Lisha Shrestha lisha@pdx.edu Skills and Competencies Seasoned workshop and training facilitator for diverse refugee, immigrant and cross-cultural populations Experience in action based research, project management, concept and program development in equity, livelihood opportunities, intergroup dialogue and conflict resolution projects Successful in securing grants for research and attending international conferences Experience in developing cultural specific curriculum development conflict resolution, effective parenting, relationship enhancement model (with modification) Well versed in data analysis with SPSS and excel. Conducted qualitative research using narratives and case studies Experience in organizing training events, workshops, international conference and seminars Fluent in English, Nepali and Hindi; basic understanding of Urdu Research Interest Civic Engagement, Immigration and Refugee Integration, Social Equity and Empowerment, Community Development and Leadership, Economic Development, Conflict Resolution, Peacebuilding in Post Conflict Societies, Livelihood Opportunities, Social Enterprise, Identity Conflict Education Ph.D. in School of Social Work and Research, Portland State University, Portland Oregon, USA (Ongoing, started in Fall 2018 with GPA: 3.91 MA in Conflict Resolution, Portland State University, Portland Oregon, USA (2014). Research on Dialogue in Identity-Based Conflict (Study of Intergroup-Dialogue with University Students), GPA: 3.89 MA in Human and Natural Resource Studies, Kathmandu University, Kathmandu Nepal (2009), GPA 3.82 Bachelors in Development Studies, Kathmandu University, Kathmandu Nepal (2005), GPA 3.36 A. Non-Academic/ Not-for-profit employment Professional Experience Civic Involvement Coordinator, Elders in Action 03/ 2016 08/2017 Diversity outreach and recruitment for Elders in Action Commission and develop program to engage older adults from diverse ethnic groups. 1
Facilitate work plan development, advocacy coordination and project activities for the 31-member volunteer Council. Coordinate advocacy initiatives and activities with government partners and other community partner advisory groups. Develops material, reports and statistical information as needed to support the work of the Agency s programs. Coordinate advocacy efforts such as testimony at public hearings, meetings with elected officials and participation in partner organization advisory groups. Support and integrate issues and trends from the organization s Personal Advocate program into the Agency and Council s advocacy efforts. Researcher, Consumer Voice Study- Centre to Advance Racial Equity, PSU and Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization 11/2016-01/2017 Assessment/survey development and administration, conducting focus groups, popular education, interviews. Attend and lead trainings around best practices in research and evaluation with internal staffs. Provide training and support the development and administration of program assessments, focus groups, need assessments, etc. using a culturally specific/responsive lens Help to develop/modify culturally specific/responsive assessment tools/practices to measure areas such as: positive cultural identity, self-esteem, family engagement, future orientation. Track program activities using culturally specific/responsive data gathering practices Review existing assessment tools and provide feedback Help establish culturally specific/responsive methods for gathering qualitative and quantitative data across departments Program/Research Associate, New Portlanders Program, Office of Neighborhood Involvement, City of Portland 10/2015-10/2016 Develop research methods and conduct need assessments on current issues for Immigrants and Refugee communities of Portland Assist in coordination and integration of multiple program or project work activities to meet critical deadlines. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with bureau managers and staff, staff of other bureaus, representatives of other agencies, the public and others encountered in the course of work Assist Coordinator for program activities with multiple stakeholders and facilitate development of agreement and consensus. Immigrant and Refugee Community Services (IRCO) 05/2012-04/2015 Facilitator/ Family Engagement Specialist- Refugee Family Empowerment Program (RIFE) Facilitate workshops for refugee groups (Bhutanese/ Burmese/Congolese) and immigrant families on Relationship Enhancement, Financial Literacy, Interpersonal Conflict Resolution, Effective Parenting skills, Gender and Sexual Health Developed curriculum on conflict resolution, gender relation, financial literacy and parenting for immigrant and refugee community members Trained and supervised implementation of Conflict resolution curriculum for program staffs. 2
