Biographical Information
Mark your ballot for Mark Binder
Mark Binder is an independent candidate, who lives on the East Side of Providence with his wife and their children. A firm believer in the benefits and possibilities of public education, his children have attended the Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, Nathan Bishop Middle School and Classical High School. His wife is a high school art teacher in another town.
Like many Americans, Mark has worked full time jobs (including positions at Travelers Aid), part time jobs (as the Acting Director of the East Bay Coalition for the Homeless) and spent time on unemployement. For more than a decade, he has been running a small business as part of the creative economy, earning enough to support his family.
Mark is an author who really knows how to tell a story. As the writer of more than a dozen books and CDs, he travels the United States, sharing his work with families, teachers and children in schools, libraries and theaters.
Born in Massachusetts, Mark has lived in Rhode Island on and off for more than 20 years. He is a graduate of the Trinity Rep Conservatory and received an MA from Rhode Island College.
He graduated from Columbia University, attending at the same time as Barack Obama, though he never met the man during those years.
Mark is an artist and an entrepreneur, two buzz words that have been floated about as being key to Rhode Island’s economy. Yes, he has made his living at it. He is the author of more than a dozen books and ebooks and half a dozen audio recordings, and runs a small independent publishing house.
In 2004, Mark ran for the US House of Representatives as primary challenger to Patrick Kennedy. Mark was (and still is) vehemently opposed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. During this primary, he received nearly a quarter of the vote, a total of more than 7,000 votes statewide, on a budget of fewer than $500.
Many Rhode Islanders are familiar with Mark’s work as an author and storyteller. From time to time he has taught a course in Telling Lies at the Rhode Island School of Design — but he promises not to lie to his constituents.
Disclosures
- Mark frequently works in schools and libraries. He derives much of his income from this.
- Mark is a writer and an performer. He supports the arts and has received government grants for his work and projects.
- Mark is married to a wonderful Art teacher, who works in the public schools. She is a member of the union, and has union benefits and health care.
- Mark’s children attend public schools, and he is powerfully invested in continuously improving the experience for them and for all other children.
- Mark is a registered Independent with Liberal Progressive tendencies.
- Mark believes that a sense of humor is necessary and useful—especially in grim times.
- Mark will be asking for your vote. He wishes he didn’t have to, but he does.
Public Work
Mark has served on the Board of the Friends of Rochambeau Library.
Served as Acting Director of the East Bay Coalition for the Homeless. Moved that organization from deficit to surplus.
He is a founding Board Member of “Bright Night,” which rescued Rhode Island’s premier New Year’s Eve celebration
He has improved Providence in many small and subtle ways by organizing park renovations, traffic calming, and tree plantings.
Over the years, Mark has worked for or volunteered for: Traveler’s Aid, RI Project AIDS, The Apeiron Center for Sustainable Living, the JCC of RI, and RIPIRG.
Professional Work and Education
He has a BA from Columbia University and an MA from Rhode Island College.
Mark is the founder and partner of Light Publications, a fiercely independent publishing house based in Rhode Island.
He is a professional storyteller and author. He presents his work in schools, libraries, as well as community, senior and religious centers
He is the author of twelve books and six audio cds. So far.
He has served as the editor of the Rhode Island Jewish Voice and Herald and Food Distribution Magazine.
He has worked for Travelers Aid and the East Bay Coalition for the Homeless.
He has written articles for The Providence Journal, East Side Monthly, Rhode Island Monthly, and The Providence Phoenix
Vote for Mark Binder because
- He is a private citizen, doing his civic duty
- He is not a career politician
- He will cast votes with integrity and conscience
- He has a lifetime of experience from living with family and working in the real world
- He has the same challenges that you do — living a worthwhile life today and building a better world for the future