Make your favourite hot drink, find a quiet corner, and read through these materials ahead of the session.

Karim (he/him) is a public service leader who has worked for a better democracy, a more educated and engaged population, and better public policy throughout his professional career. In 2017, he co-founded the Leadership Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University, and took on additional responsibilities as Executive Director of the Brookfield Institute in January 2023. Karim also co-teaches SSH505, “Making the Future,” for which he has won two teaching awards from TMU’s Faculty of Arts.

Karim was previously Deputy Principal Secretary for Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, and served as Executive Director of Policy for Premiers Wynne and Dalton McGuinty. He was a candidate in Parkdale—High Park in the 2022 Ontario provincial election.

He has worked as a journalist, as a politics and policy columnist for The Toronto Star, an editorial writer and business reporter at The Globe and Mail, and as an editorial assistant at Slate magazine. He also taught leadership at the University of Toronto’s School of Public Policy and Governance. Karim holds a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University and a Master in Public Policy from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Born in Maryland. Raised in Georgia. Transplant to North Carolina. 

Danielle Brown is a Community Activist, Political Organizer, Internet Radio Personality and Master Class Instructor. Her background is supported by her role as Black Voters Matter Fund National Field Co-Director; National A. Philip Randolph Institute Organizer; Founder of On the Ground w/ Danielle Brown, an internet radio show and organizing/political Master Class and the Founder of IMPAXT Inc., an organization that teaches children to utilize their voting potential at a young age its mission is to build political leaders and advocates. In her role as BVM Deputy National Field Director, she has created a program that has been implemented across the country that works to mobilize young leaders to become an active part of community organizing and politics beyond voting. 

Danielle sits on various community boards in and out of the state. She has worked with various labor unions, community, and grassroots organizations on various campaigns to ensure that the mission and needs of the people, no matter their station, are met. She is an organizer by trade and a strong leader at heart. She works tirelessly to make sure that the issues of her people are heard and addressed.

Danielle loves football, macaroni and cheese, traveling, mindless TV (particularly 90s sitcoms), and reading. 

Danielle's Contact Details:
Email: danielle@blackvotersmatterfund.org

Sabreena Delhon (she/her) is the Chief Executive Officer of the Samara Centre for Democracy. She has over a decade of experience directing multi-stakeholder research and outreach initiatives that have made an impact across justice, academic, and non-profit sectors. 

Sabreena has appeared as an expert witness before Parliamentary committees on matters relating to political participation and frequently provides commentary about democratic engagement for various media outlets such as the Globe & Mail, CBC Radio and the Toronto Star. She is the host of Humans of the House, a podcast that explores the lived experience of former Members of Parliament. 

Sabreena previously held senior roles at the Law Society of Ontario and advised non-profit leaders on how to increase engagement with target audiences. She holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Alberta, an MA in Sociology from Dalhousie University and is a Senior Fellow at Massey College. Sabreena is on the board of the Provocation Ideas Festival.

Sabreena's Contact Details:
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/sabreenadelhon

X: @sabreenadelhon

Instagram: @sabreena.delhon

Rob Goodman (he/him) is Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University, where he teaches and writes on topics such as populism, rhetoric, and the history of political thought. He received his Ph.D. with distinction from Columbia University and was previously a postdoctoral fellow at McGill University. He is an award-winning author and co-author of several books, including Not Here: Why American Democracy Is Eroding and How Canada Can Protect Itself (Simon & Schuster, 2023) and Words on Fire: Eloquence and Its Conditions (Cambridge University Press, 2022). Before beginning his doctoral studies, Rob worked as speechwriter for U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Senator Chris Dodd.

Patrick Ruffini is the author of “Party of the People: Inside the Multiracial Populist Coalition Remaking the GOP.” Ruffini is a Republican pollster and political consultant who runs the political research and intelligence firm Echelon Insights, based in Alexandria, Virginia. He began his career working in digital strategy for the Republican Party, including for President George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign. He has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, FiveThirtyEight, Politico and TIME, and he has appeared as an analyst on outlets ranging from NPR to Fox News. 

Patrick's contact details:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ruffini

X: @PatrickRuffini

Here are a list of resources that were mentioned during this session!

Video: The Incomparable Mr. Buckley

Video: New York Times Congress Exit Interviews

Movie: Our Brand is Crisis 

Book: Believer by David Axelrod 

Book: A list of books by Dr. Rob Goodman

Article: Thoughts on Democratic Renovation by Danielle Allen

Article (Paywall): Is Fixing Democracy Partisan? by Danielle Allen

Resource: Samara Centre SAMbot

Resource: Students Learn Students Vote organization mentioned by Sabreena 

Report: Samara Centre MP Exit Interviews

Podcast: Samara Centre Humans of the House