April 28, 2025 • 31 mins
What if cutting up a six-pack ring or planting a milkweed could actually change the world?
In this episode of the Visual Eyes Podcast, host Chris Baker sits down with Noelia Suarez, Executive Director of Heal The Planet, to explore how small, daily decisions can spark global environmental change. From her early days as a mentor and international volunteer to launching a sustainable store and teaching mindfulness in Title I schools, Noelia has spent her life turning eco-conscious values into action.
You’ll learn how Heal The Planet delivers environmental education through their SEED Program, engages kids with biodiversity lessons (yes, even ladybugs!), and fosters leadership through sustainability. Noelia also shares the nonprofit’s challenges post-COVID, their creative solutions—including digitizing feedback—and why legacy is about empowering youth, not just stats and data.
Whether you're a nonprofit leader, educator, policymaker, or eco-curious listener, this conversation will inspire you to lead with intention and recognize the power of one person, one act, one ripple.
🔑 Topics Covered:
- The link between personal lifestyle and nonprofit leadership
- The truth about plastic pollution and ocean waste
- Why biodiversity education matters more than ever
- How empowering youth creates a sustainable legacy
- The role of community collaboration in lasting impact
🎧 Listen in and be inspired to take the next small step—because change starts with you.
🔗 Learn more at: www.healtheplanet.com
📲 Subscribe for weekly episodes on purpose-driven leadership and impact
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Chris Baker (00:08):
Chris Baker, and each week we'll explore
incredible connections betweennonprofits, businesses and the
community.
This is a space where wehighlight inspiring partnerships
, uncover strategies forcreating meaningful impact and
share stories that show howworking together can make all
the difference.
Whether you're a nonprofitleader, a business owner or
(00:28):
someone just passionate aboutbuilding connections, this
podcast is for you.
Welcome back to another episodeof Visual Eyes.
Today I have Noelia Suarez fromHeal the Planet.
Welcome.
Noelia Suarez (00:43):
Thank you so much , Chris, for inviting us.
This is such a treat.
Chris Baker (00:47):
I would love us to start the conversation a little
bit with how did you start yourjourney into the nonprofit?
Noelia Suarez (00:54):
Well, this actually started in my early 20s
.
I realized at a very young ageI love to give back.
It was very rewarding andthrough friends I learned about
being a mentor to a young child,and that's exactly what I did.
I was a mentor for three yearsto a very young girl and it was
(01:15):
very inspiring.
And after that I learned aboutother opportunities to give back
and, for example, I was avolunteer for a human society.
I had quite a few dogs in myhouse and I walk around with
dogs.
One of the other things I didwas through the university I was
attending is to put togetherthe faculties with our Basel.
(01:37):
That was a great thing to dobecause it gave exposure to the
university and all kinds ofactivities relating to how I can
make a difference.
There was another work.
In this case it was allvolunteering.
I was introduced to Heal thePlanet and when I learned about
(02:00):
their mission, it resonated withme because I was already living
a lifestyle wheresustainability was part of that.
I was carrying my own shoppingbags.
I was not using plastic.
Chris Baker (02:14):
Yeah.
Noelia Suarez (02:14):
And I was eating healthy, I was exercising, so
all that was very natural andI'm like, wow, this is actually
working on the place I want tobe Like.
I want a world that looks likeHill the Planet, where everybody
is conscious of their choices,and I was introduced to the
founder and it was a great match.
Chris Baker (02:38):
Can you tell a little bit more of the story
about when you got introduced tothe founder and how that
perspired?
Noelia Suarez (02:44):
about when you got introduced to the founder
and how that perspired.
Yes, so I was in anothernonprofit called the Gratitude
Project.
We were doing work to helpchildren in South Africa.
We fundraised in one event alot of money to build two
shelters in South Africa and wehad about 900 patients monthly
that we were taking care of.
Chris Baker (03:03):
Yes.
Noelia Suarez (03:05):
It was a wonderful experience.
I did it for a few years andthe founder of the gratitude
project knew Ken and she saidyou have to meet Ken, and we
went for a beach walk.
Okay, and that's how we wereintroduced.
And yeah, that's.
The rest is history.
Chris Baker (03:25):
One of the things that you mentioned that's very
important is keepingsustainability, keeping the
healing, helping the planet, andone of the biggest things that
comes to my mind specifically iswe're going to have to keep
this place safe for the youth,like the future generations have
(03:46):
to keep this place safe for theyouth, like the future
generations, like if we don'tstart doing things now, what is
this place going to look like 50years from now, 100 years from
now?
Noelia Suarez (03:52):
It is very scary and actually, when I visit the
schools, one of the things I sayto the children is what I'm
doing now, I'm not doing it forme, I'm doing it for you,
because I think if we don't givethe children education, their
future is not going to be pretty.
(04:15):
We understand that biodiversityis crucial for the environment.
Chris Baker (04:20):
It is.
Noelia Suarez (04:21):
And at the pace that we're going, there's marine
life that's going to beextinguished, all kinds of
things.
We all understand theimportance of pollinators, but
how many people really plant thenectar plants that pollinators
need?
Chris Baker (04:39):
right right.
Noelia Suarez (04:40):
So there's a.
I mean I can speak all day longabout how every action that we
make, everything has a rippleeffect.
Chris Baker (04:50):
Yeah, sometimes we look at something just because
the beauty of it, but does itactually help the planet?
Or are we hurting the planet byplanting too many of something
that we find just so gorgeous?
And it's taking that educationpiece into you know, into our
mind, and going, okay, this isreally going to hurt my children
(05:10):
, my grandchildren.
Noelia Suarez (05:12):
Absolutely, and even the founder does not have
any children, but he's veryconcerned about what the future
looks like.
And I don't have any children,but I do want to leave this
planet better than I found it,and it's my job as a citizen to
educate and inspire, because, atthe end of the day, we don't
(05:34):
want to be lecturing people.
Chris Baker (05:36):
No, we don't.
Noelia Suarez (05:36):
We want to inspire them.
Chris Baker (05:40):
That's where we actually get a chance to really
make the hugest difference, whenwe actually connect with them
on an inspiration, emotionallevel that they can like oh, I
do need to make that change.
A lot of people just hear thedata and the facts and they're
like, okay, but they don't thinkabout it and unfortunately,
that's one of the things thatyou know.
(06:00):
It's very important for us toget that data so that we can
prove it, you know, togovernment and to other agencies
and everything else, but whenwe're trying to connect to the
daily person to make a change,we need to connect to them on
that story, inspiration,emotional level, whatever it has
to be for them to go.
It clicked, I get it now.
Noelia Suarez (06:23):
A hundred percent .
And one of the scary things iswe believe that someone else's
will do the job, because we feelvery small, we think, oh, I'm
not going to make a difference.
