This month we are spotlighting Paul Kipfstuhl! Paul has been a member of the Medina County Coalition Against Human Trafficking for many years and currently serves as the Treasurer of the Coalition.
With a deep commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals, Paul brings his expertise and compassion to the Coalition’s efforts, working to raise awareness, provide resources, and foster collaboration to combat Human Trafficking in our community.
We asked Paul to share more about himself so we can all get to know him better.
Roles and Responsibilities
How did you learn about The Children’s Center of Medina County? Why did you decide to become a volunteer?
I started as the Director of Social Action for Catholic Charities six years ago. To learn about different issues in and around Wayne, Ashland and Medina Counties, I reached out to Bailey Ewing to learn about Human Trafficking. I learned a lot about Human Trafficking through the Coalition, and the fact that it occurs right here in our neighborhoods in ways that we may not have heard about.
What is your current volunteer role? What do you do in that role?
I am a member of the Coalition here in Medina County. In my role at Catholic Charities, I work to increase awareness of issues around Human Trafficking, including what it is and what it isn’t. Also, Catholic Charities provides resources to aid victims of Human Trafficking
What are you most proud of in your work with The Children’s Center?
I also serve as a Deacon at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Parish. We have held a couple of awareness sessions at St. Francis, one of which was attended by our Pastor, Father Tony Sejba, on a Saturday morning. That Saturday evening at Mass, Father Tony preached about Human Trafficking using information he learned at the awareness session.
Personal Insights and Reflections
What is the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
The best advice I ever received was from my father, who told me to always be myself, not try to be someone else.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Growing up I had thoughts of someday being President of the United States. In fact, at one point in time, I was the youngest person to serve on the City Council in Garfield Hts. That was to be my starting point. Candidly, I very much enjoyed the “government” part of the City Council but the “politics” part conflicted with my values.
What is your favorite way to unwind after a busy day?
After a busy day, when the weather cooperates, I would be walking on the trail around our development with my wife. If the weather is not cooperating, you will probably find me reading. I love to read, and my favorite author is James Patterson.
What season is your favorite?
Without question, my favorite season is Christmas. I had a competition with a friend as to the number of Christmas trees each of us could put up. My record was 13 (yes, 13!!). We have scaled back the competition, and now this past Christmas season we had 8 trees up, plus other displays of angels, nutcrackers, nativity sets, and a Christmas Village
Community Engagement and Support
What does the community need to know about The Children’s Center?
The Coalition does great work in educating and creating awareness on issues surrounding human trafficking. This includes work with the various school districts in Medina County.
