About Dennis
Born in Cambridge to hardworking parents, Dennis Benzan learned early the importance of education and civic responsibilities. Inspired by his elders, and by the many challenges facing his neighborhood, Dennis dedicated himself to community work from a young age. As a senior at Cambridge Rindge & Latin, he organized his peers against youth violence following the senseless murder of two classmates. Dennis was an assistant director for Area IV Youth Center, the head of YWCA’s Summer Program, and the youngest director of the Mayor of Cambridge’s Summer Job Initiative, which provided jobs for over 700 young people. He later worked at the Algebra Project as a community organizer helping underserved children of color access a proper education and increasing the number of students entering high school with adequate math and science preparation.
He graduated from Howard University, where he interned for the offices of U.S. Congressmen Jose Serrano and Dale Kildee and with the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary and Vocational Education. Upon returning home to Cambridge, Dennis started his own construction company in order to finance his dream of law school but also to give jobs to many deserving community members. At the age of 24, Dennis ran for State Representative in Cambridge’s 28th Middlesex district and nearly succeeded in unseating an incumbent; his was a disciplined grassroots campaign that energized the electorate and through a spirited voter registration drive mobilized one of the largest voter turn-outs in the history of the city.
Dennis received a degree from Roger Williams University School of Law, and since 2008 has been an associate with the Cambridge law firm of Altman & Altman, LLP, building a thriving family law and real estate practice. During this time, he has continued his strong commitment to helping others, working with high school students, church groups and small business-owners, and consistently providing legal and pro bono services to indigent clients confronted with foreclosure, bank fraud, domestic violence, and employment discrimination.
Dennis has been with his wife Tanya for 20 years; she is an assistant principal at Kelly Elementary School in Chelsea and they have two beautiful children, India and Matteo.
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