Choice Humanitarian creates pragmatic solutions to help the world’s poorest.
Tim Valentiner, an executive at dōTERRA who has experience and advanced degrees in international development, stepped on to his career path in 1990 when he was 10. His parents saw a Salt Lake television report about Choice Humanitarian’s work in impoverished villages in Central America. Moved by the report, they decided to take the family on a Choice “expedition” to work side-by-side for a week with villagers to improve lives—the villagers’ and the Valentiners’. “My parents’ goal was to try to help us kids have a more global perspective—that the world is much bigger than Cottonwood Heights,” Valentiner recalls. “They wanted us to have a first-hand look at poverty and how people cope with it.”
For the next decade, the Valentiner family went on an expedition every year. “It had a huge impact on me growing up,” he recalls. Valentiner ultimately studied international development at the University of Utah and went on to the John Hopkins School of International Development. He worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development and later with the World Bank in the Latin American region. “A lot of my perspective I got as a kid,” he says. “My experience with Choice led me to go to school and work professionally in the same kind of programs.”
As director of strategic sourcing at Pleasant Grove-based dōTERRA, a multi-level marketing company that sells essential-oils products, Valentiner has come full circle. He works closely with Choice to source dōTERRA’s essential oils from villages in Nepal and Guatemala under the company’s ethical supply-chain initiative. DōTERRA buysdirectly from the villages at fair market price and offers its distributors trips to the villages where they work alongside the farmers. It couldn’t be done without Choice’s on-the-ground presence, Valentiner says.“The expeditions are a huge hit. [Distributors] get to see first hand the impact their dollars are having. They see the supply chain. And they see that the villages are directly benefiting from dōTERRA’s supply chain.”
It’s the ultimate success story for Choice Humanitarian’s no-nonsense Chief Executive Leah Barker: A 10-year-old Utahn’s life is fundamentally changed by a Choice expedition. He not only goes on to study international development, but later joins a company at which he makes the Choice model a key part of his corporation’s culture. One Utah family’s Choice experience has led to markets for village businesses and a connection to a powerful charitable foundation that help sustain them on a path out of extreme poverty.
Nearly every major company and foundation in Utah has sent somebody on a [Choice] expedition, Barker says. “Companies are looking to offer their employees experiences that will build and strengthen their corporate culture,” she says. “They see it as a way to cement strong relationships with employees.”
Symbiotic compassion
To foster team building and a marketing message of social involvement and sustainability, dōTERRA works with Choice to send its distributors (“wellness advocates”) to the villages in Nepal and Guatemala that harvest its core product.“DōTERRA’s people are going to meet the farmers. They are going to the distilleries to see the oil come out,” Barker says. “And when they return home, they’re going to sell a ton more essential oil for dōTERRA.”
Note, it’s not that Choice is endorsing dōTERRA’s products—it’s only one of dozens of companies that are working with the non-profit’s partner villages. Barker sees this partnering as a sustainable way to fund international development. “DōTERRA is going to make sure these farmers are healthy and that their kids have access to education. They have a vested interested to provide for the village’s unmet needs,” Barker says. That her eyes gleam like a three-card monte dealer as she describes the corporate largess doesn’t change that villages are being lifted from poverty. The personal transformation of hundreds of Utah “expeditioners” and the villagers they befriend is icing.
Not surprisingly, any marketing message corporate partners exploit comes with Barker’s blessing. “I don’t care if Choice doesn’t get the credit,” she says in a conspiratorial tone. “As long as we are helping these villages and improving the lives of people—they can call it whatever they want. You can white label Choice—just give us money.”
Barker would love to see this symbiotic relationship (she calls it “matchmaking”) between corporations, villages and Choice “become a different model for non-profit funding—instead of having these annoying galas.”
Doing good that lasts
Choice Humanitarian, which has operated from Utah for 30 years, reaches out to more than 1,700 villages in seven countries where villagers in extreme poverty live on $1.90 or less a day. The Choice humanitarian model requires the communities find their own paths out of poverty. Every adult must take part in the decision making. “We are invited in. We don’t create dependency,” says Barker. “We develop the natural leadership of these communities and ask them to come together and create a three- to five-year plan for what they believe they need to move out of poverty.” The goal of the programs is sustainability—the villages must make their school, hospital, farm or water system pay its own way. “They must turn one dollar into five,” Barker says.
