Leanne Guy Named 2024 Recipient of the NNEDV DREAM Award

September 17, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: NNEDV Communications Team (Communications@NNEDV.org)

Washington, D.C. – The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) congratulates Leanne Guy, recipient of the 2024 Diane Reese Excellence in Advocacy in the Movement (DREAM) Award. This award honors a person who incorporates and demonstrates the spirit and promise of true advocacy in all aspects of life as Diane did—one who emulates a commitment to clear and ethical communication, an eagerness to collaborate in the spirit of true partnership, and a deep respect for the dignity, worth, and humanity in each one of us.

Since 2006, Leanne has served as the founding Executive Director of the Southwest Indigenous Women’s Coalition (SWIWC), Arizona’s tribal domestic and sexual violence coalition. In this role, Leanne’s leadership has increased indigenous communities’ capacity to address domestic and sexual violence through education, training, technical assistance, policy advocacy, and culturally sensitive and supportive services.

At SWIWC, Leanne supports not only her Diné community but all advocates and First Nation communities addressing domestic and sexual violence, both in Arizona and throughout the country. Through continuous dedication and tireless efforts, Leanne has grown SWIWC to a staff of six and has secured federal and state funding for the organization.

SWIWC offers technical assistance and training specifically tailored to meet indigenous communities’ needs and actively engages in policy advocacy, education, and outreach. In 2015, under Leanne’s leadership, SWIWC started the Two-Spirit and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Advisory Council (2SLGBTQ+) to ensure that this population was not overlooked in providing services and advocacy.

“Leanne values all voices in doing this work and makes a big space at the table for people to share their experiences so that everyone, including herself, can learn, grow, and help navigate change to ensure everyone feels safe, included, and supported,” said Juana Galeno, Chief Financial Officer at the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. “Leanne’s passion for safety and justice for Native women, and her commitment and dedication for safer indigenous communities and ending violence against indigenous people in Arizona, is admirable and well deserved of this recognition.”

Prior to founding SWIWC, Leanne served as the Executive Director at Ama Doo Alchini Bighan (ADABI), a nonprofit, community-based domestic violence and sexual assault services program located on the Diné Nation. She has more than 25 years of experience in tribal community health promotion, disease prevention, and public health and safety initiatives, working to help increase tribal programs’ capacity to organize, develop, and implement public health intervention and prevention strateies for increased wellness, healing, safety, and justice.

Leanne is a member of numerous national, state, and tribal boards, task forces, and committees, including the Alliance of Tribal Coalitions to End Violence, the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, the National Congress of American Indians Task Force on Violence Against Women, and Arizona’s Study Committee on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

“It is a privilege for NNEDV, our Membership Committee, and the DREAM Award Selection Committee to recognize Leanne Guy’s lifetime of work on behalf of indigenous survivors and communities,” said Stephanie Love-Patterson, NNEDV President & CEO. “Our movement is made stronger because of advocates like Leanne, who remind us to center those who are most marginalized, and who bring so much care, commitment, and heart to their work.”

NNEDV presented Leanne with the DREAM Award on September 17 during our Annual Meeting:

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The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) represents the 56 state and U.S. territorial coalitions against domestic violence. NNEDV is a social change organization working to create a social, political, and economic environment in which domestic violence no longer exists. NNEDV works to make domestic violence a national priority, change the way society responds to domestic violence, and strengthen domestic violence advocacy at every level.