Coalition for Life Team

Mark Cavaliere is the Founder of the Southwest Coalition for Life which he launched in response to an abortion facility opening in Las Cruces, NM, in 2014. The Coalition was established the following year, and in 2016, Mark quit his job to organize full-time outreach until the facility closed permanently in 2017, citing financial problems for suddenly “not getting enough patients.” Since then, Mark has worked tirelessly to unite the pro-life community across the larger region El Paso, Texas & Southern New Mexico, through which God has now closed 3 abortion facilities in just over 3 years. Under his leadership, the Southwest Coalition for Life has been called one of the most high-impact local and regional pro-life organizations in the nation. Starting with 40 Days for Life, Mark has mobilized thousands to action leading 35 vigils across 17 campaigns at 8 locations in 2 states, developed innovative sidewalk outreach programs, launched a Save the Storks medical ultrasound bus, and has helped raise over $3 million across various pro-life organizations in less than 5 years. On behalf of the El Paso community, he was presented with the Pro-Life Hero Award in 2019 and the Protector of Women & Children Award in 2020.

Mark is frequently asked to train pro-life groups across the country on the psychology of persuasion in pro-life work. He also conducts, emcees, and consults webcast and banquet events, and frequently speaks at pro-life galas, conferences, and programs including the Live Action Activism Training Camp, the Saving Lives on the Sidewalk National Conference, Students for Life Leadership Summits, the 40 Days for Life Leadership Symposium, the Explicitly Pro-Life Podcast with Kristan Hawkins, Jesus 911 Radio with Jesse Romero, the Webcast Success Bootcamp with David Bereit, and more. In addition to various local and regional media, Mark has also been featured by EWTN, Newsweek, USA Today, The Washington Times, The Guardian, National Catholic Register, The Catholic World Report, Crux, Live Action News, LifeSiteNews, Celebrate Life Magazine, and more. One of his great honors is to sit on the national Board of Directors of The Guiding Star Project, and is now the CEO of his local affiliate Guiding Star El Paso which he helped launch in 2017. In his free time, Mark enjoys tinkering with computer and internet technologies, amateur web/video/graphic design, reading books with his five children, and watching movies with his beautiful wife Melissa at their home in Chaparral, NM, where they have numerous chickens, ducks, and goats.

Matthew has been married to his wife, Lydia, since 1995, and they have 5 children.

Matthew is currently an Assistant General Agent with Knights of Columbus Insurance, serving Southwest New Mexico and the Diocese of El Paso. Before his appointment with K of C, he was a band director for 17 years in Deming, Lordsburg, and Clovis, NM. Matthew enjoys music ministry with his family. Matthew has been involved with the mission of the Southwest Coalition for Life since our earliest days.

Lynne Avitia retired from Dona Ana Community College in January of 2020 after teaching for 29 years. She also worked for 12 years as a youth/confirmation leader for two parishes in the Diocese of Las Cruces and volunteered for 7 years as the RCIA director for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She still volunteers there as needed for various projects. Lynne’s parents were pro-life pioneers in this area and opened the first pregnancy help center to exist in Las Cruces, NM. She continues the tradition of supporting the pro-life cause.