Chris Baker (06:37):
It does.
Noelia Suarez (06:38):
Every little thing that we do makes a
difference.
Chris Baker (06:42):
Oh yeah.
Noelia Suarez (06:43):
It's hard to see it because the fact that I'm not
using all the time Publix perse shopping bags, I know by now
I probably save over a thousandbags of plastic and they say,
reuse it.
But most people don't reuse it.
They end up you know where.
Chris Baker (07:06):
In the garbage, in the ocean, the ocean.
Noelia Suarez (07:07):
Oh, that's even worse I've did a cleanup and the
number one thing we got out ofthe coastline were shopping bags
plastic was it and straws.
Let's not go, even, even yeahto the straw subject, because
that one can go deep that onecan go deep.
That one can go deep.
I'm very disappointed aboutthat because we have seen a
(07:30):
shift in consciousness with thatlittle thing.
But it doesn't take a hugeeffort for you to say not to
straws or not to plastic.
Chris Baker (07:47):
It's about education and understanding that
the small acts can make a hugedifference.
Yeah, and I'm very appreciativeof when I go to you know a
restaurant or go to a bar thathave biodegradable straws, or
you know bags or to-go boxes,whatever the case may be that
I'm like you know, I appreciatethat.
Yes, it may cost me an extrafew cents or a dollar, whatever
(08:10):
it's going to be, but I knowit's making a difference as well
, so I appreciate those.
I remember several years back Iwent out just before I went on
a cruise and the place was likewe don't use straws at all and
if you want to buy a metal strawfor a dollar, you can buy a
metal straw for a dollar.
And I still have that metalstraw in my bag.
(08:33):
And I was like I've never heardof a place, say I, we don't
carry straws.
But I was so inspired.
I was like I'm going to keepthis and I know exactly where it
is.
It's in my bag, I can take itwherever I go, and that's
something that I feel was veryimportant to me.
Noelia Suarez (08:51):
Yes, I feel everyone, especially big
companies, be responsible andliable.
Chris Baker (08:59):
That's a good word.
Noelia Suarez (09:00):
That's actually heavy right.
It's a heavy word, but it'strue but it's true, because they
have the power to createchanges.
They do, yeah, and we have tomake sure they are accountable.
Chris Baker (09:14):
Right, you bring up a very good point.
So how is Heal the Planettrying to hold some of those
companies to be more accountableor reliable?
Noelia Suarez (09:26):
We are a very small nonprofit.
Nevertheless we make sure that,at least at the student levels,
we go to Broward schools.
Chris Baker (09:35):
Yes.
Noelia Suarez (09:36):
Mainly Title I schools, to give them the tools
for them to make better choices.
We tell them you need toexercise, you need to eat
healthy, because if you're nothealthy you're not going to
perform as well.
We talk about mindfulness.
Chris Baker (09:54):
So important.
Noelia Suarez (09:55):
And, of course, sustainability.
Sometimes, when I go to theschools, I'm not an educator,
but I like to go because I wantto understand what the situation
is in the schools.
I'm not the educator, but Ilike to go because I want to
understand what the situation isin the schools as much as
possible, because that's a wayto always improve.
Okay, we're doing this.
How come I'm doing better?
And I always take my backpackwith me and I take all the
(10:18):
reusable stuff and they look atme like what is that reusable
stuff?
And they look at me like whatis that?
And I explain to them.
So if we give them at a youngage tools, then they understand
that they can go back home andmake a better choice, not only
for themselves but also for theplanet.
I heard more than one timechildren thinking More than one
(10:41):
time children thinking I got tostop using plastic.
Chris Baker (10:44):
Yeah, that's music to my ears, honestly, because,
in truth, if we can make thatimpression on our youth, we have
a better chance for the futureFor them, for the whole planet,
and we have to start there in alot of different ways.
I mean, we can work with thecompanies that are currently out
(11:06):
there, trying to get them tomake some shifts and changes, to
make better choices.
One of my favorite places toactually go shopping is Aldi.
They don't have any plasticbags.
I know I love it and I forcemyself.
I buy a reusable bag.
I have six in my car.
Good, I always bring them up tomy apartment when I'm bringing
(11:28):
up the groceries, and then I youknow, if I forget one, I at
least have a few more in the car.
But I bring them back down andI reuse them, and I reuse them.
I reuse them for almosteverything, like.
I'm kind of like forced myselfinto that habit.
Noelia Suarez (11:49):
And that's where the really thing that has to
change and you have to force itinto habit to actually make a
bigger difference and a biggerimpact.
Yes, and it may start thatsmall right like the straw, yes,
the shopping bag, okay.
Now how about if I look alittle bit more, because there
are options out there?
Which is'm not educated?
I have plenty of things in myhead because I educate myself
throughout the years.
Yeah, and the motivation is Iwant animals to have
(12:13):
opportunities, and I say animalsbecause there are many of the
species are in extinction.
Chris Baker (12:19):
Yeah, they're gone.
Right, they're going to comeback.
That could be due to thatplastic bag.
It could be due to you know,many different things.
One of the things I still do,and I still do to this day I
don't love it when the pop canshave the six-pack plastic thing.
Noelia Suarez (12:38):
I know.
Chris Baker (12:39):
Because I always see in my head a duck or some
type of getting stuck.
And so every time I see that,see that in anything I buy, I'm
like, oh, why did you do that?
But the first thing I do is Icut it up.
I have to cut it up because I'mlike, regardless, if it's going
out, I'm not going to let ananimal get stuck in this Like
(12:59):
it's just not going to happenyes, that's exactly what I do.
Noelia Suarez (13:02):
Everything that I buy I there's.
There's a big effort when youdon't shop everything that is
out there that contains plastic,because it requires you to
rethink about how you shop in.
And if at some point I have toshop something that has a
plastic and then with a circle,I always cut it because I know
(13:23):
that they get caught up in thatand it's so sad because you see
them in pictures, that theythey're growing and they're
struggling yeah, because ifnobody's there to take it off
and they were a, they were achick and they were just a baby,
and then they grow up yeah,it's not strangling them and
it's just.
Chris Baker (13:41):
Oh, I can't even imagine yeah.
Noelia Suarez (13:44):
And a lot of people have said to me well,
most of the plastic in the oceanis from the fisheries.
I'm like, ok, I get that, butif you know you can prevent from
one animal not to ingestplastic and that animal will
survive, why don't you make thatchange?
(14:04):
It's uh I think it's easier atthe end of the day to take the
easy way out, but the truth is,when you look, when you look
back, you want to see if yourchoices were the best for the
environment and futuregenerations.
Chris Baker (14:22):
So, as you guys are working to, you know, bring
sustainability into the realityof Broward County.
