La Plazita Institute

Pass the Sopapillas podcast to tape at KRWG-TV KC Counts talks with host and New Mexico Poet Laureate Manuel Gonzalez about the podcast and how local folks can participate in the conversation.

Today we are proud to share that Albino Garcia Jr., Founder and Executive Director of La Plazita Institute, has been named a 2026 Galaxy Gives Fellow.

The Galaxy Gives Fellowship recognizes leaders across the country who are transforming the criminal legal system by addressing the root causes of violence and creating pathways for healing.

Albino’s journey began long before La Plazita Institute was founded in 2004. From helping bring rival youth together during gang violence in California in the early 1990s to building a culturally rooted space for healing and leadership here in Albuquerque, his life’s work has always centered on one thing:

Walking with young people and helping them see their worth, their voice, and their future.

This recognition honors not only Albino’s leadership, but the thousands of young people, families, mentors, and community partners who continue this work every day.

As Albino often reminds us:

La Cultura Cura.

And for generations of youth, that healing continues.

Good morning everyone, Senate Bill 165 is on the agenda today for the Senate Floor! This proposed bill would expose even more kids to incarceration and harmful adult sentences. Our state should be investing in young people, not in failed policies and recycled punitive measures.
Below is a contact list for the State Senate, please contact your State Senator and urge them to vote NO on this harmful bill.

📞 New Mexico State Senate — Contact List (2026)
Capitol Main Switchboard (for all Senators during session):
📞 505-986-4300 — Call and ask to be connected to a specific Senator’s office.

Senator District Phone (Capitol) Email
Heather Berghmans (D) 15 505-986-4726 [email protected]
Jay C. Block (R) 12 505-986-4702 [email protected]
Pat Boone (R) 27 505-986-4393 [email protected]
Craig W. Brandt (R) 40 505-986-4703 [email protected]
Crystal Brantley (R) 35 505-986-4369 [email protected]
Pete Campos (D) 8 505-986-4267 [email protected]
Joseph Cervantes (D) 31 505-986-4861 [email protected]
Angel M. Charley (D) 30 505-986-4513 [email protected]
Katy Duhigg (D) 10 505-986-4270 [email protected]
Candy Spence Ezzell (R) 32 505-986-4381 [email protected]
Natalie Figueroa (D) 18 505-986-4266 [email protected]
David M. Gallegos (R) 41 505-986-4877 [email protected]
Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales (D) 6 505-986-4362 [email protected]
Carrie Hamblen (D) 38 505-986-4310 [email protected]
Martin Hickey (D) 20 505-986-4487 [email protected]
Leo Jaramillo (D) 5 505-986-4260 [email protected]
Steve D. Lanier (R) 2 505-986-4724 [email protected]
Linda M. López (D) 11 505-986-4482 [email protected]
Antonio Maestas (D) 26 505-986-4373 [email protected]
George K. Muñoz (D) 4 505-986-4371 [email protected]
Cindy Nava (D) 9 505-986-4365 [email protected]
Micaelita Debbie O’Malley (D) 13 505-986-4301 debbie.o'[email protected]
Michael Padilla (D) 14 505-986-4737 [email protected]
Nicholas A. Paul (R) 33 505-986-4395 [email protected]
Shannon D. Pinto (D) 3 505-986-4835 [email protected]
Harold Pope Jr. (D) 23 505-986-4380 [email protected]
Gabriel Ramos (R) 28 505-986-4391 [email protected]
Joshua A. Sanchez (R) 29 505-986-4375 [email protected]
Larry R. Scott (R) 42 505-986-4701 [email protected]
Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (D) 16 505-986-4389 [email protected]
William E. Sharer (R) 1 505-986-4877 [email protected]
Benny Shendo Jr. (D) 22 505-986-4264 [email protected]
William P. Soules (D) 37 505-986-4834 [email protected]
Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics (D) 39 505-986-4377 [email protected]
Jeff Steinborn (D) 36 505-986-4862 [email protected]
Mimi Stewart (D) 17 505-986-4734 [email protected]
Anthony L. Thornton (R) 19 505-986-4274 [email protected]
Nicole Tobiassen (R) 21 505-986-4278 [email protected]
James G. Townsend (R) 34 505-986-4366 [email protected]
Linda M. Trujillo (D) 24 505-986-4863 [email protected]
Peter Wirth (D) 25 505-986-4727 [email protected]
Pat Woods (R) 7 505-986-4853 [email protected]
All contact info is from the official New Mexico Legislature member roster (phones, rooms, and emails).

When calling or emailing:

Identify who you are (constituent, business owner, nonprofit, etc.).

State your issue clearly (bill number or topic).

Ask for their position or assistance on your issue.

Be polite and concise.

When community comes together
culture is taught, not just told.
Learning happens in circle, through story, listening, and shared presence.

This is how knowledge moves — from elders to youth, from lived experience to collective memory.

“We have to plant seeds — all of us. That’s how we make a difference in this world.”

— Victor Villaseñor