ALYSSA TELANDER
Thornton,Colorado
Summary
Lifelong feminist with over a decade of experience advocating for immigrant rights as a community organizer, attorney, and program coordinator. Creative mind who loves dreaming up big goals and executing them through the creation of efficient processes and attention to detail. Team player who excels at working autonomously.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Attorney
ROCKY MOUNTAIN IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY NETWORK
Westminster, CO
12.2020 - Current
- Manage sub-program responsible for recruiting volunteer attorneys represent immigrant children and families pro bono
- Supervise paralegal who assists with pro bono coordination
- Work autonomously from home with minimal supervision
- Develop and adjust program processes and procedures significantly to increase program efficiency and sustainability
- Mentor large number of volunteer attorney with no prior immigration experience including advising on case strategy, problem solving in crisis situations, and reviewing and editing written work product
- Coordinate panel of experienced immigration attorneys who mentor volunteers with no prior immigration experience
- Assist with coordination of interpretation and translation resources for volunteer attorneys
- Draft detailed case instructions and legal resources for volunteers
- Curate resources for volunteer attorneys on organization’s website using Squarespace
- Draft and send weekly mass emails to pool of more than 800 volunteers using Constant Contact and Mail Chimp, including volunteer recruitment language, policy and legal updates, and training materials for volunteers
- Design and plan new multi-day continuing legal education training programs designed to recruit volunteers: plan agenda and training content, recruit and coordinate speakers, coordinate and distribute training materials, advertise programs, manage virtual program access using Zoom webinar, emcee programs, and follow up with attorney attendees to refer them pro bono cases and match them with attorney mentors and interpreters
- Design and distribute surveys to volunteers and event attendees and review survey feedback
- Field and address complaints and concerns raised by volunteers Plan and host volunteer appreciation events
- Track and monitor program metrics using Excel spreadsheets to ensure Pro Bono Program meets requirements for grant deliverables
- Complete grant reporting
- Serve on social media committee that manages content posted on organization’s social media accounts
- Review all new case intakes with Managing Attorney to determine which cases to accept for referral through Pro Bono Program
- Running weekly supervision meetings and team meetings.
Associate Attorney
KOLKO & CASEY, P.C
Denver, CO
07.2018 - 12.2020
- Provided immigration legal representation to individuals in Colorado and nationwide, including litigation in immigration court
- Supervised work of paralegals and support staff
- Utilized case management system extensively to manage caseload of over 100 cases
Immigration Staff Attorney
ECBA VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT
Batavia, NY
08.2017 - 06.2018
- Provided public defender style representation to low-income individuals in immigration detention through brand new branch of New York Immigrant Family Unity Project
- Ran large caseload with minimal supervision.
Outreach Coordinator
ACLU OF NEW MEXICO
Las Cruces, NM
10.2012 - 08.2014
- Only community organizer for ACLU in southern New Mexico
- Organized successful statewide campaign for marriage equality
- Organized successful border-wide campaign to document civil and human rights abuses by federal border enforcement and local law enforcement officials
- More than doubled reach of Know Your Rights program
- Coordinated bi-national database designed to document trends of civil and human rights abuse in border region, including working with IT consultants on website design, and providing technical support and training to users in U.S. and Mexico
- Personally documented cases of civil and human rights abuse throughout southern New Mexico
- Planned events, including rallies, film screenings, educational events, and workshops
- Recruited and supervised volunteers and interns, including full-time AmeriCorps volunteers
Caseworker
DIOCESAN MIGRANT AND REFUGEE SERVICES
El Paso, TX
08.2011 - 08.2012
- Provide legal services to survivors of domestic violence and other serious crimes
- Conducted community outreach, including outreach to potential clients at protective order hearings
Economic Justice Advocate
PASO DEL NORTE CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT
El Paso, TX
08.2010 - 08.2011
- Primary community organizer for group focused on reclaiming unpaid wages, including facilitating weekly meetings, implementing direct action strategies, participating in strategic planning, and providing trainings
- Provided bilingual presentations on workers' rights
- Assisted with grant administration and reporting
- Coordinated and supervised volunteers and interns
Education
Juris Doctor -
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL oF LAW
Boston, MA05.2017
Bachelors of Arts, Magna Cum Laude - Women and Gender Studies
LUTHER COLLEGE
Decorah, IA05.2010
Skills
- Experience as life coaching student and client
- Management
- Research and Writing, legal and marketing
- Public Speaking
- Ability to quickly learn to use new technology
- Data management and analysis
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Attorney
ROCKY MOUNTAIN IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY NETWORK
12.2020 - Current
Associate Attorney
KOLKO & CASEY, P.C
07.2018 - 12.2020
Immigration Staff Attorney
ECBA VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT
08.2017 - 06.2018
Outreach Coordinator
ACLU OF NEW MEXICO
10.2012 - 08.2014
Caseworker
DIOCESAN MIGRANT AND REFUGEE SERVICES
08.2011 - 08.2012
Economic Justice Advocate
PASO DEL NORTE CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT
08.2010 - 08.2011
Juris Doctor -
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL oF LAW
Bachelors of Arts, Magna Cum Laude - Women and Gender Studies
LUTHER COLLEGE
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