What are some of thecollaboration efforts that
you've had?
The opportunity of working withother nonprofits, for-profits,
to make actual changes.
Noelia Suarez (14:38):
One of the greatest partners and
collaborators we have is BrowardCounty Public Schools, because
that's where we go and we teachthe SEED program.
This is a six-week program and,like I said before, it's about
mindfulness, nutrition, andhaving their partnership is key
Because without them, we have avery limited access to children.
(15:00):
Right, we have Young Seeds inthe Park, which is another
program Through the City of FortLauderdale.
We have a small satelliteoffice at Snyder Park and twice
a month, on the second Wednesdayand fourth Saturday, we do
Young Seeds in the Park.
(15:21):
So that's a great collaborationwith the city of Fort
Lauderdale.
Chris Baker (15:24):
Yeah.
Noelia Suarez (15:25):
And at the same time, we do beach cleanups with
them.
So we get a lot of companiesreaching out, bringing their
employees and trying to make adifference in that three-hour
window that we are on the secondSaturday when we do the events
Earth Day celebration we bring alot of other nonprofits that
(15:46):
are similar to us.
It's about education, creatingawareness and how we can make
better choices Differentorganizations that promote
biodiversity, like the SouthFlorida Wildlife Center.
Yeah biodiversity, like thesubflora wildlife center.
(16:07):
Yeah, they come and theyeducate the people about how can
you protect the wildlife, right, we don't think about that.
We think, oh, there's a littlebird.
I have killed a bird, thinkingI was helping him.
I was feeding the bird.
But they, they are certain waysyou're supposed to feed the
bird so it won't die.
And I learned that I was doingthe right thing I mean the wrong
thing when I started bringingthe Wildlife Center to our
(16:32):
workshops because they wereshowing how it was supposed to
be done.
Chris Baker (16:35):
That's interesting.
Honestly, I don't even know howyou would feed a bird, so
that's very interesting.
Noelia Suarez (16:42):
Yeah, they teach.
Right, and that's a small thing, right?
Sure, and I bought a lump.
I bought the right tools tomake this bird grow and I killed
it because I didn't have theeducation.
So partnering withorganizations that will prevent
this, that will educate thecommunity, is key.
(17:05):
We also bring, for example,colossal Academy.
They have a great system, adifferent system from what is
the regular schools, and theyeducate children about compost,
planting their own food.
Chris Baker (17:20):
Yes, Planting their own food?
Noelia Suarez (17:21):
Yes, Mindfulness and they come and they do
different activities, like oneof the greatest things they did
it was a bag ladybug release.
Chris Baker (17:33):
Okay.
Noelia Suarez (17:34):
It was so popular .
Everyone was around thisteacher releasing the ladybugs.
Oh interesting, it's kind oflike releasing the doves.
Yeah, and there is a purposeforugs.
Chris Baker (17:42):
Oh interesting, it's kind of like releasing the
doves.
Noelia Suarez (17:44):
Yeah, and there is a purpose for that.
Chris Baker (17:47):
Oh, okay.
Noelia Suarez (17:48):
They have a function in the environment.
Yeah, we just don't think aboutthose things.
Chris Baker (17:56):
What is the?
Noelia Suarez (17:56):
function of a ladybug.
Well, there's more than one,but, for example, on the
milkweed, which is a plant thatfeeds the pollinators, mainly
the monarch butterfly, which isan extinction, it will eat the
iffis, which are small insects.
Yeah, the ladybug will eat theiffis, which are small insects
(18:18):
that grew on the milkweed.
Chris Baker (18:21):
Okay.
Noelia Suarez (18:21):
There is another ladybug that will eat the herb
potato.
The herb potato is an invasivespecies, especially in Snyder
Park.
We work really hard to preventthat to take over the entire
park.
Chris Baker (18:37):
Wow.
Noelia Suarez (18:38):
So every little life has a function.
In my house.
Sometimes I'm like, okay, Ihave enough spiders, I don't
want to kill them, because Iunderstand they have a function
and they need a home.
We took over their home.
Chris Baker (18:56):
We have taken over a lot of animals and insects and
birds' homes.
Noelia Suarez (19:03):
We think we should be the only species and,
oh, we see this, we kill it.
Chris Baker (19:09):
We see this, we, we grab it as a trophy yeah,
that's not always the, it's notalways the right way to look at
it, because we have to actuallystart looking at it, like you
said.
Like honestly, I would havenever thought of the ladybug and
them eating.
You know, a plant that's goingto take over an entire wildlife
(19:31):
and I, and that's just crazy tothink like, okay, this small
little, beautiful little bug isactually saving this entire park
, this, this entire area.
And it's probably not even the.
I mean, there's probably somany more that we just don't
even know about.
Noelia Suarez (19:50):
Exactly, and if you start searching about the
different functionalities ofinsects, you'll be shocked
because you are killing littleinsects, or even a moth has a
function, but we don't know,because I mean, who teaches
those things?
You don't get that in theschool.
(20:12):
No one teaches you theimportance of biodiversity.
It's what we need to thrive ashuman beings.
Without the biodiversity, we'regoing to be in a real difficult
situation.
Chris Baker (20:26):
Wow, you've really kind of like opened my eyes to a
few things that I have notconsidered or thought about,
which is actually a tangiblething that we do, like giving
away wheelchairs.
Noelia Suarez (20:55):
Okay, we have given away 15,000 wheelchairs
this year.
It's more about capturing thedata, it's about all right.
What did you learn from thisprogram, please?
And children don't like to bewriting.
No, especially with literacy.
(21:17):
We understand that reading andwriting is not their strongest
suit, and when it comes towriting, trying to get that
information can be challenging.
We're switching now to adigital system where there is
less of their writing involved,and that I think it's going to
(21:38):
be a great shift.
Chris Baker (21:40):
I'm just thinking that.
I'm like if you could put thison a tablet, an iPad on the
phone it would be so much moreinvolving.
Noelia Suarez (21:48):
Yeah, we're on it , yeah, and so capturing the
data is challenging.
We have done a great job, butI'm always looking at what can
we do better, and I think thiswhat we're doing now with the
digital is what's making theimpact.
Uh, greater we can see better,we can capture more information
(22:11):
and it's also more sustainable,because now you don't hate 100
percent with 100 percent,because now we're not using
paper, we're not killing trees,right?
Have you thought about?
And we'll go back to thechallenges, but have you thought
about toilet paper?
Chris Baker (22:30):
Oh.
Noelia Suarez (22:30):
Toilet paper I hate toilet paper.
Is one of the biggest.
It's huge Problem that treesare being cut down.
Chris Baker (22:41):
I know, like people , there's so much toilet paper
being pulled off the shelves andmade and like created, but and
there are solutions.
