Madison Cilano, LCPC-C

Founder, Co-President

maddie@reclaimingpeace.org

Maddie is a clinical counselor and founder of Reclaiming Peace. Her work is rooted in compassion, curiosity, and a deep belief that healing is possible when individuals are given the space to reconnect with their inner world. She is committed to creating environments where people are able to explore their experiences, build awareness, and begin to restore a sense of peace, autonomy, and connection within themselves.

She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Education at Maine College of Art & Design, where her studies further support her interest in integrating creativity, community-based learning, and holistic approaches to healing. Her clinical approach is holistic, integrative, and trauma-informed, emphasizing the mind-body connection, emotional awareness, nervous system wellbeing, and the meaningful role that relationships and self-understanding play in healing, personal growth, and overall wellness.

Outside of her professional work, Maddie finds grounding and inspiration in nature and creativity. She spends much of her time with her sons—hiking, creating art, and caring for the land and animals on their small farm. This connection to the natural world continues to shape both her personal life and her approach to healing, emphasizing presence, relationship, and the importance of slowing down.

Jesse Lucas

Co-President

jesse@reclaimingpeace.org

Jesse is passionate about building connections and fostering strong, inclusive communities. With a Master of Social Work from the University of Maine, she combines her skills in communications, outreach, and collaboration to help people and organizations thrive. With a focus on compassion and creative problem-solving, Jesse enjoys finding ways to make a positive impact wherever she can.
When she’s not working, you can usually find her swimming, enjoying live music, or hanging out with her cats, who she swears are excellent coworkers!

Pete Rubinas

Secretary

pete@reclaimingpeace.org

Pete Rubinas is Executive Director of SMART Recovery USA, a national non-profit that empowers individuals working to reduce or resolve addictive behaviors with evidence-based tools and supportive peer communities. Pete was a SMART participant, facilitator, and volunteer leader before taking on his current role. While he has a lived experience with addictive behaviors, he’s careful not to universalize his experience to others. That’s easier to do at an organization like SMART where individual autonomy and choice are prioritized over pathologization and paternalism. 

Interested in helping SMART be a voice of empowerment for all who struggle, Pete has studied our society’s dominant narratives around mental health, as well as how power is held and wielded. Ultimately, he believes that creating trauma-informed communities of empowerment that are effective for those who struggle will not just benefit those folks, but everyone. As a result, he’s excited to support the launch of Reclaiming Peace as a way to make such empowering support more accessible to more people. 

A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Pete spent ten years focused on internal controls and risk management at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Chicago, and another ten leading a non-profit Montessori school in Chatham County, North Carolina. He also completed coursework toward a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, a journey he put on hold to take his current position. He has worked hard to build a balanced life that includes time for his family, birding, native pollinator gardening, and running. He continues to facilitate local SMART 4-Pointand SMART Family & Friends meetings in Chapel Hill, NC on a volunteer basis. His mantra is “You are enough.”