women who are committed to the work of ending violence against indigenous women in Arizona. The Governing Board include the following:
Mary Howe
President
Fort Mojave Indian Tribe
Fort Mojave, Az
Carrie Imus
Vice-President
Hualapai Tribe
Peach Springs, AZ
Geraldine Laughter
Secretary
Diné
Kayenta, AZ
Lorena Halwood
Treasurer
Diné
Chinle, AZ
Meet Our Staff
Our expert staff is devoted to their service to this community and are an integral part of who we are.
Leanne Guy, Executive Director
Diné
Memory Dawn Long Chase, Domestic Violence Response Director
Hunkpapa Lakota, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
Tania Harvey, Director of Tribal Engagement
Diné
Gail Henry, Finance Assistant
Diné
Veronica Hunter, Director of Finance
Diné
Kristy Granger, Program Assistant
Diné
Meet Our 2S/LGBTQ Advisory Council
SWIWC’s 2S/LGBTQ Advisory Council was created in 2015 to guide and provide leadership in developing effective and culturally sensitive responses for survivors of domestic and sexual violence in tribal communities. Our advisory council adds lived experience and subject matter expertise to the work provided by SWIWC in helping tribes to increase their capacity to address and respond to this community.