If everybody just got a bidetet, you would use less toilet
paper.
You could still have toiletpaper, but you would use a lot
less of it.
You can also get the seedtoilet paper.
There's other options out there, so I'm with you.
Noelia Suarez (23:02):
I'm with you on that well, there are companies
that are investing now in bambooyeah and for many years, many
years, I've been using bambootoilet paper.
Chris Baker (23:14):
That's got to be softer actually.
Noelia Suarez (23:16):
Yeah, it depends on the toilet paper you use, but
it's pretty good.
I'm very happy with the toiletpaper that I use right now and
this company gives 50% of theprofits to children that don't
have toilets.
Chris Baker (23:32):
Oh, wow.
Noelia Suarez (23:33):
It's a win-win.
Yes, very win-win you aretaking care of the environment
and, at the same time, you arepromoting social justice.
Chris Baker (23:41):
Yes.
Noelia Suarez (23:42):
And because of this mindset, I said to myself
how can we create a space forpeople to shop more sustainably?
And we opened a shop.
We opened a shop where we sellsustainable products and,
because I love plants, now wesell plants.
So it's a great space for youto become inspired and make
(24:06):
better choices when it comes toshopping.
Going back to the challengesOkay.
It is challenging to be able toget into the schools, especially
Title I schools, because theygo through a lot of testings.
So sometimes they're able tofind the hour for us and in
(24:26):
occasions they have to cancel itThrough other nonprofits.
I was able to get into sixschools, but that's one of the
challenges.
That right now is we're in areally good situation, but last
year was a little bit difficultfor us to get the door open
(24:46):
because there's a lot of testinggoing on, things that before
COVID didn't exist.
Chris Baker (24:53):
So the COVID kind of put some barriers up.
Yes, okay.
Noelia Suarez (24:58):
That's what I was told.
I was not in the school systembefore COVID, but I was told
that things change after COVID.
Chris Baker (25:07):
Okay, so definitely have to figure out how to work
with those challenges.
So right now you need moreintroductions to those Title I
schools, right?
Noelia Suarez (25:18):
Yes.
Chris Baker (25:19):
And what is the best collaboration partner that
could open those doors for Healthe Planet?
Noelia Suarez (25:26):
Anyone that has contacts with principals.
Chris Baker (25:28):
Okay, so the principal is a good contact.
Yes, one that has contacts withprincipals.
Noelia Suarez (25:30):
Okay, so the principal is a good contact, yes
, and also know that they have acommitment with the nonprofit
world, because a lot of thetimes I believe it is important
that schools feel committed tononprofits.
When we come for free to teachthis program, we we bring
(25:53):
organic food and we do recipesthere.
Children love when we come andthey know they're going to have
a healthy snack yeah and thenhaving their commitment help us
to feel encouraged to come andteach.
right, yeah, and if we have thecollaboration of the teachers
(26:16):
and then they spread the word,then we can continue, maybe
teaching in other classes in thesame school.
Chris Baker (26:23):
It opens up more doors and more conversations.
I love that.
Noelia Suarez (26:27):
That's right.
Chris Baker (26:28):
So what's the future look like?
Noelia Suarez (26:30):
for heal the planet, anything that's coming
up, any programs, any newsustainable efforts there's a
lot of things that we continueto think, like how can, how can
we expand the seed program, andone of the models that we've
been considering is teach theteacher right.
Chris Baker (26:54):
Hmm.
Noelia Suarez (26:55):
It would be great if we can train the teachers to
expand and to basically do thesame thing that we do, but
without us having to be there.
Imagine that part of thecurriculum that we have is
(27:15):
incorporated in their curriculum.
I know it's challenging becauseit starts with changing maybe
the lunch, not so much fast food.
Chris Baker (27:29):
Oh huge.
Noelia Suarez (27:30):
That's a whole nother subject.
Chris Baker (27:32):
It is a whole nother subject, yes, but I think
you're right.
I think if they can startchanging small little things,
and over time I think it couldmake a huge difference.
You know, start with thelunches, start by adding this
into your curriculum, add thisinformation in here.
I mean, all these small littlechanges can make a huge impact
(27:52):
in the long run.
Noelia Suarez (27:53):
Yeah, especially in the schools that we go, when
I ask children what did you havefor breakfast?
Pop-tart hot dog.
Chris Baker (28:01):
People have hot dogs for breakfast.
Noelia Suarez (28:03):
Yes.
Chris Baker (28:04):
Oh my goodness, that does not sound right.
Noelia Suarez (28:06):
No, and we talk about whole foods and many times
when they learn about beforeand after right, what do you
have for breakfast versus whatyou could have?
And children are shifting towhole foods and now they're
incorporating more vegetables ormore fruits in their breakfast.
Chris Baker (28:27):
Yeah, For us it's a win-win.
Yeah, so my last.
Before I get to my lastquestion.
Noelia Suarez (28:32):
Okay.
Chris Baker (28:33):
How can people get involved and contact Heal the
Planet?
Noelia Suarez (28:38):
They can visit our website and we have a
section which is the calendar.
Okay, and there are a lot ofevents that we do.
They can come to any of ourevents and enjoy it, because
everything that we offer is freeof charge, from the nature
tours to the children workshop,to beach cleanups and giving
(29:02):
back.
That way, we also havegardening opportunities for
volunteers.
There's plenty of things to do.
Chris Baker (29:09):
Excellent.
What is the website?
Noelia Suar (29:12):
wwwhealtheplanetcom com.
Yes, com.
Chris Baker (29:17):
So most organizations have an ORG, so I
wanted to double check.
Noelia Suarez (29:20):
It was token, so we couldn't take the work.
Chris Baker (29:25):
So healtheplanetcom for this organization, and is
there a phone number that peoplecan reach out for any
information?
Noelia Suarez (29:32):
Yes, it's a 954-565-2950.
Chris Baker (29:38):
Perfect.
So my last question that I askeverybody that comes on the show
what is the legacy that youwant to leave for future
generations?
And I think you kind of startedto talk about it, but I wanted
you to restate it, if you could.
Noelia Suarez (29:52):
Chris.
Imagine a world where childrenfeel empowered, right?
Imagine if they know that theycan make better choices.
What that world will look like,If they understand that they
matter and they understand thatif you stay connected to the
(30:14):
natural world, you will be in amuch better place.
That's what we do and that'swhy we have Yancits in the park,
because I want children to gettheir hands dirty.
I want children to feelconnected with nature.
I think if we can do that, thenI feel we have done our job.
Chris Baker (30:35):
I love how you use the word empower for the
children, because that wasimpactful.
I really like that.
Noelia Suarez (30:41):
Empower inspired.
Yes.