Introduced mediation as a culturally sensitive case management tool for families and youth cases Provided motivational Career Counseling for refugee and immigrant communities Successfully resolved numerous intensive cases involving mental health and domestic violence issues for adult, youth and children in culturally appropriate ways Parent Educator- DHS In-Home Safety and Reunification 6/2013-01/ 2014 Lead parenting classes and/or provide for the leadership in coordinating parenting classes/workshops Conduct home visits and parent coaching sessions with at-risk families Connected families with EDRC, childcare services and head start programs Collaborate with families to develop individualized consultation plans to meet family needs. Collaborated with community agencies to plan and implement comprehensive service plans for families Successfully conducted family group conference with at-risk families Project Coordinator - National Center for Competence in Research (NCCR North South) South Asia Regional Coordination Office - Livelihood Security Project 10/2009-10/2010 Developed project concept and prepared grant proposal for rural entrepreneurship project Managed project finances, administrative and human resources Successfully developed strategic business plan for the sustainability of the local industry build by the project and trained the local stakeholders Facilitated trainings and business meeting in project site in the district of Rolpa, Mid-Western Nepal and collaborated with local partners Program Coordinator, Asia Media Forum Center 04/ 2008-09/2010 Prepared program proposals and identified grant sources Coordinated radio programs and organized workshops on ethical journalism in Nepal Collaborated with senior reporters to draft annual calendar for the center Planned, managed, monitored and reviewed the Centre s annual budget Managed and oversee the grant programs, both regular and follow-up/special grants Organized a regional workshop for Asian Journalists in Bangkok, Thailand, 2009 Program Assistant, South Asia Centre for Policy Studies (SACEPS) 01/2006-03/2008 Draft project grant proposals, documents, reports and data sheets. Established Network and Communication between partner institutions in South Asia region about the ongoing projects and as well as GOs, NGOs and INGOs within the country. Organizing trainings, seminars and workshop; Making travel arrangements, hotel accommodations and providing logistic support to the national and international participants B. Independent Research/Academic Employment Graduate Research Assistant- Portland State University 9/2017-Present 3
Literature review and concept development for parenting intervention for non-english speaking parents Data compilation for immigrant and refugee in Portland through Portland public School Graduate Assistant- Portland State University 09/ 2010-06/2013 Support professors in resource building, survey design and data analysis. Prepare course evaluation summary each term for all courses given by the department. Wrote Grants, developed several concepts for conflict resolution projects and identified grant source for the department and professors. Data tabulation for Jubitz Family Foundation s War Preventive Initiative research. Teaching Assistant for CR301U: Intro to Conflict Resolution and Advanced Intercultural Conflict Resolution Developed and updated resource tools for department including funding resources, list of future conferences, lists of recent publications on several professors research interests. Consultant- Rural Energy for Rural Livelihoods, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), 10/2011 11/2011 Detail assessment of contract implementation by the contractor and funding agency (UNDP) on environmental and economic impact mitigation plans Assessment of complaints and processes to address complaints by the contractors Recommendations made for local level alternate dispute resolution mechanisms Facilitator- Negotiation and Mediation Workshop, Kathmandu University, 11/ 2011 Designed curriculum and facilitated workshop on Negotiation and Mediation for faculties and students in Department of Human and Natural Resource Studies Primary Investigator, Challenges and Opportunity of Post Conflict on Conflict Induced Victims of Rolpa for Social Inclusion Research Fund (SIRF) Secretariat, SNV Netherlands Development Organization, (2008) Research design, data collection, supervise research team, field study and data analysis and report Awards and Grants Spirit of Portland Award, Community Leader of the Year- 2017, City of Portland East Portland Neighborhood Office Grant- East Portland Parent-Youth Dialogue, 2017 Recipient of PSU s President Diversity Award 2015 Letter of commendation from Bureau of Police, Portland, November 22, 2013 4
