Debbie Rubenstein

About Debbie Rubenstein

Debbie is a dynamic connector and innovative leader with a 25-year track record of engaging community members and strengthening democratic engagement. Her career began with 12 formative years under the mentorship of renowned journalist Bill Moyers at Public Affairs Television. There, she mastered the art of amplifying documentaries into transformative cultural milestones by designing and executing integrated strategies that combined broadcasts with websites, promotional campaigns, books, and educational curricula.Since relocating to Charlotte, Debbie has become a respected voice in the grassroots community. Leveraging her expertise in strategic partnerships, she has been a driving force behind initiatives promoting public school equity, a co-founder of a social enterprise, and a leader in political campaigns.Most recently, she co-led The Living Archives, a groundbreaking project that captured pandemic stories from over 430 Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Indigenous residents of Mecklenburg County—more than doubling the original project goals. These stories were returned to the community in the form of traveling exhibits, a mural, and a YouTube channel, and now they have become a permanent collection at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Debbie’s work reveals an enduring legacy of collaboration and innovation.

Experience

1. Project Consultant to the Living Archives

   Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

   Apr 2022 — Present · Charlotte, NC, US

   Led Strategic Partnership efforts as well as story creation for The Living Archives, a collaborative project of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, the Duke Center for Documentary Studies, Johnson C Smith University, and the Levine Museum for the New South. The Archive preserves, in perpetuity the experiences of Mecklenburg County residents through the pandemic, in their own voices. With a focus on equity in archiving, we sought stories from traditionally marginalized voices including Black, Hispanic, Asian and Indigenous residents and we focused on the experiences of those who bore the brunt of the pandemic shut down including families, elders, small business owners, essential workers, immigrants and veterans, formerly incarcerated people, LGBTQIA+ people, and others. With a total collection topping 350 narratives, a permanent mural created and a 12 stop traveling exhibit, the project reached every corner of the County and amplified the work and story of individuals and organizations. This was only possible through innovative partnerships throughout the County which were the heart and soul of the project.

Education

• Isidore Newman School

  High School

  1974 — 1987

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  BA

  1987 — 1991