Karen Dolan is a Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies. Karen holds an M.A. With Highest Distinction in Philosophy and Social Policy from the American University in Washington DC.

Karen joined IPS in 1996. Her public scholarship and activism at IPS has linked community-led organizations with social movements and policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels. The focus of her work is on anti-poverty issues, juvenile justice, criminal justice reform, and transgender rights with a focus on race, gender, and gender identity. Karen currently directs the Criminalization of Race and Poverty project.

Some of Karen’s publications include: Mothers at the Gate: How a powerful family movement is transforming the juvenile justice system; The Poor Get Prison: The alarming spread of the criminalization of povertyClosing the Inequality DivideBattered By The Storm: How the Safety Net is Failing Americans and How to Fix itWe’re Not BrokeOur Communities are Not for SalePaying the Price: the Mounting Costs of War in IraqForeign Policy Goes Local; and she was a contributor for Mandate for Change.

Karen blogs for Huffington Post and regularly appears in other media outlets. Karen serves on the boards of The Participatory Budgeting Project, The Liberty Tree Foundation and Jobs With Justice Worker Rights Board.

Areas of Expertise

  • Progressive movement, policymakers
  • Poverty, economic hardship
  • Criminalization of race and poverty
  • Juvenile justice; criminal justice reform
  • Gender and gender identity; transgender rights
  • Cost of war and militarism at home

Latest

U.S. Mayors Mobilizing Against a War with Iran

Thirty-two U.S. mayors have signed a resolution saying “No” to invading Iran. Will the federal government listen?

Has Your Town Declared Peace Yet?

Tired of being ignored by the feds, citizens pass city laws declaring peace.

No War with Iran Resolution Toolkit

A look at how to effectively petition to end the war in Iran.

Bring the Troops Home Now Resolution Toolkit

A look at how to effectively petition to bring troops home from Iraq.

Time’s Up: Bring The Guard Home

Vermont lawmakers are trying to bring members of the state’s National Guard home from Iraq.

Your Time Is Up, Mr. President the National Guard Is Coming Home

The wisdom from Main Street U.S.A. continues to be vastly better than the

Foreign Policy Goes Local

The heart of the municipal foreign policy movement remains the opposition to the Iraq War.

Cities with Peace Resolutions

In a growing movement, there are hundreds of cities who have declared they are for peace.

Towns Are Urging Peace

This op-ed ran in the Lake Worth Herald (Lake Worth, FL) on March 2, 2006.

Project Director

Criminalization of Race and Poverty

Email this expert

202-787-5228

Community Policing, Criminal Justice, Families of Incarcerated, Juvenile Justice, Local Democracy, Mass Incarceration LGBTQIA, Participatory Budgeting, Race and Poverty, Racial Justice

Dolan Reviews State Of The Union Address

WORT-FM | February 15, 2023

KPFA Evening News

KPFA Evening News | February 11, 2023

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