Ambassador for Peace Spotlight: Valery Merritt
Valery Merritt, a minister of the Church of Scientology and caretaker of the L. Ron Hubbard Landmark Site in Elizabeth, New Jersey, is dedicated to preserving an important chapter in the history of Dianetics and Scientology while creating opportunities for people to learn from its humanitarian legacy.
Located in Elizabeth, the historic home is one of several sites associated with the life and work of L. Ron Hubbard, author, humanitarian, and founder of Dianetics and Scientology. As Hubbard traveled throughout the United States and around the world, he worked in many locations where significant developments in his research took place. A number of these sites have since been restored to reflect the environments in which he lived and worked.
The Elizabeth residence holds particular significance. Following the publication of Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health in May 1950, the first Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation was temporarily headquartered there. It was also at this location that Hubbard presented some of the first public Dianetics lectures and demonstrations.
Today, Valery helps preserve this history and welcomes visitors to the landmark site, offering them an opportunity to step into the setting where an important milestone in Hubbard’s work unfolded. Through tours, educational programs, and relationships with community organizations, she helps connect the historical site with broader conversations about humanitarian service and improving society.
As an Ambassador for Peace, Valery’s work reflects the importance of building bridges across communities and recognizing the contributions of individuals and organizations working to address social challenges. Her efforts to establish partnerships also create opportunities for people to discover practical tools and approaches that can be applied within their own fields of service.
Preserving a historic place is more than maintaining a building. It can provide a doorway into the ideas, people, and experiences that shaped a movement and invite new generations to consider how those ideas may contribute to the betterment of society. Through her stewardship of the Elizabeth landmark, Valery Merritt is helping keep that history accessible while fostering relationships that can encourage humanitarian engagement and service.
Her work demonstrates one of the important principles of the Ambassador for Peace network: peace is strengthened when people from diverse backgrounds come together, learn from one another, and build partnerships in service to their communities.