LALMA

{{Infobox organization

| name = LALMA

| native_name = La Asociacion Latino Musulmana de America

| native_name_lang = Spanish

| logo = Logo_for_LALMA.png

| abbreviation =

| formation = September 1999

| founder =

| founding_location = Los Angeles, California

| extinction =

| merger =

| type = NGO

| tax_id =

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| status = Non-profit organization

| purpose = Promoting understanding of Islam among Latino Muslims

| headquarters =

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| language = Spanish

| leader_title = President

| leader_name = Marta Felicitas Galedary

| key_people =

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| website = [http://www.lalma.net/ lalma.net]

| formerly = Los Angeles Latino Muslims Association

}}

LALMA is a not-for-profit organization that was established in 1999 in response to the need for Spanish-language resources on Islam. Initially, LALMA stood for Los Angeles Latino Muslims Association, but after a restructuring to accommodate its growth, LALMA was renamed to La Asociacion Latino Musulmana de America.{{Cite book |author=Morales, Harold Daniel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vRcRngEACAAJ |title=Latino Muslim by Design |publisher=University of California, Riverside |year=2012 |isbn=9781267729910 |accessdate=2017-01-07}}{{Cite book |author=Laderman, Gary |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Szm2BQAAQBAJ |title=Religion and American Cultures: Tradition, Diversity, and Popular Expression |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2014 |isbn=9781322431697 |accessdate=2017-01-07}}{{Cite book |author=Ahmed, Akbar |url=https://archive.org/details/journeyintoameri00ahme |title=Journey into America: The Challenge of Islam |publisher=Brookings Institution Press |year=2010 |isbn=9780815703877 |url-access=registration |accessdate=2017-01-07}}{{cite web |date=2010-01-30 |title=Hispanics are Embracing Islam in America |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljgp7cNG_zw |accessdate=2017-01-07 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cite web |author=Anthony Chiorazzi |date=2007-05-08 |title=From Cross to Crescent |url=http://bustedhalo.com/features/from-cross-to-crescent |accessdate=2017-01-07 |publisher=Busted Halo}}

LALMA began with a group of five Latino Muslims from Los Angeles led by Marta Felicitas Galedary began having regular meetings to learn about Islam in the Spanish language.{{Cite web|title = Brief History of LALMA | url = http://www.lalma.net/quienes-somos/|website = lalma.net|access-date = 2017-01-07}} The Spanish-speaking Islamic study group first met at the Islamic Center of Southern California.{{Cite web |title=The Emerging Latino Muslim Community in America (2003) |url=https://hwpi.harvard.edu/pluralismarchive/emerging-latino-muslim-community-america-2003 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=hwpi.harvard.edu |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=TimelineJS Embed |url=https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=1ZOzMsGVspcvtVM9ToQaDR2XZTgW8GXL_UEfbGQwZJm8&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=650 |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=cdn.knightlab.com}}

Each Sunday morning, LALMA members gather to attend Arabic lessons, receive instruction on the Quran and the biography of Muhammad (sirah), and discuss issues of interest to Muslim converts.{{Cite book |author=Wimbush, Vincent L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8SxpAgAAQBAJ |title=MisReading America: Scriptures and Difference. |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2013 |isbn=9780199975426 |accessdate=2017-01-07}}{{cite web |author=Mrinalini Reddy |date=2007-08-23 |title=Even as Islam Booms, Its Many Faces Can Deter Converts |url=https://news21.com/story/2007/08/22/even_as_islam_booms_its |accessdate=2017-01-07 |publisher=Medill Journalism}} They regularly have guest lectures on different aspects of Islam, meeting at various mosques in Southern California. They also provide CPR courses, first aid, and community safety courses as well as teen counseling and support to Latino dawah programs. LALMA sponsors events such as conferences on the Islamic roots of Spain and yearly activities during Ramadan.{{cite web |author=Amel S. Abdullah |date=2006-02-01 |title=Latino Reverts Add to Mosaic of Islam |url=http://hispanicmuslims.com/articles/islammosaic.html |accessdate=2017-01-07 |publisher=Southern California InFocus}}{{cite web |author=Jason Ma |date=2010-03-04 |title=Latino Muslim Community On The Rise In U.S. |url=http://www.neontommy.com/2010/03/latino-muslim-community-contin |accessdate=2017-01-07 |publisher=Annenberg Media Center}}