Lawrence J. Dark

Lawrence J. Dark, 1976

B.A., Denison University
J.D., Northwestern University

Executive Director
National Institute Against Prejudice & Violence


Citation awarded May, 1992

Lawrence Dark is the executive director of the National Institute Against Prejudice & Violence. He is the second director in the Institute’s six-year history.

Lawrence is one of 49 current recipients of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant for its National Fellowship Program. The program, which began in 1980, helps the nation expand its pool of capable leaders by increasing individuals’ skills and insights into areas outside their chosen disciplines so they can deal more creatively and effectively with society’s complex problems.

In 1988, Lawrence was appointed as the first director of the Virginia Council on Human Rights. Previously, he served as associate director of the American Bar Association’s Council on Legal Education Opportunity, and at the national headquarters of the American Red Cross, where he served as corporate initiative associate to increase the participation of blacks as volunteers, paid staff, and donors.

He currently serves on the board of directors and executive committee of the Virginia Capital Chapter of the American Red Cross, Advisory Council of Eastern Operations Headquarters of the American Red Cross, Richmond AIDS Ministry (RAM), Advisory Council of the Institute for Citizen Education in Law, and the allocations committee of United Way Services in Richmond. He previously served as chairman of the resolutions committee for the 1991 National Convention of the American Red Cross, on the board of directors of the Urban League of Greater Richmond and worked with eh Youth Achievers Program of the North Richmond YMCA. Lawrence is also a member of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators.