FLAA is a nationwide 501(c)(3) Liberian organization in the U.S. Its membership comes originally from the largest county in Liberia located in the northwest of the country. FLAA was founded on May 24, 1991, at a Detroit Conference, to strengthen Lofa communities and cultural identities in the U.S., and to reach out to the populations left behind in the villages and towns of that great county.
Lofa is divided into six districts, namely: Foya, Kolahun, Salayea, Vaihun, Voinjama and Zorzor districts. The districts of Zorzor and Salayea are known as Lower Lofa County and entitled to one senatorial seat, while the rest of the districts are known as Upper Lofa County and also entitled to one senatorial seat. Meanwhile, each district is entitled to one member in the House of Representatives to the Liberian Legislature This region, for many years was governed by appointed Americo-Liberians (descendants of Black Americans who founded Liberia in 1847) from Monrovia. Hon. Robert H. Kennedy was the first indigenous Lofa citizen to govern the county as Superintendent. Superintendents Ballayan and E. Sumo Jones then followed.
The strategic location of the area with the neighboring countries of Guinea and Sierra Leone made it perfect for a commercial market. It had the reputation of organizing the most viable Farmers Cooperative Societies in Liberia, with an annual turn over in the millions of U.S. dollars. The cooperative society was also destroyed during the war.
As the civil war in Liberia waged on during the early 1990s, the children of Lofa were the first group of Liberians to organize into a county association. The meeting to establish the organization was held in Detroit, MI during the weekend of May 25, 1991. At the end of the weekend, the Federation of Lofa Associations in the Americas was born with officers elected, committees established and a goal of action devised.
In brief, the goal of the Federation was (and still is) largely twofold: (A) to unite as children of Lofa County, and (B) to use this unity not only as a means of knowing and helping one another but particularly as a steppingstone for assisting our brothers and sisters in Liberia in general and Lofa County in Particular. To achieve this goal, we committed ourselves to giving our time, resources and expertise to the best of our abilities. In these efforts, however, we vowed that the Federation would be neither a political entity nor a military movement.
Since its founding in May, 1991, The Federation (now incorporated) has grown from one to ten established chapters; each headed by a chapter president and elected officers. The Federation itself is governed by a Board of Directors and the National Chairman who heads the Executive Council.
The Federation has undertaken several projects to benefit Liberia in general and Lofa County in particular. The Federation sent pharmaceuticals to Liberia, containers to Lofa refugee camps, and cash donations for Lofa refugees in Liberia, Ghana and guinea. Currently, the Federation is embarked on an elaborate education project for Lofa.
The current Chairman of the Federation, Jusu Hena and his core of officers have worked tirelessly to keep the Federation united and to meet its goals and objectives. This is not always easy in light of dissensions and disagreements among members but the leadership has not, and will not, give up keeping the Federation afloat and more importantly, meeting its objectives. The leadership and members of the Federation therefore are delighted to have an opportunity to meet with His Excellency Vice President Joseph N. Boakai. This meeting will enable the leadership of the Federation to acquaint the VP with the FederationŐs goals and to exchange views with the VP. We therefore cannot afford to miss this special opportunity.