At Voices for Healthy Kids, we know that investing early pays off. Just as supporting children from prenatal to age three (PN-3) builds the foundation for lifelong health and success, investing early in the next generation of lawmakers strengthens the foundation for a healthier, more just future. Both require patience, nurturing, and a long view, because the most meaningful change grows over time.
As state legislative sessions come to a close, a new generation of young lawmakers continues stepping up to keep tackling some of our most pressing challenges. Their leadership offers a powerful opportunity to shape the future - one state policy at a time.
That’s why Voices for Healthy Kids partnered with Future Caucus, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping Gen Z and millennial lawmakers bridge the partisan divide and govern collaboratively. Since 2013, Future Caucus has served more than 1,900 young legislators across the country, equipping them with the tools, networks and relationships they need to lead differently.
In Bentonville, Arkansas, we joined Future Caucus and PN-3 advocacy leaders from the nonprofit sector for a roundtable focused on prenatal-to-three (PN-3) policy, one of the most foundational investments any state can make for its people. Local PN-3 partners included Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, the Arkansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Arkansas United and Excel by Eight. We had candid and inspiring conversations as young lawmakers shared both the challenges they face - and their optimism about the role they can play in shaping policy.
The experience reaffirmed a long-held belief of mine: advocacy isn’t only about policy; it’s about people. When we connect emerging leaders with trusted advocates, we plant the seeds of collaboration that grow into transformational change. These young lawmakers are not just the policymakers of tomorrow; they’re the bridge-builders our democracy needs today.
A Foundation for Lasting Change
What made the Future Caucus convening so meaningful was the cultivation of trust. Bringing together advocates and legislators in a space intentionally designed for authentic dialogue allows relationships to form that can withstand the pressures of partisanship and political turnover.
These gatherings create the foundation for:
Collaboration across political lines, ensuring health and equity remain priorities no matter who holds office
Informed, empathetic policymaking, grounded in both data and lived experience
A sustainable leadership pipeline of lawmakers who see advocates as partners, not partisans
This is long-term work. It requires patience, partnership, and persistence. But it’s also one of the smartest investments we can make. Every relationship built and every conversation held through efforts like this strengthens the infrastructure for progress.
At Voices for Healthy Kids, we believe that investing in the next generation – whether they’re newborns or new lawmakers – is how lasting change begins. When we nurture their growth, support their development, and connect them with the people and resources they need to succeed, we move closer to a future where every child and every community have the opportunity to thrive.
Lori Fresina is the national vice president and executive director of Voices for Healthy Kids at the American Heart Association. A co-creator of the Power Prism® advocacy framework, she has spent her career advancing policies that make communities healthier and more equitable. Lori previously held leadership roles with M+R Strategic Services, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and the American Cancer Society.