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
Federal Bar Association
ASISTA
Community Engagement
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 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.
Gabriela Bruning is a Legal Assistant at Kivu Immigration Law. Gabriela was born in Los Angeles, CA and moved to Guatemala when she was 7 years old. She returned to the United States in 2003 to finish her schooling and has lived in Worthington, MN for over 17 years. Gabriela is excited to work at Kivu Immigration Law and to help immigrant families in her community. Some of her previous work experience includes serving as an Eligibility Worker for Nobles County Community Services and Public Health and as a Registered Health Coach based at JBS in Worthington. Gabriela is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Julie López is excited to work at Kivu Immigration Law as a Legal Assistant. Over the years, Julie has held many different types of positions, from a Legalization Counselor, to working for the Social Security Administration as a Bilingual Claims Representative, to working on her family farm. She was fortunate to have lived in Bolivia when she was younger. She is bilingual in Spanish and English. Working with people has always been important to her and she looks forward to assisting the immigrant families in her community through her role at Kivu Law.
Patience T. Muswamba is an Intern at Kivu Immigration Law. Patience was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and moved to Kenya when she was 3 years old. She attended George Mason University in Washington, D.C. and graduated with a Masters Degree in Policy Analysis in 2020. Previously, Patience worked with the Kenyan High Court and with several humanitarian organizations. Patience has a passion for helping migrant families, empowering the youth, and community development. Patience is multilingual in English, French and Swahili.