International Women’s Day: Chiko Swiney

In honor of International Women’s Day approaching on the 8th of March, Phoenix Sister Cities interviewed successful lawyer Chiko Swiney to discuss the importance of International Women’s Day and the global impact it has in empowering women everywhere to reach their goals and achieve their full potential.

Chiko Swiney is an attorney with Copperpoint Mutual Insurance Companies. She has a master’s degree in international trade law from the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law. Prior to working for Copperpoint , Chiko worked for the Pima County Public Defender’s office in Tucson. She speaks Ibo (a Nigerian language) and she has lived on three continents. Her love to travel and meet new people and experience new cultures inspired her to become a commission member on the Phoenix Sister Cities executive committee.

Speaking about International Women’s Day, she described the importance of this commemorative day as a celebration towards “the strength of women” and “the goals that women have been trying to achieve for so long like equality in the workplace and equal pay for women”.

Furthermore, Ms. Swiney describes the importance of International Women’s Day as a way to celebrate the growth in “the role of women of today and how far we have come, especially from different backgrounds and cultures where initially we were second class citizens and being treated like property, to now holding roles of authority”.

As a mother and as a lawyer, Swiney goes on to saying that empowering women not only transcends into the work place, but also at home.

“[International Women’s Day] gives value to women even at home. If you have a strong and empowered woman at home taking care of kids, you will have kids better able to face the challenges of the world today” and “when a woman can be financially stable in the workplace, the society is then enriched”.

Swiney also connected the importance of Sister Cities for the International community with regards to International Women’s Day.

“Women must be able to empower themselves and decide if they truly want things to change. Sister city programs promote this by helping with the exchange of ideas around the world as well as helping society discuss the real issues even when we have our differences.”

Chiko Swiney is an articulate, knowledgeable, and open-minded woman and we are so proud to have her onboard at Phoenix Sister Cities. To learn more about our board and commissioners, visit http://www.phoenixsistercities.org/board-and-committees/