Volunteer Spotlight: Under the Dome with Steve Schwartz

AARP Colorado Advocacy Team member Steve Schwartz is quickly becoming a fixture under the dome at the Colorado Statehouse.

“I was lucky to have a career that I believed was very important work and that I never stopped enjoying,” Schwartz said. “However, retirement was an opportunity to try some things that I never had time to explore while I was working.”

The retired certified public accountant and entrepreneur examines legislation, participates in AARP Colorado Advocacy Team meetings, and then gets in on the lawmaking action by advocating for the 50-plus through testimony in front of the legislature, online and more.

“I have the privilege and, really, profound opportunity to tap into AARP thinking, study legislation proposals through the AARP lens, and then to educate and advocate on behalf of the more than 670,000 AARP members who live in Colorado,” Schwartz said.

While Schwartz says he is more passionate about ideas and learning than he is about any one specific issue impacting older Coloradans. His curiosity and eagerness to get involved makes him an incredible asset to the team.

Karen Moldovan, AARP Colorado director of advocacy, said, “Working with Steve is a joy.”

“He’s a go-getter who embraces our process and is not afraid to speak up for his fellow Coloradans in front of lawmakers – in what can sometimes be intimidating committee hearings. Steve is an excellent ambassador for AARP.”

Going beyond Schwartz’s time with AARP Colorado, you can find him dabbling with photography, fly fishing and birding. He is also a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children.

Fast Facts: Volunteer Steve Schwartz
Time with AARP Colorado: One year
Family: Spouse, Alice; three daughters; six grandchildren
Where he’s from: Rochester, New York
Hobbies and pastimes: Fly fishing, birding, photography, learning
Random trivia: Schwartz was a beekeeper for eight years.
Other causes supported: CASA