About Us

Finding Inspiration in Every Turn

The members of the board of Yemi Getachew Foundation and their advisors are all long time friends and colleagues of Yemi as well as family members who are volunteering their time and energy to help build the better world their inspiration was always working on. As such these people make the back bone of a larger support fabric which is responsible for seeing the goals of the Foundation come to fruition. We thank all who have taken time to read about Yemi Getachew Foundation and who have been willing to support its goals to build a better world.

Meet The Team

Medya Ansari

Board Member

Medya Ansari is the Managing Partner at the Getachew & Ansari Immigration Attorneys, P.C. An immigration law firm founded by Yemi Getachew and she is currently holding down the fort. Yemi trusted and mentored Medya and was also very proud of her for being able to take on immigration law in a new community, having moved to San Jose from Boston. She was what Yemi called, the new energy and has since been important to the growth of the law office carrying on Yemi’s legacy. Medya is also a great accomplished lawyer, showing her expertise in immigration courts and getting positive outcomes for many migrant families.

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Helen Tessema

Board Member

Helen L Tessema, is the Office Manager at the Law office of Getachew & Ansari. She brings extensive experience working in customer service in multiple industries. She is responsible in running the office operationally and uses her sharp wit ensuring everyone is always laughing. She was a continuous presence by Yemi's side, doing all that Yemi asked and was her highest confidant and advisor.

Alison Yew

Board Member

Alison Yew is an attorney in California, licensed for 30 years, and is the founder of Yew Immigration Law Group, a PC, located in San Jose, California. She has served on the board of directors of other non-profit charitable organizations, including a church in San Francisco. Alison has been a friend that Yemi admired and between the two of them, it was always impossible to get in a single word.

Joseph Gizaw

Board Member

Joseph grew up with Yemi as classmates at Sandford School in Ethiopia. He has been a side kick of hers ever since. He is responsible to ensure that Yemi's legacy continues through her Foundation. Joseph is the COO of WATSI, a school transportation business in the midwestern US. He is heavily invested in his community and family. His passions include tennis and especially performing and teaching Latin dance.

Mahlet Tsegaye

Board Member

Ms. Mahlet Tsegaye is the Director of Executive Search and Evaluation at The City University of New York. She holds a BA in English Language and Literature from Addis Ababa University, and an MA in Communications from Hunter College, New York. Mahlet and Yemi have been friends since early Sanford School elementary days where Yemi was always the corrupting and inspiring classmate and Mahlet was the sweetest and most genuine friend.

Elizabeth Manassau

Foundation Advisor

Elizabeth Manassau is a California Bay Area native and alumni of San Jose State University and Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Ms. Manassau was a practicing attorney for over fifteen years and was a professor of law at both the University of Phoenix and Santa Clara University. Presently, Ms. Manassau works in administrative law for the State of California. Ms. Manassau met Yemi Getachew in 2005 when they both operated their law practices out of the same office building and thereafter became life-long friends and accomplices in mischief.

Dan Getachew

Foundation Advisor

As Yemi's older brother, Dan has been the recipient of all good and questionable things that are Yemi. Dan is an Engineer by education, a farmer by passion, a small business owner by profession and a father , a son and a brother by blessings. He became who he is today thanks in large part to the advice and council and scolding of his little sister. And he is committed to ensure her legacy shall live on forever.

Foundation Advisor

Adey is Yemi's only child, having been born some 30 odd years ago. She has been and continues to be the expression of Yemi's love in the most complete way possible. Having been raised by her mom and grandma, Adey has all the memories and blessings of Yemi... She is figuring out what life after loosing her mom is in Atlanta Ga, She is actively participating in the work of the foundation primarily focused on the social media aspect.

Adey Nash