UNAEO Elects Organization's First African American President

The United Nations Association of Eastern Oklahoma recently elected its first African American as president of the organization.

Mareo Johnson has been president of the United Nations Association of Eastern Oklahoma for just a few months, but he said he already has big plans.

The UNAEO is committed to strengthening the United Nations system, promoting constructive United States leadership in that system, and achieving the goals set forth in the UN Charter.

Johnson said he's been a part of the organization for many years now. He said it's an honor to be elected.

Now that he's in this role, he's shifted focus to building more relationships globally, including supporting efforts that have made Mwanza, Tanzania a new sister city of Tulsa.

He's also working on fostering relationships locally. This includes building up the eastern Oklahoma chapter of the UN.

"I feel that the more that we are unified in eastern Oklahoma, the more that we can push through when it comes to change, when it comes to legislation, when it comes to advocating to Congress. Because of course, that is one of our main functions as well is to advocate to Congress," Johnson said.

One of the other big goals Johnson hopes to accomplish is to establish a headquarters location in Tulsa and to expand the membership of the United Nations organization in Tulsa.