Speaker Archive

Mari Gallagher

Mari Gallagher is President
of Mari Gallagher Research and Consulting Group (www.marigallagher.com). She has enjoyed a national reputation for diverse,
high impact projects around the country for over 18 years of professional
history. Expertise includes quantitative and qualitative research projects;
financial services, civil rights, housing, community development, safety, community
planning, workforce issues, the economy, immigration, food deserts, community
gardens, the environment, open space, and community health; market analyses, commercial
site assessments and hands-on redevelopment consulting; business strategies;
mapping; expert testimony, facilitation, and public forums. Publications
include Examining the Impact of Food Deserts on Public Health in Chicago,
sponsored by LaSalle Bank (now Bank of America), a breakthrough study that popularized
the term “Food Desert” nationally and encouraged Congressman Bobby Rush to
enter “Food Desert” language into the Farm Bill. Mari was the first to develop
a block-by-block metric for “Food Deserts” and “Food Balance” linked with health measures and
has since done similar work in Detroit, rural Michigan, Louisville,
Harlem, Richmond,
and other areas. For example, she has worked on diabetic and pre-diabetic screening
of children and adolescents. Other clients and partners include grassroots
community and civic organizations, government entities, foundations, and major
international corporations, such as ALDI, Kraft Foods, and Wal-Mart. The
Group’s work continues to be covered by USA Today, National Public Radio, CNN,
and many other venues. For more information, go to marigallagher.com. 


 


As the executive director of
a community development corporation, Mari
led the co-development of a $75 million shopping center which included a
full-service grocery store.  She
also led a number of additional commercial projects, many of which won
prestigious awards. For other program areas, please scroll down to view her
practitioner experience.


 


Mari is also the founding
President of the National Center for
Public Research (www.NCforPR.org), based in Chicago. NCforPR’s mission is to provide meaningful and
unbiased data and information to improve quality of life, quality of health,
and financial wellbeing for all people and communities.

Presentation Title

Food Deserts

Event Description

In 2006, Gallagher released a report entitled Examining the Impact of
Food Deserts on Public Health in Chicago, a breakthrough study that
popularized the term “Food Desert” nationally. She explored how some
communities have access to healthy and diverse foods and some
consistently don’t. This report led to the term’s inclusion in a recent
federal Farm Bill. Hear her latest findings and explore a wide range of
community and government efforts to improve food access and health,
including new ideas for green solutions.