Graduate Assistantship, Conflict Resolution Program, Portland State University (2010-2013) P.E.O International Peace Scholarship (2011-2012) Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research: NCCR North-South Scholarship for conducting research on "Inclusive Land Policy and Human Security in Post Conflict Situation." under the theme of "Access of Dalits and socially excluded people to land resource and issues related to their livelihoods, insecurity, and conflict" (2009-2010) Travel grant for attending workshop on Seeking Peace in Changing Worlds: Conflict Transformation and the New geopolitics of Power from May 22- May 26 2009 at New Delhi organized by Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP), New Delhi. Travel grant for training and Workshop on Peace Building and Conflict Transformation from 1 March 23 March 2009 at Chiangmai and Bangkok, Thailand organized by Asian Resource Foundation and AMAN school of Peace Studies. Apprenticeship Grant, SIRF Secretariat, SNV Netherlands Development Organization for conducting research on "Challenges and Opportunity of Post Conflict on Conflict Induced Victims of Rolpa", (2007-2008) Partial Grant provided by Occupational Safety and Health Project under Ministry of Labor and Transport for conducting bachelor level thesis on "Awareness on Legalization of Abortion"- A Comparative Study of Kathmandu Valley (2005) Finalist - Voice of Women (VOW) top college women competition (2004) Professional Trainings, Presentation and Certification: Guest speaker at Racism and Social Justice undergrad class (Instructor Dr. Beth Tarasawa), April 2016 Guest Speaker at Advocacy for Social Change graduate class (Instructor- Dr. Alma Trinidad), February 2016 Mentor- Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Institute (2016-2017) Participated at Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Institute (2015-2016) Presentation on Growing New Roots: Solution to connect Community Gardening, Place and Well- Being for Refugee at Office of Family Assistance (OFA) conference, Washington D.C. on August 2014 Family Group Conference Training by Joel Broussard, Family Service Liaison, District Two Child Welfare Office on February 26, 2014 5
3-day Nurturing Parenting Program Facilitator Training by Jennifer Moss, National Trainer/ Consultant on July 9-11, 2013 32-Hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Training in a Multicultural Setting by Crimes Victims Services Division, IRCO and Naya Family Center on June 11-14, 2013 Mastering Diversity, Training by master facilitator and diversity worker Lee Mun Wah on the dialogue on racism and diversity, workplace diversity and tools to work with vulnerable population on diversity issues. Stirfry Seminars Berkeley California (November 2012) Training on Group Dialogue for Relationship Enhancement and Balanced Communication Skills, Immigrants and Refugee Community Organization, Portland Oregon, May 2012 Conference on Seeking Peace in Changing Worlds: Conflict Transformation and the New geopolitics of Power from May 22- May 26 2009 at New Delhi organized by Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP), New Delhi Training and paper presentation on Peace Building and Conflict Transformation from March 2009 at Chiangmai and Bangkok, Thailand organized by Asian Resource Foundation and AMAN school of Peace Studies Affiliation and Membership Board Member (Finance Officer) East Portland Neighbors Published article and chapter Shrestha, L. (2009). Inclusive Land Policy and Human Security in Post Conflict Situation- A Case Study of Parsauni and Pratapur VDCs of Nawalparasi District, Land First- A Journal of Land and Agrarian Reforms, 9 (1), 18-30. Shrestha, L. and Upreti, B.R. (2011). Reflection on Land-Based Relationship between Agrarian Tension, Armed Conflict and Human Insecurities in Nepal in K.N. Pyakuryal and B.R. Upreti (eds), Land, Agriculture and Agrarian Transformation, Consortium for Land Research and Policy Dialogue (COLARP), Kathmandu, Nepal. Professional Reference Ronault Polo Catalani, Program Coordinator, New Portlanders Program, City of Portland Mr. Lee Po Cha, Executive Director, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) Dr. Rachel Hardesty, Assistant Professor, Conflict Resolution Graduate Program, Portland State University Dr. Barbara Tint, Professor, Conflict Resolution Graduate Program, Portland State University Dr. Robert Gould, Professor, Conflict Resolution Graduate Program, Portland State University Dr. Bishnu Raj Upreti, Executive Director, National Center for Contemporary Research (NCCR) Yubaraj Ghimire, Senior journalist/editor, The Telegraph/Sunday Contact information will be provided upon request. 6