In West African cultures, specifically Liberian, the palaver (p-la-vr) hut is a common meeting place where disputes between neighbors, families, and tribes are heard by the town’s chief or elders and resolved. The building is a simple structure, typically made of clay or concrete, with palm-thatched roofing, with open windows to take advantage of any wind in the hot climate. When I thought of an appropriate name for this community, the Palaver Hut was a perfect fit. It is the blend of my culture as a Liberian-American and the need for an open space where we are heard, and our issues are resolved.  


-Grace E. Simmons, Founder