Chris Baker (30:44):
Lilia, thank you so much for coming on the show.
This was very inspiring.
I learned new information thatI did not know, which is
fantastic.
So again, thank you so much foryour time.
Noelia Suarez (30:55):
Well, thank you for having us.
It's been a pleasure.
Chris Baker (30:59):
Thank you for joining me on this episode of
Visualize.
We hope that the inspirationand practical insights can help
you foster stronger connectionsand meaningful change.
Don't forget to subscribe,share the episode and leave us a
review.
To learn more about Visuals byMomo and how we support
collaboration and storytelling,visit visualsbymomocom.
(31:20):
A huge thank you to everyoneout there listening.
Until next time, remember,collaboration fuels change and
your connections can inspire theworld.
Chris Baker, and each week we'll explore
incredible connections betweennonprofits, businesses and the
community.
This is a space where wehighlight inspiring partnerships
, uncover strategies forcreating meaningful impact and
share stories that show howworking together can make all
the difference.
Whether you're a nonprofitleader, a business owner or
(00:28):
someone just passionate aboutbuilding connections, this
podcast is for you.
Welcome back to another episodeof Visual Eyes.
Today I have Noelia Suarez fromHeal the Planet.
Welcome.
Noelia Suarez (00:43):
Thank you so much , Chris, for inviting us.
This is such a treat.
Chris Baker (00:47):
I would love us to start the conversation a little
bit with how did you start yourjourney into the nonprofit?
Noelia Suarez (00:54):
Well, this actually started in my early 20s
.
I realized at a very young ageI love to give back.
It was very rewarding andthrough friends I learned about
being a mentor to a young child,and that's exactly what I did.
I was a mentor for three yearsto a very young girl and it was
(01:15):
very inspiring.
And after that I learned aboutother opportunities to give back
and, for example, I was avolunteer for a human society.
I had quite a few dogs in myhouse and I walk around with
dogs.
One of the other things I didwas through the university I was
attending is to put togetherthe faculties with our Basel.
(01:37):
That was a great thing to dobecause it gave exposure to the
university and all kinds ofactivities relating to how I can
make a difference.
There was another work.
In this case it was allvolunteering.
I was introduced to Heal thePlanet and when I learned about
(02:00):
their mission, it resonated withme because I was already living
a lifestyle wheresustainability was part of that.
I was carrying my own shoppingbags.
I was not using plastic.
Chris Baker (02:14):
Yeah.
Noelia Suarez (02:14):
And I was eating healthy, I was exercising, so
all that was very natural andI'm like, wow, this is actually
working on the place I want tobe Like.
I want a world that looks likeHill the Planet, where everybody
is conscious of their choices,and I was introduced to the
founder and it was a great match.
Chris Baker (02:38):
Can you tell a little bit more of the story
about when you got introduced tothe founder and how that
perspired?
Noelia Suarez (02:44):
about when you got introduced to the founder
and how that perspired.
Yes, so I was in anothernonprofit called the Gratitude
Project.
We were doing work to helpchildren in South Africa.
We fundraised in one event alot of money to build two
shelters in South Africa and wehad about 900 patients monthly
that we were taking care of.
Chris Baker (03:03):
Yes.
Noelia Suarez (03:05):
It was a wonderful experience.
I did it for a few years andthe founder of the gratitude
project knew Ken and she saidyou have to meet Ken, and we
went for a beach walk.
Okay, and that's how we wereintroduced.
And yeah, that's.
The rest is history.
Chris Baker (03:25):
One of the things that you mentioned that's very
important is keepingsustainability, keeping the
healing, helping the planet, andone of the biggest things that
comes to my mind specifically iswe're going to have to keep
this place safe for the youth,like the future generations have
(03:46):
to keep this place safe for theyouth, like the future
generations, like if we don'tstart doing things now, what is
this place going to look like 50years from now, 100 years from
now?
Noelia Suarez (03:52):
It is very scary and actually, when I visit the
schools, one of the things I sayto the children is what I'm
doing now, I'm not doing it forme, I'm doing it for you,
because I think if we don't givethe children education, their
future is not going to be pretty.
(04:15):
We understand that biodiversityis crucial for the environment.
Chris Baker (04:20):
It is.
Noelia Suarez (04:21):
And at the pace that we're going, there's marine
life that's going to beextinguished, all kinds of
things.
We all understand theimportance of pollinators, but
how many people really plant thenectar plants that pollinators
need?
Chris Baker (04:39):
right right.
Noelia Suarez (04:40):
So there's a.
I mean I can speak all day longabout how every action that we
make, everything has a rippleeffect.
Chris Baker (04:50):
Yeah, sometimes we look at something just because
the beauty of it, but does itactually help the planet?
Or are we hurting the planet byplanting too many of something
that we find just so gorgeous?
And it's taking that educationpiece into you know, into our
mind, and going, okay, this isreally going to hurt my children
(05:10):
, my grandchildren.
Noelia Suarez (05:12):
Absolutely, and even the founder does not have
any children, but he's veryconcerned about what the future
looks like.
And I don't have any children,but I do want to leave this
planet better than I found it,and it's my job as a citizen to
educate and inspire, because, atthe end of the day, we don't
(05:34):
want to be lecturing people.
Chris Baker (05:36):
No, we don't.
Noelia Suarez (05:36):
We want to inspire them.
Chris Baker (05:40):
That's where we actually get a chance to really
make the hugest difference, whenwe actually connect with them
on an inspiration, emotionallevel that they can like oh, I
do need to make that change.
A lot of people just hear thedata and the facts and they're
like, okay, but they don't thinkabout it and unfortunately,
that's one of the things thatyou know.
(06:00):
It's very important for us toget that data so that we can
prove it, you know, togovernment and to other agencies
and everything else, but whenwe're trying to connect to the
daily person to make a change,we need to connect to them on
that story, inspiration,emotional level, whatever it has
to be for them to go.
It clicked, I get it now.
Noelia Suarez (06:23):
A hundred percent .
And one of the scary things iswe believe that someone else's
will do the job, because we feelvery small, we think, oh, I'm
not going to make a difference.
Chris Baker (06:37):
It does.
Noelia Suarez (06:38):
Every little thing that we do makes a
difference.
Chris Baker (06:42):
Oh yeah.
Noelia Suarez (06:43):
It's hard to see it because the fact that I'm not
using all the time Publix perse shopping bags, I know by now
I probably save over a thousandbags of plastic and they say,
reuse it.
But most people don't reuse it.
They end up you know where.
Chris Baker (07:06):
In the garbage, in the ocean, the ocean.
Noelia Suarez (07:07):
Oh, that's even worse I've did a cleanup and the
number one thing we got out ofthe coastline were shopping bags
plastic was it and straws.
