ST. MARYS, OH (WLIO) - It was a full house at St. Marys City Council as an official from Washington D.C. traveled out to Auglaize County.
Monday evening, United States Ambassador for the Embassy of the Republic of The Marshall Islands, Charles Paul, spoke to council and residents.
On Monday evening, Marshall Islands Ambassador to the United States for the Embassy of the Republic of The Marshall Islands, Charles Paul, spoke to council and residents. Ambassador Paul's visit was due to public concerns made in the October 28th council meeting that Marshallese communities are buying churches in St. Marys to house multiple families. In an interview last Friday with St. Marys Mayor Joe Hurlburt Jr., Mayor Hurlburt stated that a church was previously purchased but only as a place for worship. After council, we spoke with Ambassador Paul about what key messages he addressed.
In an interview last Friday with St. Marys Mayor Joe Hurlburt Jr., Mayor Hurlburt stated that a church was previously purchased but only as a place for worship.
"The purpose of my trip was basically to do two things: stand in solidarity with the Marshallese community that are living here that might have been felt hurt with some of the media and social media issues that came up, but at the same time, it's just as important to build bridges. We're working closely with the Marshallese community organizations, specifically with the NGOs, 501(c)(3)s that are catered to the Marshallese communities in each jurisdiction, and we're working with them to identify the issues that our Marshallese communities are facing and also the ability to help them assimilate quicker to life in the United States," says Charles Paul, Marshall Islands Ambassador to the United States.
In addition to St. Marys, Ambassador Paul will also continue to work with the City of Celina.
In addition to St. Marys, Ambassador Paul will also continue to work with the City of Celina.
