Socio-Economic Policy Analyst

Prior to joining CPJ, Simon spent several years coordinating the outreach ministry and social justice efforts of an Anglican church in downtown Toronto. Through that experience, he gained a valuable first-hand glimpse of the reality of poverty in Canada.

Simon is excited to join the CPJ team and eager to combine his "on the ground" experience with his educational background to help effect meaningful change in Canadian public policy. He holds a MTS from Tyndale Seminary in Toronto and a BA in Political Science from University of Waterloo.

Simon's background is steeped in various Christian traditions: Baptist, Mennonite Brethren, and Anglican. He is passionate about helping people discover how their faith informs and inspires both compassion and justice.

Simon, his wife Ashley, two year-old daughter Sophie, and their dog Maddy, have recently moved to Ottawa from Toronto.

Patricia Graça is passionate about public justice and is very happy to join Citizens for Public Justice to contribute her best efforts and skills during an 8 month maternity leave contract.

Patricia is an internationally trained lawyer from Brazil with a Master of Laws degree from Cornell University (United States). She conducted extensive research on the topic of gender discrimination in the labour market while pursuing her Master of Laws degree.

She has extensive experience in public justice framing of socio-economic policy debates, and a strong sensitivity to gender analysis developed through volunteer work with the Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa, providing non-judgmental and compassionate support to criminalized and at-risk women, men and youth. Patricia also has experience working with women in abusive relationships as a Public Defender Intern at the Federal District Court in Brasilia, Brazil, and as a Community Co-Mediator at the Catholic Immigration Centre in Ottawa.

She is a Halifax Initiative volunteer, engaged in the translation and collection of data, policies and lawsuits from Brazil to generate a report intended to garner the attention of media and decision-makers regarding the environmental, developmental and human rights impacts of a Canadian-owned gold mine situated in Brazil.

Inspired by the Old Testament call “to seek justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God,” (Micah 6:8) and driven by the belief that, working together, we can build a better world, Karri is an enthusiastic advocate for positive social change.

Karri has over fifteen years experience in the international development community and a strong background in policy analysis, network coordination, and government relations. Until recently, she co-chaired the Global Economic Justice Program Committee of KAIROS and sat on the International Affairs Committee of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. She was also the Coordinator of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation’s Americas Policy Group for several years. Karri has lived and worked in Brazil and Ecuador and travelled extensively throughout Latin America. 

As a Policy Analyst with CPJ, the focus of Karri’s work is on developing concrete proposals to address poverty in Canada. She also serves as the Coordinator of Dignity for All: The Campaign for a Poverty-Free Canada.

Karri has a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (Carleton University) and an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Studies and Political Science (York University). She speaks French, Spanish and Portuguese.

Karri is on maternity leave until September 2012.