Member Spotlight - November 2007

Lao Rubert and Steve Schewel

Since moving to the Triangle area to attend Duke University in the late 60s and early 70s, Lao Rubert and Steve Schewel have been dedicated advocates for social and environmental causes in the Triangle and beyond.

Lao served as Executive Director of the Carolina Justice Policy Center from 1979 to 2007. This nonprofit organization is "dedicated to developing and promoting effective, equitable, and humane solutions to criminal justice problems." Lao now serves as the center’s Director for Policy and Special Projects. A native of Springfield, Missouri, Lao received her undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri and earned a masters in English at Duke.

Steve founded the award-winning Independent newspaper in 1983 and served as publisher until 1999. He is still president of the company that publishes the Independent and is a visiting faculty member at Duke University’s Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy. His busy schedule includes serving on the Durham School Board and coaching soccer at Brogden Middle School. A native of Lynchburg, Virginia, Steve graduated from Duke in 1973 and later received a masters in English from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in education from Duke University.

The couple joined TLC in 1989 because “the Triangle is developing incredibly fast and we know how important it is to protect open space,” explains Steve. "We've been environmentalists for a long time, so there's no question that we would support a conservation organization," adds Lao. Lao and Steve live in Durham and have two sons, Abe and Solly.

Member Spotlight Archives

April 2008 - Jon Stucky

March 2008 - Ken & Roz Winter

February 2008 - Pearson Stewart

January 2008 - Don Stephenson

December 2007 - Amy Mackintosh & Tom Kagan

November 2007 - Lao Rubert & Steve Schewel

October 2007 - Andrea Reusing & Mac McCaughan

September 2007 - Gail and Tommy Bridges

August 2007 - Sarah & Chris Capel

July 2007 - Karen & Ben Barker

June 2007 - Adam Meyer

May 2007 - Liz Pullman

January 2007 - Julia Elsee

December 2006 - George McRae and Laura Young

November 2006 - Danny and Caroline Kadis

October 2006 - Stella Boswell and Craig Heinly

September 2006 - Robert & Pearl Seymour

August 2006 - Amin Davis