By McKenzie Misiaszek
The first Latino-led m
When IslamInSpanish began, its mission was to provide Islamic educational materials in Spanish, which Jaime realized were not readily available when he converted to Islam in May 2001. Only a few months later, 9/11 happened. Jaime, one of the few Spanish-speaking Muslims in his area, became the go-to Spanish media contact to dispel stereotypes about Muslims and speak about the real message and beliefs of Islam.
As Jaime's exposure grew, so did IslamInSpanish. He realized that as people, especially Latinos, were learning more about Islam, the organization needed a brick-and-mortar location. For more than a decade, IslamInSpanish operated out of different locations across west Houston. In 2015, the location they were using was swept up in the Memorial Day Flood, ruining all their supplies. It was then they realized they needed to go back to their roots.
"We knew we wanted it to be in Alief because we felt more at home," said Jaime. "We would be down the street from the Fiesta on Bellaire and Highway 6 that defined so many of us. My parents live around there. We grew up around there."
In 2016, the organization opened a facility in Alief, which became the precursor to its present location, IslamInSpanish Centro Islámico, a 10,200 square foot Islamic center with a masjid, museum, studio, and event center.
The heart of Alief
Throughout its decades of operation, IslamInSpanish has become a hub for all community members — regardless of religion. Residents have visited to teach children about robotics. Houston Police Academy cadets visit before they graduate to learn how to improve relations between police, Latinos, and Muslims. And students can get hands-on media production experience at the center's audiovisual production studio.
"Sometimes when people look at [our name], they think that they have to be Spanish speakers, or they have to be Latinos, or they have to be Muslims," said Jaime. "It's open doors. Anyone can walk in. It's not for a specific group of people. We want the diversity of Alief to be represented here."
The IslamInSpanish Centro Islámico is the only Latino-led Islamic center in the United States, and people from across the country visit and even move to Alief to be part of IslamInSpanish's community. Jaime says that they have inspired teachers and coaches throughout Alief to explore and even convert to Islam, which is exposing students to new ideas and fostering unity and connection across cultures and religions.
"There were seeds interwoven in the community from generations, from people such as my parents, who came from out of the country, learned how to live in America and integrate into a society that is very diverse," said Jaime. "Now, we're the second and third generations. We have taken that strength and brought together an environment of harmony, cohesion, and coexistence where we're completing and improving one another."
If people are looking to visit IslamInSpanish Centro Islámico, all they need to do is find the tallest representation of Alief — the community's water tower. In its shadow lies the masjid.
Jaime views the tower like a pin on a map and an icon of Alief. Whether people live in the area or are just passing through, the water tower reminds them of the multinational, unified community that Alief has become throughout the decades.
Jaimes hope to continue to build on Alief's history and diversity while finding new ways to unify the neighborhood that raised him.
"We hope that we work together in a society where we can get to know one another and not divide based on labels," said Jaime. "We want to use any tool that we can to bring us closer together and be stronger as a community. We are working against unnecessary division that brings about a decay to any community. We can't afford to live on island from one another; we have to get to know each other."
Our new series, Explore P4, highlights communities throughout the Precinct by spotlighting individuals and organizations making a difference in their communities.