Join Turkish community events in Berkeley, CA celebrating your cultural heritage. Find cultural festivals, professional networking events, religious celebrations, educational workshops, fundraisers, and social gatherings that bring the Turkish community together. Stay connected with events that honor your traditions and create meaningful connections.
Yelda Bartlett is the founder and principal of our firm. Yelda completed her undergraduate and graduate education in California public schools, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics from the University of California Berkeley, and a Juris Doctorate degree at University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
Yelda’s legal education and experience spans criminal, civil, legislative, as well as appellate work. During law school, she participated in the Criminal Defense Clinic hosted by the Northern California Innocence Project, where she investigated the innocence claims of inmates serving life in prison. Her interest in constitutional law led to a fellowship award by the National Lawyer’s Guild to work on Federal and State appeals of death row inmates. Later, she served as a Legislative Intern to the Public Safety Committee of the California State Assembly, where she researched and analyzed national criminal law policy.
In addition to traditional litigation, Yelda is well-versed in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods, having completed courses in Negotiation and Mediation, Advanced Multi-Party Negotiation, and International Negotiation & Dispute Settlement. In her practice, Yelda serves as a mediator for family as well as business disputes.
Yelda is active in the local community. She served as a Commissioner for the Community Environmental Advisory Commission and the Commission on the Status of Women (COSOW) for the City of Berkeley where she was elected chairwoman of the Commission.
Yelda is admitted to practice law in the State of California and is a member of Alameda County Bar Association, National Lawyer’s Guild, and the Iranian American Bar Association.
Founded with a commitment to unity and cultural enrichment, Bay Area Turkish Society serves the Berkeley, CA community as a welcoming space for individuals and institutions seeking to celebrate Turkish, Anatolian, and Levantine heritage. The organization's mission centers on sponsoring a nonpartisan forum where people of shared cultural background can collectively pursue their interests in the arts, sciences, and humanities while fostering deeper connections within the broader Bay Area community.
What distinguishes Bay Area Turkish Society is its grassroots, volunteer-driven approach to cultural preservation and community building. As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity, the organization operates without political or religious agendas, focusing instead on authentic cultural exchange and mutual understanding. The organization recognizes that cultural heritage thrives when communities actively participate in sharing traditions through food, music, dance, and artistic expression. Bay Area Turkish Society creates these vital gathering spaces and programming opportunities, enabling families and individuals throughout Berkeley and the Bay Area to maintain cultural connections, pass traditions to younger generations, and build meaningful relationships with others who value cross-cultural dialogue. By empowering both individuals and cultural organizations, Bay Area Turkish Society contributes to a more vibrant, connected, and culturally rich community for all residents.
