Services

Marshallese Culture and History Class

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This three-hour course is open to participants from all backgrounds.  We employ a humanities-based approach to deliver a comprehensive overview of Marshallese history and culture. The curriculum encompasses topics such as matrilineality, U.S.-Republic of the Marshall Islands relations, the Compact of Free Association, and the Marshallese diaspora. Reading materials may be provided at no additional cost. Upon request, students will receive a certificate of completion by mail.

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Professional Development for Teachers

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MEI offers condensed versions of its classes to meet the requirements of educational institutions with shorter instructional periods, typically 30-45 minutes.

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Intercultural Competency Training for Agencies and Businesses

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MEI offers specialized training programs tailored to the needs of businesses, government entities, and nonprofit organizations, with content specifically designed to address your unique requirements. The duration of the training sessions ranges from one to four hours.

More information:  Contact MEI at info@mei.ngo
Cost: by individual or group; covers all materials

Format: In-person or via Zoom

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Instructors:

Carlnis Jerry, MEI Outreach Coordinator and Marshallese liaison with the public schools, who speaks on Marshallese traditional culture and life in diaspora

Dr. April Brown, MEI cofounder and Operations Director, and a professional historian, who speaks on nuclear history and Marshallese life in diaspora

Benetick Kabua Maddison, MEI Executive Director, who speaks on climate and nuclear issues

Marcina Langrine, MEI's Operations Coordinator and Program Coordinator, who focuses on women's issues, culture, and education

Marino Morris, MEI's Media Coordinator, who speaks to youth issues and education

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MEI has offered classes and trainings since 2016.

MEI provides language access services to support the Marshallese diaspora, addressing barriers in healthcare, education, and social systems. 

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We offer extensive translation and interpreter services on a fee basis. Translations from English to Marshallese include public benefits forms, medical instructions, community events, websites, glossaries, to name a few. 

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Contact us for a quote at info@mei.ngo.

Notarization is provided for legal and official documents at no cost. Please see Mia Bien at our office. ​

Medicaid eligibility for individuals from the Marshall Islands and other non-migrants covered under the Compact of Free Association (COFA) was restored in December 2020 as part of a comprehensive coronavirus relief and year-end funding bill. This restoration rectified an oversight from the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, which had previously eliminated access to federal assistance, including Medicaid and SNAP benefits, for Marshallese citizens across the United States.

While Medicaid eligibility was reinstated in 2020, SNAP and additional benefits were restored more recently through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which was enacted in March 2024.

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We invite you to contact us for assistance with Medicaid, SNAP, and other benefits available to Marshallese individuals under the COFA. Our team offers the support you need to navigate these resources at no cost.

Since its founding, MEI has developed a strong partnership with the Marshall Islands Consulate in Springdale, Arkansas, to provide essential consular services for the Marshallese community. These services include assisting individuals with passport applications and retrieving I-94 immigration documentation, which are critical for legal residency in the United States.

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The Office of the Attorney General of the Republic of the Marshall Islands is responsible for issuing and processing passports. Therefore, applicants must complete an application form and mail it to the Office of the Attorney General in Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands. This process ensures that community members receive the necessary support for their documentation needs. 

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• Passport Application Form

Application requirements and instructions

• 2 passport photos (2x2) on WHITE BACKGROUND. Please write the name of the applicant on the back of each photo.

• Provide a copy of the old passport (paper copy, not physical copy)

• Provide a copy of I-94

• Money order in the application amounts payable to the Secretary of Finance. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH

• Note: If you are applying from the US, your application will need to be mailed to the Office of the Attorney General in Majuro. See the mailing address below.

Passport Fees (Effective February 12, 2018)

• For infants and children under the age of 12, the fee is $50.00 (USD), which provides a 5-year validity period. For individuals aged 13 and above, the fee is $100.00 (USD), with a validity period of 10 years.

• The expedited fee for the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) passport is $50.00 (USD). This expedited service is only available in the event of a family emergency that involves a life-or-death situation concerning a family member. The following documentation is required to access this service:

• (i) In cases of an emergency due to the death of a family member or relative, a death certificate must be provided; or

• (ii) In situations involving sickness, illness, or health complications of a family member, an official letter on hospital letterhead, signed by a medical doctor or registered medical professional, must be submitted, detailing the medical conditions.

• For lost or damaged passports, the fees are as follows:

• (i) For individuals aged 13 years and older, the fee is $200.00, which includes a $100 renewal fee and a $100 penalty fee; and

• (ii) For infants and children aged 12 years and below, the fee is $100.00, comprising a $50 renewal fee and a $50 penalty fee.

Applications and any other inquiries must be addressed and mailed directly to the following address: 

Office of the Attorney General

P.O. Box 890

Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960

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For more information, visit the website of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the United States at www.rmiembassyus.org.