Let's not go, even, even yeahto the straw subject, because
that one can go deep that onecan go deep.
That one can go deep.
I'm very disappointed aboutthat because we have seen a
(07:30):
shift in consciousness with thatlittle thing.
But it doesn't take a hugeeffort for you to say not to
straws or not to plastic.
Chris Baker (07:47):
It's about education and understanding that
the small acts can make a hugedifference.
Yeah, and I'm very appreciativeof when I go to you know a
restaurant or go to a bar thathave biodegradable straws, or
you know bags or to-go boxes,whatever the case may be that
I'm like you know, I appreciatethat.
Yes, it may cost me an extrafew cents or a dollar, whatever
(08:10):
it's going to be, but I knowit's making a difference as well
, so I appreciate those.
I remember several years back Iwent out just before I went on
a cruise and the place was likewe don't use straws at all and
if you want to buy a metal strawfor a dollar, you can buy a
metal straw for a dollar.
And I still have that metalstraw in my bag.
(08:33):
And I was like I've never heardof a place, say I, we don't
carry straws.
But I was so inspired.
I was like I'm going to keepthis and I know exactly where it
is.
It's in my bag, I can take itwherever I go, and that's
something that I feel was veryimportant to me.
Noelia Suarez (08:51):
Yes, I feel everyone, especially big
companies, be responsible andliable.
Chris Baker (08:59):
That's a good word.
Noelia Suarez (09:00):
That's actually heavy right.
It's a heavy word, but it'strue but it's true, because they
have the power to createchanges.
They do, yeah, and we have tomake sure they are accountable.
Chris Baker (09:14):
Right, you bring up a very good point.
So how is Heal the Planettrying to hold some of those
companies to be more accountableor reliable?
Noelia Suarez (09:26):
We are a very small nonprofit.
Nevertheless we make sure that,at least at the student levels,
we go to Broward schools.
Chris Baker (09:35):
Yes.
Noelia Suarez (09:36):
Mainly Title I schools, to give them the tools
for them to make better choices.
We tell them you need toexercise, you need to eat
healthy, because if you're nothealthy you're not going to
perform as well.
We talk about mindfulness.
Chris Baker (09:54):
So important.
Noelia Suarez (09:55):
And, of course, sustainability.
Sometimes, when I go to theschools, I'm not an educator,
but I like to go because I wantto understand what the situation
is in the schools.
I'm not the educator, but Ilike to go because I want to
understand what the situation isin the schools as much as
possible, because that's a wayto always improve.
Okay, we're doing this.
How come I'm doing better?
And I always take my backpackwith me and I take all the
(10:18):
reusable stuff and they look atme like what is that reusable
stuff?
And they look at me like whatis that?
And I explain to them.
So if we give them at a youngage tools, then they understand
that they can go back home andmake a better choice, not only
for themselves but also for theplanet.
I heard more than one timechildren thinking More than one
(10:41):
time children thinking I got tostop using plastic.
Chris Baker (10:44):
Yeah, that's music to my ears, honestly, because,
in truth, if we can make thatimpression on our youth, we have
a better chance for the futureFor them, for the whole planet,
and we have to start there in alot of different ways.
I mean, we can work with thecompanies that are currently out
(11:06):
there, trying to get them tomake some shifts and changes, to
make better choices.
One of my favorite places toactually go shopping is Aldi.
They don't have any plasticbags.
I know I love it and I forcemyself.
I buy a reusable bag.
I have six in my car.
Good, I always bring them up tomy apartment when I'm bringing
(11:28):
up the groceries, and then I youknow, if I forget one, I at
least have a few more in the car.
But I bring them back down andI reuse them, and I reuse them.
I reuse them for almosteverything, like.
I'm kind of like forced myselfinto that habit.
Noelia Suarez (11:49):
And that's where the really thing that has to
change and you have to force itinto habit to actually make a
bigger difference and a biggerimpact.
Yes, and it may start thatsmall right like the straw, yes,
the shopping bag, okay.
Now how about if I look alittle bit more, because there
are options out there?
Which is'm not educated?
I have plenty of things in myhead because I educate myself
throughout the years.
Yeah, and the motivation is Iwant animals to have
(12:13):
opportunities, and I say animalsbecause there are many of the
species are in extinction.
Chris Baker (12:19):
Yeah, they're gone.
Right, they're going to comeback.
That could be due to thatplastic bag.
It could be due to you know,many different things.
One of the things I still do,and I still do to this day I
don't love it when the pop canshave the six-pack plastic thing.
Noelia Suarez (12:38):
I know.
Chris Baker (12:39):
Because I always see in my head a duck or some
type of getting stuck.
And so every time I see that,see that in anything I buy, I'm
like, oh, why did you do that?
But the first thing I do is Icut it up.
I have to cut it up because I'mlike, regardless, if it's going
out, I'm not going to let ananimal get stuck in this Like
(12:59):
it's just not going to happenyes, that's exactly what I do.
Noelia Suarez (13:02):
Everything that I buy I there's.
There's a big effort when youdon't shop everything that is
out there that contains plastic,because it requires you to
rethink about how you shop in.
And if at some point I have toshop something that has a
plastic and then with a circle,I always cut it because I know
(13:23):
that they get caught up in thatand it's so sad because you see
them in pictures, that theythey're growing and they're
struggling yeah, because ifnobody's there to take it off
and they were a, they were achick and they were just a baby,
and then they grow up yeah,it's not strangling them and
it's just.
Chris Baker (13:41):
Oh, I can't even imagine yeah.
Noelia Suarez (13:44):
And a lot of people have said to me well,
most of the plastic in the oceanis from the fisheries.
I'm like, ok, I get that, butif you know you can prevent from
one animal not to ingestplastic and that animal will
survive, why don't you make thatchange?
(14:04):
It's uh I think it's easier atthe end of the day to take the
easy way out, but the truth is,when you look, when you look
back, you want to see if yourchoices were the best for the
environment and futuregenerations.
Chris Baker (14:22):
So, as you guys are working to, you know, bring
sustainability into the realityof Broward County.
What are some of thecollaboration efforts that
you've had?
The opportunity of working withother nonprofits, for-profits,
to make actual changes.
Noelia Suarez (14:38):
One of the greatest partners and
collaborators we have is BrowardCounty Public Schools, because
that's where we go and we teachthe SEED program.
This is a six-week program and,like I said before, it's about
mindfulness, nutrition, andhaving their partnership is key
Because without them, we have avery limited access to children.
(15:00):
Right, we have Young Seeds inthe Park, which is another
program Through the City of FortLauderdale.
We have a small satelliteoffice at Snyder Park and twice
a month, on the second Wednesdayand fourth Saturday, we do
Young Seeds in the Park.
