Sedona Defenders Monthly Meet-Up

Can One Person Really Make A Difference? The Origin Story of HEAL Verde Valley

What do you do when no one will listen? Where do you turn when there’s nowhere else to go?

Samantha faced these questions when she and her two boys fell inexplicably ill. Her investigation uncovered toxic landscaping chemicals in their neighborhood—and even in their food. Frustrated by the lack of progress among local activists and professionals, who had spent over a decade trying to transition landscaping practices to organic alternatives, Samantha decided to take action. She founded HEAL Verde Valley, a local non-profit that helped transition cities, HOAs, and golf courses to organic, non-toxic herbicide practices.

Her journey reveals how one person’s determination can inspire a movement. Samantha empowered her community, showing that when one individual believes in change, it can ignite collective action.

When each of us takes a stand, we prove that one person truly can make a difference—and together, we can achieve so much more.

Be the first to hear this inspiring talk before Samantha presents it in New York City to 2000 people at the Montessori Model United Nations.

Lecture: 3 PM

About the Presenter, Samantha Malinski
Founder of HEAL Verde Valley, Educator, Organic Land Care Advocate, Environmental Health Activist, and mother of two boys. With an educational background in Humanities, Anthropology, and Sociology, Samantha leverages her passion for environmental health, research, and advocacy to drive meaningful change. Samantha’s unique approach has inspired multiple homeowners’ associations, three cities, and over 200 golf courses to adopt organic, non-toxic herbicide practices.