A House with Two Rooms - The Advocates for Human Rights

association websites in the United States and the United Kingdom, there are announcements of births
and naming ceremonies, traditional weddings, and funerals. 478 County and ethnic organizations also
hold national conventions, meetings, and major gatherings so as to address issues affecting the group
or to focus on development projects for their local communities back in Liberia.
High School Alumni Associations
Another major area of the Liberian diaspora socialization network is the network of high school
alumni associations across the United States. Like county and ethnic organizations, for every major
high school, especially for those in Monrovia, there is an alumni association in the United States . 479
These alumni associations are mainly organized for social and developmental purposes. 480
If only for psychological purposes, alum groups are a great means of
socializing in the Liberian communities in America. People reconnect;
establishing serious relationships at these events, some times leading to
marriages, business partnerships, and so on. They look forward to it every
year. 481
Religious Institutions/Affiliations
Many Liberians like to say that, “[w]e are a religious people,” 482 and “whether you are a Christian
or Muslim, or neither of the two, we revere our religious leaders and institutions.” 483 Aside from
the family unit, arguably the most commonly available means of Liberian diaspora socialization are
religious institutions, such as the church, mosque, or other types of spiritual venues. In every major
U.S. city with a large Liberian diaspora population, there are Liberian churches, as well as associations
of faith leaders. In Minnesota alone, there are more than 35 community churches with sizable Liberian
congregations. 484 In addition to regular church services, weddings, and funerals, serious matters of
community concern are often referred to the church, a pastor, or an imam for intervention. 485 One
statement giver said in a follow-up interview:
[W]ithout this kind of well structured system of socialization via religious
authorities, co-existence in the Liberian diaspora would be impossible, for
people brought with them the vestiges of the problems that ignited the
war. 486
Aside from the organized church or mosque, Liberians also maintain prayer chains, faith networks,
and spiritual social groups.
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