Lawrence Bender, born Lawrence Kirk Bender in The Bronx, New York City, grew up with a strong foundation in education, as his mother was a kindergarten teacher, while his father, a college history professor, instilled in him a sense of intellectual curiosity.
During his high school years, Bender was inspired to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, a civil engineer, and went on to attend the University of Maine in 1979, where he earned a degree in Civil Engineering.
However, his career path took an unexpected turn when he became a professional dancer for several years, only to be forced to retire due to an injury.
Undeterred, Bender redirected his passion towards social and environmental activism, co-founding the Detroit Project, a platform that has since made significant strides in promoting environmental awareness and sustainability.
In 2003, he joined forces with environmentalists to target gas-guzzling SUVs, a move that further solidified his commitment to protecting the planet.
As a respected figure in his field, Bender has leveraged his influence to support various philanthropic initiatives, collaborating with prominent organizations such as Yahoo, the Muppets, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),and Wal-Mart.
In addition to his work as a director for CleanSource Power, LLC, Bender also serves as a board member for The Creative Coalition Inc., a testament to his dedication to using his platform for good.
Currently, he holds the esteemed position of Dean of Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he sits on the Advisory Board, further cementing his reputation as a leader and advocate for positive change.
