Stephen Raburn is a longtime nonprofit leader, social entrepreneur, and writer who has spent most of his adult life building organizations, communities, and creative projects that help people connect and thrive. Over the years, he has served in executive leadership roles with organizations including The Narrative Method, The Center for Child Advocacy and Research, Triangle Nonprofit and Volunteer Leadership Center, and the North Carolina Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparities. He has also led fundraising efforts for organizations such as Family Connects International, Children’s Literacy Project, and BioShift Research Foundation.

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Stephen chaired both the Mecklenburg (Charlotte) Council on Adolescent Pregnancy, spearheading a successful effort to reduce the number of teen pregnancies by 50% in North Carolina's largest city, and the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, helping guide collaborative community efforts focused on improving outcomes for children and families. 

Alongside his nonprofit work, Stephen has always gravitated toward writing and publishing. He has written professionally for outlets including Interrogating Justice and the Durham Herald-Sun. 

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From 2012 to 2020, Stephen founded and served as CEO of Raburn Publishing, an independent press that published more than 20 titles spanning children’s books, Young Adult fiction, and the “Oh Dad!” series—for parents and the eye-rolling kids who love them. The company launched with What’s for Breakfast, Dad?, a cookbook for kids written by NYC food blogger Sarah Spigelman (think bacon candy and waffle-wiches), and Let’s Build Something, Dad, written by retired engineer Peter Hill (think backyard zip lines and squirrel feeders). Raburn also published his own collection of short stories and a guide for parents on the topic of bullying. What the Hollow Takes is his first published novel. 

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Most importantly, Stephen is the father of two grownish daughters who continue to inspire him and keep him grounded and humble. He lives on the beach in Marina del Rey, California.