(15:21):
So that's a great collaborationwith the city of Fort
Lauderdale.
Chris Baker (15:24):
Yeah.
Noelia Suarez (15:25):
And at the same time, we do beach cleanups with
them.
So we get a lot of companiesreaching out, bringing their
employees and trying to make adifference in that three-hour
window that we are on the secondSaturday when we do the events
Earth Day celebration we bring alot of other nonprofits that
(15:46):
are similar to us.
It's about education, creatingawareness and how we can make
better choices Differentorganizations that promote
biodiversity, like the SouthFlorida Wildlife Center.
Yeah biodiversity, like thesubflora wildlife center.
(16:07):
Yeah, they come and theyeducate the people about how can
you protect the wildlife, right, we don't think about that.
We think, oh, there's a littlebird.
I have killed a bird, thinkingI was helping him.
I was feeding the bird.
But they, they are certain waysyou're supposed to feed the
bird so it won't die.
And I learned that I was doingthe right thing I mean the wrong
thing when I started bringingthe Wildlife Center to our
(16:32):
workshops because they wereshowing how it was supposed to
be done.
Chris Baker (16:35):
That's interesting.
Honestly, I don't even know howyou would feed a bird, so
that's very interesting.
Noelia Suarez (16:42):
Yeah, they teach.
Right, and that's a small thing, right?
Sure, and I bought a lump.
I bought the right tools tomake this bird grow and I killed
it because I didn't have theeducation.
So partnering withorganizations that will prevent
this, that will educate thecommunity, is key.
(17:05):
We also bring, for example,colossal Academy.
They have a great system, adifferent system from what is
the regular schools, and theyeducate children about compost,
planting their own food.
Chris Baker (17:20):
Yes, Planting their own food?
Noelia Suarez (17:21):
Yes, Mindfulness and they come and they do
different activities, like oneof the greatest things they did
it was a bag ladybug release.
Chris Baker (17:33):
Okay.
Noelia Suarez (17:34):
It was so popular .
Everyone was around thisteacher releasing the ladybugs.
Oh interesting, it's kind oflike releasing the doves.
Yeah, and there is a purposeforugs.
Chris Baker (17:42):
Oh interesting, it's kind of like releasing the
doves.
Noelia Suarez (17:44):
Yeah, and there is a purpose for that.
Chris Baker (17:47):
Oh, okay.
Noelia Suarez (17:48):
They have a function in the environment.
Yeah, we just don't think aboutthose things.
Chris Baker (17:56):
What is the?
Noelia Suarez (17:56):
function of a ladybug.
Well, there's more than one,but, for example, on the
milkweed, which is a plant thatfeeds the pollinators, mainly
the monarch butterfly, which isan extinction, it will eat the
iffis, which are small insects.
Yeah, the ladybug will eat theiffis, which are small insects
(18:18):
that grew on the milkweed.
Chris Baker (18:21):
Okay.
Noelia Suarez (18:21):
There is another ladybug that will eat the herb
potato.
The herb potato is an invasivespecies, especially in Snyder
Park.
We work really hard to preventthat to take over the entire
park.
Chris Baker (18:37):
Wow.
Noelia Suarez (18:38):
So every little life has a function.
In my house.
Sometimes I'm like, okay, Ihave enough spiders, I don't
want to kill them, because Iunderstand they have a function
and they need a home.
We took over their home.
Chris Baker (18:56):
We have taken over a lot of animals and insects and
birds' homes.
Noelia Suarez (19:03):
We think we should be the only species and,
oh, we see this, we kill it.
Chris Baker (19:09):
We see this, we, we grab it as a trophy yeah,
that's not always the, it's notalways the right way to look at
it, because we have to actuallystart looking at it, like you
said.
Like honestly, I would havenever thought of the ladybug and
them eating.
You know, a plant that's goingto take over an entire wildlife
(19:31):
and I, and that's just crazy tothink like, okay, this small
little, beautiful little bug isactually saving this entire park
, this, this entire area.
And it's probably not even the.
I mean, there's probably somany more that we just don't
even know about.
Noelia Suarez (19:50):
Exactly, and if you start searching about the
different functionalities ofinsects, you'll be shocked
because you are killing littleinsects, or even a moth has a
function, but we don't know,because I mean, who teaches
those things?
You don't get that in theschool.
(20:12):
No one teaches you theimportance of biodiversity.
It's what we need to thrive ashuman beings.
Without the biodiversity, we'regoing to be in a real difficult
situation.
Chris Baker (20:26):
Wow, you've really kind of like opened my eyes to a
few things that I have notconsidered or thought about,
which is actually a tangiblething that we do, like giving
away wheelchairs.
Noelia Suarez (20:55):
Okay, we have given away 15,000 wheelchairs
this year.
It's more about capturing thedata, it's about all right.
What did you learn from thisprogram, please?
And children don't like to bewriting.
No, especially with literacy.
(21:17):
We understand that reading andwriting is not their strongest
suit, and when it comes towriting, trying to get that
information can be challenging.
We're switching now to adigital system where there is
less of their writing involved,and that I think it's going to
(21:38):
be a great shift.
Chris Baker (21:40):
I'm just thinking that.
I'm like if you could put thison a tablet, an iPad on the
phone it would be so much moreinvolving.
Noelia Suarez (21:48):
Yeah, we're on it , yeah, and so capturing the
data is challenging.
We have done a great job, butI'm always looking at what can
we do better, and I think thiswhat we're doing now with the
digital is what's making theimpact.
Uh, greater we can see better,we can capture more information
(22:11):
and it's also more sustainable,because now you don't hate 100
percent with 100 percent,because now we're not using
paper, we're not killing trees,right?
Have you thought about?
And we'll go back to thechallenges, but have you thought
about toilet paper?
Chris Baker (22:30):
Oh.
Noelia Suarez (22:30):
Toilet paper I hate toilet paper.
Is one of the biggest.
It's huge Problem that treesare being cut down.
Chris Baker (22:41):
I know, like people , there's so much toilet paper
being pulled off the shelves andmade and like created, but and
there are solutions.
If everybody just got a bidetet, you would use less toilet
paper.
You could still have toiletpaper, but you would use a lot
less of it.
You can also get the seedtoilet paper.
There's other options out there, so I'm with you.
Noelia Suarez (23:02):
I'm with you on that well, there are companies
that are investing now in bambooyeah and for many years, many
years, I've been using bambootoilet paper.
Chris Baker (23:14):
That's got to be softer actually.
Noelia Suarez (23:16):
Yeah, it depends on the toilet paper you use, but
it's pretty good.
I'm very happy with the toiletpaper that I use right now and
this company gives 50% of theprofits to children that don't
have toilets.
Chris Baker (23:32):
Oh, wow.