Choice only puts one percent of its effort into mounting its trademark expeditions. Ninety-nine percent is leadership building in the villages, Barker says. But the expedition visits bring in $2 million of Choice’s $6 million budget. And the visits provide an unbreakable link between Utah individuals and businesses and the villagers, she says. “When people from this side of the world are exposed to these villages, they are transformed. And it deeply cements the relationship that expeditioners have with Choice Humanitarian.”
But Barker says, “Our expedition model should not be confused with poverty tourism. On an expedition, everyone is equal. Everybody is sleeping on an air mattress on the floor, and everybody is there to work and to serve and to immerse themselves in the village’s future. The community leads on the project. And, by golly, they are the authors of their lives, and they are carrying this out.”
Which is why you won’t find a school, hospital or even a goat farm with “Choice Humanitarian” lettered above the door. “We tell the governments when they are involved, ‘You can take all the political gain,’“ Barker says. “None of the buildings are called Choice Humanitarian. They are owned by the community.” And that means the entire community. Choice will not work just with the village’s leaders or a faction. “If we see the village is not united, we turn around and walk out. I’ve seen it.”
“The process of moving people out of extreme poverty is not a quick fix,” Barker says. “They have to shift centuries and generations of paradigms that are no longer serving them well—while preserving their culture.”
If you've never been to @dokidessert, I can assure you- you're missing out. ⠀
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Doki Doki is one of Salt Lake City’s most authentic Japanese bakeries. And the authenticity shows through their delicately handcrafted pastries and cakes. Plus- fluffy pancakes, can it get any better? ⠀
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Check the link in bio for a fun little write up! ⠀
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Meet 9th & 9th's newest, cutest, tastiest "hole-in-the-wall" (quite literally)! @piefightslc is serving up delicious hand pies packed with flavor 🥊⠀
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You can eat a pie and go for a walk at the same time- who knew?! 🥧⠀
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Check the link in bio for our little review!...
People used to say a group of hobbits smoked their pipe weed and padded around on their furry feet in this little cul de sac off 1300 East near Westminster. Others claimed a family of Little People lived there and would chase away outsiders and curiosity-seekers who happened in.⠀
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But, actually, the eccentric street of tiny houses are on a wooded lot once owned by George Allen, a doctor and animal lover (he was instrumental in founding @hoglezoo and @tracyaviary) He and his family lived in the log cabin and rented out the little houses to students or anyone who wanted to live in such a small space.⠀
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Check the link in bio for full story....
Our Jan/Feb issue is out on stands now! This issue means so much to us. Made with lots of love and tears. We hope you’ll grab a copy and enjoy every moment of reading it. ❤️...
This is what our NYE looks like. Staying in with a @meat_my_cheese_utah charcuterie board ⭐🤤🥂⠀
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We’re incredibly lucky to have local culinary-craftswomen here in the Salt Lake area, like @mavenoakcreative and @meat_my_cheese_utah. Handcrafting each charcuterie board and box to perfection. Making every stay-at-home birthday, anniversary, date-night and holiday feel that much more elegant. 🧀🍇🥖⠀
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Check the link in bio to meet Salt Lake's artisan charcuterie masters!...
Holding back tears, the owner of our beloved Himalayan Kitchen, Surya Bastakoti, told @fox13now that they "might go out of business" ⠀
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Himalayan Kitchen has long been one of our favorite local restaurants. A trusty go-to for lunch or after work drinks and a heart-warming dinner. A place to bring out-of-towners (veg and vegan friendly) for a special experience only found here in SLC. Always filling, with a true sense of nourishment in every bite. Food to feel good about.
EVERYTHING on their menu is full of flavor and authenticity. Himalayan Kitchen’s cuisine is required to be authentic because it’s a gathering place for the Salt Lake City Nepali and the local climbing community. They know Nepal.⠀
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COVID-19 has completely devastated our local restaurant community—these are our friends and family. Help them out. If you have the means, order something yummy for NYE dinner and support Himalayan Kitchen or any of your favorite local restaurants. ⠀
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Go to saltlakemagazine.com and look in the Eat & Drink section for a list of what restaurants are serving and then make a phone call, order online, etc. ⠀
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Go to the link in bio to order online now!...
Here's one from our upcoming Jan/Feb issue out on stands in just a few days. We hope you’ll grab a copy and enjoy every moment of reading it.
