Immigration Paralegal

Yawo S. Tekpa

Email: ******@*****.*** • Phone: 510-***-****

***** *** ***** ****** *** 203, El Cerrito, Ca. 94530

EDUCATION

University of California, Berkeley, Ca.

Master of Arts in International and Area Studies (IAS) May 2012

LL.M. (Master of Laws), Boalt Hall/Berkeley School of Law May 2011

Bachelor of Arts in Peace And Conflict Studies (PACS) May 2007

Certificate in Conflict Mediation (Conflict Resolution and Transformation Center) February 2006

Merritt College, Oakland, Ca.

Associate of Arts in Political Sciences with Highest Honors May 2005

Associate of Arts in Business Administration with Honors May 2005

Associate of Arts in General Curriculum with Honors May 2005

University of Lome, Faculté de Droit (School of Law), Lome,Togo (West Africa)

Licence en Droit (Bachelor of Laws) October 2000

AREAS OF SPECIALTY

Droit des Affairs (Corporate Law), Human Rights Law, Immigration Law, and International Law

Mediation, Negotiation, Arbitration, and Facilitation

Restorative Justice, Case Management, Workforce Development

Experience in Banking and Management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Employment Services Specialist II (October 2013-Present): Oakland Private Industry Council, Oakland, Ca.

Review right-to-work and program eligibility documents; certify participant eligibility for enrollment into a variety of intensive service programs.

Coach clients individually and in groups in developing, executing and problem-solving strategies toward skill achievement, employment preparation, job placement and retention, and career advancement.

Screen, match and refer candidates for job opportunities.

Coordinate hiring process between employer and job seekers.

Participate in the design, delivery and evaluation of services and workshops, and make adjustments as necessary.

Prepare monthly activity reports.

Research employment market and identifies job opportunities.

Participate in outreach events such as job fairs and business association events.

Intervention Specialist (August 2012-October 2013): Oakland Unified School District, Oakland, Ca.

Planned, developed and conducted specific individual or small group intervention lessons.

Provided assistance and information to students on class material and subjects.

Defined problems, collected data, established facts and drew valid conclusions.

Prepared and maintained a variety of records, reports and files.

Worked independently with minimal supervision.

Established and maintained effective and cooperative working relationships with teachers.

Scheduled and performed work to meet established deadlines.

Mediator and Case Manager (June 2009-July 2012): SEEDS Community Resolution Center, Berkeley, Ca.

Participated in Community and Court Mediation panels to help parties peacefully resolve their conflicts.

Did intakes for mediation cases, performed case development, and set up mediation sessions.

Conducted research and produced reports on Mediation and Restorative Justice Organizations in U.S.

Financial Aid Placements Specialist (February 2002-January 2009): Merritt College, Oakland, Ca.

Processed students’ applications for Financial Aid, EOPS, Cal-Grant, and Americorps.

Managed Access database for Financial Aid, EOPS, Cal-Grant, and Americorps recipients.

Provided supervision, training, and management support to office staff.

Prepared and conduct workshops for students and families on Financial Aid programs and regulations.

Recommended new office procedures for a faster and more efficient processing of student files.

Facilitated outreach to prospective students and their families; identified and recruited new students.

Increased student enrollment to over 2000 students and significantly reduced the number of students put on probation for non compliance.

Account Executive (December 2004-March 2005): Hilltop Lending Corporation, Pleasanton, Ca.

Managed mortgage accounts for customers and processed loans to buy or refinance homes.

Recruited new customers and helped retain existing customers through cold calling or direct mails.

Assistant Bank Manager (October 1996-June 2001): C3E-Lome, Lome, Togo (West Africa)

Opened new accounts for customers, processed deposits, withdrawals, and managed personal loans.

OTHER RELEVANT SKILLS & ABILITIES

Impeccable communication and interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.

Punctual, dependable and reliable; very good in establishing and maintaining cooperative and effective working relationships with others.

Detail oriented, organized, solid problem solving abilities and always follow through.

Fluent in French and Ewe (language spoken in Togo, Ghana, and Benin). Basic in German.

Computer efficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access).

INTERNSHIP & VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Board Member & Immigration Committee Chair (2003-Present): Togo-Novisi Association, San Francisco Bay Area, Ca.

Educate members of the Togolese community in the Bay Area on Immigrations matters and help with immigration paperwork.

Mediator (June 2009-Present): SEEDS Community Resolution Center, Berkeley, Ca.

Participate in Community and Court Mediation panels to help parties peacefully resolve their conflicts.

Interpreter (August 2006-Present): East Bay Sanctuary, Berkeley, Ca.; Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, San Francisco, Ca.

Provide Interpret and Translation services from Ewe to English and from French to English to refugees and asylum seekers.

Amnesty International Area Coordinator for Northern California (August 2007-August 2009): Amnesty International USA, Western Regional Office, San Francisco, Ca.

Acted as a point person between Amnesty International’ local and student chapters in Northern California and the Regional Office by assisting the chapters with logistical support for their campaigns and events.

Outreach Coordinator (September 2006-August 2009): Western Regional Office of Amnesty International USA, San Francisco, Ca.

Organized Human Rights campaigns and events such as the Divestment Campaign against Sudan.

Helped students in Northern California start Amnesty International chapters in their high schools and colleges.

Member of the UC Berkeley Conflict Resolution and Transformation Center, C.R.T.C. (September 2005-May 2007): University of California, Berkeley, Ca.

Participated in conflict mediation between student groups.

Gave workshops and trained students on group process, group facilitation, conflict styles, and nonviolent communication.

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