Meet Local Hero Nominee: Marta Galedary

Title: Founder

Organization: La Asociación Latino Musulmana de América (LALMA)  / Latino Muslim Association of America

Website: http://www.lalma.net/

"Marta Khadija and the incredible people of LALMA serve a vibrant community, showing faith, hospitality, and love through their actions as Latino Muslims here in Southern California and across the country." - Lori Margaret, Nominator

About the nominee:

Marta Khadija Felicitas Galedary, is the Founder of La Asociación Latino Musulmana de América (LALMA) based in Los Angeles. Galedary formed LALMA with a small group of people in 1999 to serve the local Spanish-speaking Muslim population. Two years later, after 9/11, they were the only local Muslims who had the language skills to talk about Islam in LA churches in order to clear up misconceptions about the faith. Now 20 years later, LALMA continues to build interfaith relationships and holds classes as well as bi-weekly prayers in Spanish for Latino Muslims. In addition, LALMA offers guidance and spiritual support to new Muslims and advocates for social justice according to Islamic values. Galedary is also a “Khateeba” (prayer leader) at the Women’s Mosque of America – the first women-led Muslim house of worship in the United States.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=YZwk-pca9ws

https://www.dailynews.com/2006/10/10/nurse-speaks-on-true-islam/