Scarlett Lewis founded the nonprofit Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement in honor of her son, Jesse, who was murdered during the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in December 2012.
Shortly after his death, Scarlett decided to be part of the solution to the issues that we’re seeing in our society — that also caused the tragedy — and turned it into an opportunity to build a culture of love, resilience, forgiveness, and connection in our communities at a time when it is needed the most.
Scarlett became a Character Social-Emotional Development Advocate to help children manage their emotions, feel connected, and have healthy, meaningful relationships.
She created the Choose Love For Schools program, a no cost, comprehensive, lifespan, next generation character and social emotional development (CSED) program that teaches children how to thoughtfully respond with love in any situation by using the Choose Love Formula (Courage + Gratitude + Forgiveness + Compassion-in-Action), and offer ways for children to handle adversity, have courageous conversations, and to respond with love.
Because the world needs so much healing, Choose Love also offers programs beyond the classroom through additional free programs, programs for the home, communities, athletics, and the workplace, as well as multiple extension programs.
The Choose Love programs have been accessed in all 50 states and in 120 countries, reaching 3 million children.