Noelia Suarez (23:33):
It's a win-win.
Yes, very win-win you aretaking care of the environment
and, at the same time, you arepromoting social justice.
Chris Baker (23:41):
Yes.
Noelia Suarez (23:42):
And because of this mindset, I said to myself
how can we create a space forpeople to shop more sustainably?
And we opened a shop.
We opened a shop where we sellsustainable products and,
because I love plants, now wesell plants.
So it's a great space for youto become inspired and make
(24:06):
better choices when it comes toshopping.
Going back to the challengesOkay.
It is challenging to be able toget into the schools, especially
Title I schools, because theygo through a lot of testings.
So sometimes they're able tofind the hour for us and in
(24:26):
occasions they have to cancel itThrough other nonprofits.
I was able to get into sixschools, but that's one of the
challenges.
That right now is we're in areally good situation, but last
year was a little bit difficultfor us to get the door open
(24:46):
because there's a lot of testinggoing on, things that before
COVID didn't exist.
Chris Baker (24:53):
So the COVID kind of put some barriers up.
Yes, okay.
Noelia Suarez (24:58):
That's what I was told.
I was not in the school systembefore COVID, but I was told
that things change after COVID.
Chris Baker (25:07):
Okay, so definitely have to figure out how to work
with those challenges.
So right now you need moreintroductions to those Title I
schools, right?
Noelia Suarez (25:18):
Yes.
Chris Baker (25:19):
And what is the best collaboration partner that
could open those doors for Healthe Planet?
Noelia Suarez (25:26):
Anyone that has contacts with principals.
Chris Baker (25:28):
Okay, so the principal is a good contact.
Yes, one that has contacts withprincipals.
Noelia Suarez (25:30):
Okay, so the principal is a good contact, yes
, and also know that they have acommitment with the nonprofit
world, because a lot of thetimes I believe it is important
that schools feel committed tononprofits.
When we come for free to teachthis program, we we bring
(25:53):
organic food and we do recipesthere.
Children love when we come andthey know they're going to have
a healthy snack yeah and thenhaving their commitment help us
to feel encouraged to come andteach.
right, yeah, and if we have thecollaboration of the teachers
(26:16):
and then they spread the word,then we can continue, maybe
teaching in other classes in thesame school.
Chris Baker (26:23):
It opens up more doors and more conversations.
I love that.
Noelia Suarez (26:27):
That's right.
Chris Baker (26:28):
So what's the future look like?
Noelia Suarez (26:30):
for heal the planet, anything that's coming
up, any programs, any newsustainable efforts there's a
lot of things that we continueto think, like how can, how can
we expand the seed program, andone of the models that we've
been considering is teach theteacher right.
Chris Baker (26:54):
Hmm.
Noelia Suarez (26:55):
It would be great if we can train the teachers to
expand and to basically do thesame thing that we do, but
without us having to be there.
Imagine that part of thecurriculum that we have is
(27:15):
incorporated in their curriculum.
I know it's challenging becauseit starts with changing maybe
the lunch, not so much fast food.
Chris Baker (27:29):
Oh huge.
Noelia Suarez (27:30):
That's a whole nother subject.
Chris Baker (27:32):
It is a whole nother subject, yes, but I think
you're right.
I think if they can startchanging small little things,
and over time I think it couldmake a huge difference.
You know, start with thelunches, start by adding this
into your curriculum, add thisinformation in here.
I mean, all these small littlechanges can make a huge impact
(27:52):
in the long run.
Noelia Suarez (27:53):
Yeah, especially in the schools that we go, when
I ask children what did you havefor breakfast?
Pop-tart hot dog.
Chris Baker (28:01):
People have hot dogs for breakfast.
Noelia Suarez (28:03):
Yes.
Chris Baker (28:04):
Oh my goodness, that does not sound right.
Noelia Suarez (28:06):
No, and we talk about whole foods and many times
when they learn about beforeand after right, what do you
have for breakfast versus whatyou could have?
And children are shifting towhole foods and now they're
incorporating more vegetables ormore fruits in their breakfast.
Chris Baker (28:27):
Yeah, For us it's a win-win.
Yeah, so my last.
Before I get to my lastquestion.
Noelia Suarez (28:32):
Okay.
Chris Baker (28:33):
How can people get involved and contact Heal the
Planet?
Noelia Suarez (28:38):
They can visit our website and we have a
section which is the calendar.
Okay, and there are a lot ofevents that we do.
They can come to any of ourevents and enjoy it, because
everything that we offer is freeof charge, from the nature
tours to the children workshop,to beach cleanups and giving
(29:02):
back.
That way, we also havegardening opportunities for
volunteers.
There's plenty of things to do.
Chris Baker (29:09):
Excellent.
What is the website?
Noelia Suar (29:12):
wwwhealtheplanetcom com.
Yes, com.
Chris Baker (29:17):
So most organizations have an ORG, so I
wanted to double check.
Noelia Suarez (29:20):
It was token, so we couldn't take the work.
Chris Baker (29:25):
So healtheplanetcom for this organization, and is
there a phone number that peoplecan reach out for any
information?
Noelia Suarez (29:32):
Yes, it's a 954-565-2950.
Chris Baker (29:38):
Perfect.
So my last question that I askeverybody that comes on the show
what is the legacy that youwant to leave for future
generations?
And I think you kind of startedto talk about it, but I wanted
you to restate it, if you could.
Noelia Suarez (29:52):
Chris.
Imagine a world where childrenfeel empowered, right?
Imagine if they know that theycan make better choices.
What that world will look like,If they understand that they
matter and they understand thatif you stay connected to the
(30:14):
natural world, you will be in amuch better place.
That's what we do and that'swhy we have Yancits in the park,
because I want children to gettheir hands dirty.
I want children to feelconnected with nature.
I think if we can do that, thenI feel we have done our job.
Chris Baker (30:35):
I love how you use the word empower for the
children, because that wasimpactful.
I really like that.
Noelia Suarez (30:41):
Empower inspired.
Yes.
Chris Baker (30:44):
Lilia, thank you so much for coming on the show.
This was very inspiring.
I learned new information thatI did not know, which is
fantastic.
So again, thank you so much foryour time.
Noelia Suarez (30:55):
Well, thank you for having us.
It's been a pleasure.
Chris Baker (30:59):
Thank you for joining me on this episode of
Visualize.
We hope that the inspirationand practical insights can help
you foster stronger connectionsand meaningful change.
Don't forget to subscribe,share the episode and leave us a
review.
To learn more about Visuals byMomo and how we support
collaboration and storytelling,visit visualsbymomocom.
(31:20):
A huge thank you to everyoneout there listening.
Until next time, remember,collaboration fuels change and
your connections can inspire theworld.
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