Maryland American Turkish Association (MATA)

The Maryland American Turkish Association (MATA) was founded in 1964, and incorporated in the State of Maryland in 1967 as a non-profit charitable, cultural, educational, and religious organization. MATA is a local organization which has attempted to convey a sense of community to those individuals of Turkish-American heritage and those individuals interested in Turkish culture and issues. In the

early 1960's a group of dedicated Turkish citizens residing in the Baltimore metropolitan area recognized the need for a Turkish American organization in Maryland. The primary purpose of the organization, then, as now, has been our commitment to strengthening ties between the American and Turkish communities. These residents worked diligently in their efforts and developed the organization's By Laws and in 1967 the Maryland American Turkish Association (MATA) was officially incorporated in the state of Maryland. Over the years the association added to its membership, and eventually grew to a membership of over 100 families dedicated to introducing Turkey and its rich culture to our American friends. MATA is very proud of its rich tradition and has successfully participated in many activities with many of its sister organizations over the course of its history, such as running a Turkish Community School, and participating in many ethnic cultural fairs in the Baltimore and Washington DC areas. Among our many assets are a 2.3 acre parcel of land located just off the I-95 corridor between Baltimore and Washington DC, which we hope will be our future home. We have approximately 69 cemetery plots in the Muslim section of the Maryland National Memorial cemetery in Laurel, and strive to work with many of our newer sister Turkish organizations in the region.