Erin Schutte Wadzinski is an immigration lawyer and owner of Kivu Immigration Law PLLC. A native of Worthington, Minnesota, Erin is proud to serve her home community and surrounding area. In 2019, she won the Initiators Fellowship to launch Kivu Immigration Law as a social enterprise to help revitalize rural communities and to provide immigrants access to legal resources.
Education
Yale University – BA in political science, 2012
University of Connecticut School of Law – JD with Honors, 2018
Relevant Previous Work Experience
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, Staff Attorney – Worthington, MN, 2018-2020
Yale University, Director of Yale Young Global Scholars – New Haven, CT, 2012-2018
Affiliations
Minnesota State Bar Association
Association for Immigration Lawyers of America
Minnesota/Dakotas Chapter Member
Iowa/Nebraska Chapter Member
Federal Bar Association
ASISTA
Community Engagement
Appointed Commissioner of City of Worthington's Planning Commission
United Way of Nobles County Board Member
Worthington School District's Dollars for Scholars Board Member
Worthington Area Immigrant Advocates, a network of community members working together for immigrant justice
United at the Table, a gathering of neighbors
Sharing Seeds, a food distribution program for students in Worthington schools
Crailsheim Exchange Student Selection Committee Member, an exchange program at Worthington High School
Presentations in 2021
"Immigration Under the Biden Administration: An Interview with Attorney Erin Schutte Wadzinski"-- Minnesota Journal of Law and Inequality; virtual; November 8, 2021
"Entrepreneurship in Greater Minnesota" -- Mnwest Entrepreneur's Summit; virtual; October 27, 2021
"Employment-Based Immigration for Greater Minnesota Labor Force" -- GreenSeam conference; virtual; October 19, 2021
"Immigration Law and Children in Southwest Minnesota" -- Worthington school district staff; Worthington, Minnesota; October 2021
"How to Help Students Navigate the U.S. Immigration System" -- Minnesota Literacy Council; virtual; September 29, 2021
"How I Use Public Speaking in My Legal Career" -- 10th grade public speaking class at Worthington High School; Worthington, Minnesota; April 28, 2021
"Citizenship 2021 - It's not just about the civics test!" -- Language & Literacy 2021 Institute; in collaboration with Mankato Adult Basic Education and Burnsville ABE; virtual; January 28, 2021
Presentations in 2020
"Starting a Business in Worthington" -- Worthington Leadership Perspectives; virtual; November 19, 2020
"Federal Immigration Law & Its Impacts on Immigrant Students and Their Families" -- QuestBridge Convene; virtual; November 14, 2020
"Immigration Law Q & A" -- Worthington High School; Worthington, MN; March 9, 2020
"Asking the Right Questions in Immigration Law" -- Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services; Mankato, MN; February 17, 2020
“Immigration Law and Children in Southwest Minnesota” – Brewster Elementary/Middle School; Brewster, MN; January 20, 2020
Countries Visited
Africa: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Rwanda, Seychelles, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Asia: China, Singapore
Europe: Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
North America and Caribbean: Barbados, Bahamas, Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, St. Lucia
To schedule an appointment with Erin, please call 507-295-4858 or contact us online.
Leah Ward is a Legal Assistant at Kivu Immigration Law. She grew up in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota and moved to Worthington in 2019. Previous work experience includes journalism, such as reporting on local immigration issues and helping area immigrants tell their stories. Leah volunteers in the citizenship class with the Worthington Independent School District Adult Basic Education program, quizzing students on the USCIS civics questions and preparing them for naturalization interviews. Leah hopes to attend law school in the future to become an immigration attorney.
Gabriel Fueston grew up in Worthington and is a graduate of Minnesota West Community and Technical College. Gabriel lived in Ecuador for ten years, in the town of San Lorenzo, Manabí. He worked as an English tutor in the nearby port city of Manta and taught English to Spanish-speaking students online. Gabriel also worked as an interpreter in the tourism and faith-based settings. He is a trained and qualified interpreter thanks to a grant from the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council, and in November 2021 he joined Kivu Law. When he’s not in the office, you may find him performing live music in local and regional venues, featuring an eclectic array of original and cover songs in both English and Spanish.
Alba Mendez is an Administrative Assistant at Kivu Immigration Law. Alba was born in El Salvador. She came to the United States in 2018 and has lived in Worthington, Minnesota for three years. She will graduate from Minnesota West Community and Technical College with her Associates Degree in April 2021. Alba worked as a paraprofessional at ISD 518 Community Education's preschool program before joining the team at Kivu Law. Alba is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Ricky Mojekwu is a Lead for Minnesota Fellow serving in Worthington in partnership with Kivu Immigration Law and Southwest Initiative Foundation. Ricky was born in Houston, Texas, and attended Saint Leo University in Florida where he majored in Political Science and minored in Legal Studies and Computer Programming. Some of Ricky’s previous work experience includes serving as a legal assistant at an immigration law firm near the Texas-Mexico border, as well as working as an IT Technician Intern for Yes Prep Public Schools.