Coordinating Council Bios

Alicia Rodriguez, Chair 

Alicia Rodriguez was born and raised in Gallup, NM, and moved to Albuquerque, NM to attend the University of New Mexico, where she graduated with a degree in Community and Regional Planning with a minor in Sustainability Studies. Her studies focused on local economic systems, enabling her to draw connections between U.S. foreign policy and the current conditions of the working class here in New Mexico (and the broader Southwest Region). She hopes to build towards a New Mexico that's development and economy is not reliant on propping up U.S. military interventions globally. Alicia's involvement with the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice (ACPJ) began when she saw how the space had been activated around organizing in solidarity with Palestine, following the Al Aqsa Flood on October 7th, 2023. She began as a volunteer working the front desk and cooking on Thursdays with the Peace Cafe before joining the Coordinating Council. Alicia understands the importance the ACPJ holds, both historically and presently, within anti-war organizing in Albuquerque. In her role as chair with the CC, Alicia oversees many processes, liaisons with volunteers and facilitates meetings. She is dedicated towards maintaining the ACPJ as an anti-imperialist space by furthering education efforts about the war economy in Albuquerque.

Che Olavarria Gallegos, Treasurer 

Che is a Software Engineer and Chemist from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has co-organized grassroots community initiatives in Albuquerque, including educational teach-ins, anti-war events, and mutual aid initiatives. Most notable, he was a key member of Albuquerque’s Participatory Budgeting project where he helped write policy and procedures, supported the facilitation of meetings, and acted as a tech point person for the project as a whole. At the CPJ, Che has worked to make the CC a more just and efficient body by pushing for and writing policies and procedures. He has dedicated time to making the CC more accessible by ensuring processes are well defined and streamlined. He also has led the upgrade of technological services at the CPJ with an eye towards ensuring no one gets left behind. Currently, he is the Treasurer and, in that role, works to systematize and automate the role while giving the CC more useful financial data for their decision making.

Luna Olavarría Gallegos, Secretary 

Luna is a mediamaker and technologist born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has supported and led grassroot community initiatives of New Mexico for over a decade. Since 2008 she has produced local stories on-air with KUNM’s Generation Justice (Youth Radio) and the station’s Raíces Collective, with which she helped produce Monday night’s program, Espejos de Aztlán. Most recently, she helped create an anti-gentrification publication “Sandía Sun”, about the changes facing Barelas, and has designed workshops, art and other interventions that examine New Mexico’s nuclear economy. She was Impact Producer for "The War on Cuba”, executively-produced by Oliver Stone and Danny Glover. She is currently the producer for “After Oil”, a film that explores colonial energy structures in South Africa, Kenya and Western Sahara.  On The CC, Luna has helped expand membership by organizing dozens of teach-ins, meetings, reading and writing groups, workshops and film screenings for communities previously not associated with The Center. She is currently overseeing administrative work, helping standardize processes, as well as ensuring that the food distribution efforts are in compliance with City policy. 

Maceline Kostiner, CC Member and Peace Cafe Representative 

Marceline Kostiner is one of the main organizers with The Peace Cafe, and was voted onto the CC in March 2024. She has lived in Albuquerque her whole life, and holds a degree from the University of New Mexico in History and with a minor in sustainability. Currently, she works in environmental conservation with Rocky Mountain Youth Corp, which engages young people in the outdoors to live sustainable and healthy lives. Beyond this work, Marcey is deeply involved with mutual aid groups throughout Albuquerque, including The Peace Center’s Peace Cafe, for which she oversees processes, coordinates volunteers and serves community meals weekly. Throughout her work with The CC, she has been an advocate for many of the volunteers and members of The Center and has led the adoption of policies to remain in compliance with the city. She also is working to expand membership to people who regularly spend time at The Center and have not yet become members.  The Peace Center has become her second home and she has a deep love and passion for the community and work she does serving The Center.