Additional information
by Karen Bojar (Author)
Drawing on the experiences of grassroots political activists from different socio- economic and ethnic backgrounds, Green Shoots of Democracy explores how self-identified progressives manage (or fail to manage) to work within a big city political machine. Although the book focuses on the work of progressives to foster democracy and transparency within the Philadelphia Democratic Party, lessons gleaned from their experiences are applicable beyond Philadelphia. Americans have long had a history of volunteerism; however, grassroots partisan politics is often not considered a worthy volunteer endeavor--not as worthy as, for example, working in a homeless shelter or a literacy center. Green Shoots of Democracy argues for a more democratic, transparent party structure--one that is sorely needed to counter the widespread perception that electoral politics is dirty business rather than an honorable civic project.
Author Biography
Dr. Karen Bojar is Professor Emerita of English and women's studies at the Community College of Philadelphia. She is a longtime Democratic Party activist and has served as a Democratic committeeperson for the past thirty years. She also has a long history as a feminist activist and served as President of the Philadelphia chapter of the National Organization for Women from 2001-2009. She continues to be involved in Philadelphia NOW and in Philadelphia politics and was recently appointed to the Mayor's Commission for Women. Bojar has written numerous articles on feminist activism, and is the co-editor of Teaching Feminist Activism (Routledge, 2002); she also recently published Feminism in Philadelphia: The Glory Years, 1968-1982, which interweaves the history of feminism in Philadelphia with the broad themes and trajectory of the "second wave" feminist movement.
