About

Voices for Healthy Kids and The Food Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard Law School will co-host a two-session Policy Summit for Policymakers interested in reducing health disparities and improving equity. This Summit will feature experts who will cover various aspects of sugary drinks tax policy. Attendees will learn the breadth of resources and supports available to champion these efforts to reduce health disparities and improve equity.


Agenda for Session 1 

May 3, 2021, Noon – 1:30 p.m. CT 

  • Welcome and Session Overview with Lori Fresina, Voices for Healthy Kids 

  • The Science and Policy of Sugary Drink Taxes with Christina A. Roberto, Ph.D, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania 

  • Getting Community Buy-In with Xavier Morales, Praxis Project 

  • Lessons Learned: Cook County Q&A with Larry Suffredin, Cook County Commissioner  and Terra Hall, Voices for Healthy Kids, moderator 

  • Addressing Consumption and Health Disparities with Gloria Begay, Navajo Nation 

  • Final Questions and Closing 


Register for Policy Summit for Policymakers: Session Two. 


Meet the Speakers

Lori Fresina: Lori Fresina is the Vice President and Executive Director of Voices for Healthy Kids, American Heart Association. Through her leadership, direction and dedication, Lori has made a significant contribution to making communities healthier through effective public policy.Her expertise includes campaign planning, community mobilization, multi-stakeholder collaboration, grassroots development and effectively communicating health messages to public officials.


Christina A. Roberto: Christina A. Roberto, Ph.D. is the Mitchell J. Blutt and Margo Krody Blutt Presidential Associate Professor of Health Policy at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also an Associate Director of the Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics at Penn. Dr. Roberto is a psychologist and epidemiologist who directs the Psychology of Eating and Consumer Health (PEACH) lab. The lab’s mission is to identify and evaluate policies and interventions that promote healthy eating habits and prevent nutrition-related chronic diseases.


Xavier Morales: Xavier Morales, Ph.D., MRP, is the executive director of Praxis Project, a national organization dedicated to supporting communities building power for health. Xavier is a longtime advocate for community-driven initiatives to achieve health equity and environmental justice. Taking an expansive view of what constitutes good health and community wellness, he works in partnership to transform the structures and systems that underlie inequity. Xavier studied environmental sciences at the University of California, Berkeley, and regional planning and community development at Cornell University.


Larry Suffredin: Larry Suffredin is the Cook County and Forest Preserve District of Cook County Commissioner for the 13th District. He was elected in November 2002 and re-elected in November 2006, November 2010, November 2014 and November 2018. 

Larry serves as Chairman of the Cook County Board’s Legislation & Intergovernmental Relations Committee, which is charged with recommending county positions on state and federal legislation, tracking state and federal funds earmarked for the County, and reviewing appointments to County boards and commissions. He also serves as Chairman of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County's Botanic Garden Committee, Legislation & Intergovernmental Relations Committee and Rules Committee. 

Larry is a lifelong resident of Chicagoland, and is a highly successful attorney with a legal career spanning decades. He has extensive state and federal trial experience and has argued cases before the United States and Illinois Supreme Courts as well as circuits of the United States Court of Appeals and the Illinois Appellate Court. 

As an attorney, Larry has built a reputation as a government relations specialist at the local state, and federal levels, and is known for his broad knowledge of government and politics. He has held several public service posts and currently serves on the board of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence. 

Larry received his Bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Chicago and his law degree from Georgetown University. He served as a Captain in the United States Air Force Reserves and received an Honorable Discharge.Larry and his wife, Gloria Callaci, live in Evanston and have two grown children, Tom and Elizabeth.


Gloria Begay: As a retired Navajo educator, policy advisor, Gloria Ann Begay addresses issues of Native Health and Food Sovereignty at tribal, and national levels; and was highly instrumental in the passage of the Navajo Nations’ Healthy Dine’ Nation Act that is the only tax on “junk food and beverages,” and also, a tax waiver of quality food in the USA; in addition to food policy development. Currently, Gloria is Founding Director of the Dine’ Food Sovereignty Alliance; organizer of the Dine’ Farm to School Coalition, and holds a M.Ed and B.S, Degree in Education and Anthropology.