Mary photobombs Lisa Barlow at the premiere party for Real Housewives of Salt Lake. Below is a snippet from Mary's last editor's letter:
"It’s all a little crazy.
Sometime in 2020, the world stopped making sense for a lot of us. Between one of the ugliest election cycles the U.S. has ever been through and the most mysterious disease most of us have ever experienced, normal was canceled. We can’t get together with friends, hug our loved ones, be in the room with them when they die. But somehow we have to go on, right? Somehow we have to continue to work and love and laugh. This issue of Salt Lake magazine holds a lot of frivolity, the main one being an extremely silly TV show, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. There I am in a pink fur coat in a car with our cover housewife, Lisa Barlow and her boys."
Pick up our Jan/Feb issue at your local grocer and read the full letter. ❤️
Link in bio to subscribe....
Merry Christmas Eve-Eve. We absolutely loved seeing all of your gingerbread homes! Thank you for sharing!⠀
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The winner of a 1 year subscription to Salt Lake mag will be announced in our story!...
Skip the milk and cookies this holiday and leave out something that Santa really wants 🍺😉🎅
Check out our local holiday beer round up for last minute gift ideas! Link in bio!...
Mary's last-minute holiday gift ideas from last year are still as true and relevant today...
"The planet we live with and the creatures on it need all kinds of things. Polar bears need presents, tree frogs in the Amazon need gifts, our Utah canyons and our national parks need help."
Check the link in bio for full write up....
🎶On the LAST day of giveaways Salt Lake mag gave to me...🎶⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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$100 to @slcharbor 😋🍪☕️
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⭐ Entry deadline will be at 10PM. The winner will be announced at 11:59PM and a new prize will be posted in the AM each day!...
🎶On the 11th day of giveaways Salt Lake mag gave to me...🎶⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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$100 to @streuselslc 😋🍪☕️
Streusel Bakery located at 67 w 1700 s! Support local and get pastries, cookies and a little bit of sass at this beautiful judgement free bakery!
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⭐ Entry deadline will be at 10PM. The winner will be announced at 11:59PM and a new prize will be posted in the AM each day!...
🎶On the 10th day of giveaways Salt Lake mag gave to me...🎶⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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1 Free month at Maven Create @mavencreate
Maven Create is a unique, open office space designed to inspire and empower!
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⭐ Entry deadline will be at 10PM. The winner will be announced at 11:59PM and a new prize will be posted in the AM each day!...
🎶On the ninth day of giveaways Salt Lake mag gave to me...🎶⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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1 box of @maddoughslc doughnuts for 4 weeks!! 🍩
We’re so excited to have teamed up with @maddoughslc for this awesome giveaway treat! Mad Dough launched back in April! Mad Dough serves up top quality Bismark style doughnuts with flavors inspired by favorite childhood treats 💖 The perfect gift to brighten someone’s day (or brighten your own day)! Support this awesome small business this holiday!
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⭐ Entry deadline will be at 10PM. The winner will be announced at 11:59PM and a new prize will be posted in the AM each day!...
🎶On the eighth day of giveaways Salt Lake mag gave to me...🎶⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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A beautiful essential gift set from the wonderful @acrelyfarms 🌿
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Here's the idea: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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There was never a time there wasn’t Mary Malouf. Until now. Today, Mary died when a rogue wave swept her out to sea off the coast of Northern California. Only she – perhaps the world’s foremost lover of Bronte, BBC mysteries and, of course, Moby Dick – would appreciate such poetic drama.
“I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing.” — Mary Brown Malouf. Ooops. Herman Mellville....
🎶On the seventh day of giveaways Salt Lake mag gave to me...🎶⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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⛳️ (2) 9 Hole Rounds at @saltlakecitygolf 🏌️♀️⠀
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GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED. Winner announced in the story. see you tomorrow.
🎶On the sixth day of giveaways Salt Lake mag gave to me...🎶⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🍽️ $100 Gift Card to @la_caille_utah 🥂⠀
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Located at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, La Caille bring us an upscale, French-Belgian restaurant experience.⠀
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⭐ Like this post and tag a friend who you believe should win the giveaway item! The person you tag is then entered to win! (Friends can tag one another) 💑⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⭐ Be sure to follow us (@slmag) and @la_caille_utah on insta! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⭐ Entry deadline will be at 10PM. The winner will be announced at 11:59PM and a new prize will be posted in the AM each day!...