About the alma awards

On September 18, some of the biggest names in entertainment came together for the 2009 National Council of La Raza (NCLR) ALMA Awards® on ABC, a one-of-a-kind tribute to the spirit of pioneering Latinos in television, music, and sports. This was our annual opportunity to applaud their incredible, enriching contributions to American culture and celebrate our shared Latino heritage.

We’re thrilled that the ALMA Awards was hosted this year by Eva Longoria Parker and George Lopez, two of the most captivating and fascinating entertainers in America today. Nelly Furtado, Sean Kingston, and Pitbull gave spectacular, show-stopping musical performances. Joining us again this year, Shakira also performed the first single from her new album, She-Wolf! This year’s performers were joined by some of our favorite celebrities who walked the red carpet, presented awards, and brought a number of surprises throughout the night.

Latino entertainers make us all incredibly proud each and every day, but we still have a long way to go before our numbers are properly reflected in popular culture. That’s why in 1995 we founded the ALMA Awards to help promote fair, accurate, and representative portrayals of Latinos in entertainment. We hope that by honoring the talents of those working today, we inspire a new generation to continue on the trail that they have so brilliantly blazed.

We invite you to take a look at www.almaawards.com and recall the excitement and pride generated by the ALMA Awards this year. We hope you enjoyed the celebration as we honored Latino entertainers, culture, and talent—without a doubt, it was a night to remember.

¡Muchas gracias!
Sincerely,

Janet Murguía
NCLR President and CEO
ALMA Awards Executive Producer

P.S.—Sign up today for ALMA Awards email updates!

The National Council of La Raza is the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S. For more than 40 years, NCLR has been promoting the advancement of Latino families in this country, creating opportunities and opening doors. NCLR created the ALMA Awards in 1995 as part of its strategy to promote fair, accurate, and balanced portrayals of Latinos in the entertainment industry. The show was named “ALMA” (Spanish for “spirit”), which represents the determined spirit of the Latino people in an effort to reflect the spirit as well as the scope of the awards program.