Paula Tejeda (aka The Girl From Empanada) is a native New Yorker of Chilean ancestry. Her atypical formative years between the United States and Chile granted her with unique bicultural insight and first-rate bilingual fluency in Spanish and English. Likewise, she is familiar with the United States immigrant experience from interacting with these communities in New York City, Oakland, and San Francisco. Her multicultural insight is exceptional. In 2008, Tejeda graduated with honors and received a B.A. in the Spanish and Spanish American Studies program from Mills College. Her studies focused on enhancing her Spanish and English academic and creative writing skills. Tejeda’s diverse professional and artistic background includes cultural event production, radio and television production, dance and theatre, and she is a published columnist and poet. Tejeda is also a constituency outreach consultant with the public relations firm Pendergast Consulting Group. Her areas of expertise include bilingual media and grassroots community outreach, bilingual collateral material development, qualitative research, and strategic event planning.
Awards & Achievements
- Mills College, Gabriela Mistral Prize for Excellence in Hispanic Letters (2008)
- Mills College, Academic Honors, GPA 4.0 (2006-2008)
- Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, “Sueños y Éxitos,” San Francisco Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Small Business of the Year Award (1999)
- Greater Mission Award, “Best Business,” awarded in recognition of excellence in district enhancement and economic development for the district (1996)
