In the wake of the 2012 deadly massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School that killed her 6-year old son Jesse, Scarlett Lewis discovered the only tools strong enough to mirror her son’s incredible courage, to overcome despair and to help all impacted by the tragedy rebuild.
Six-YeAr Old Jesse Lewis Courageously gave his life so nine* of his classmates could live. his brief life is the inspiration for the Choose Love movement which teaches essential life skills.
*The paper was incorrect – gratefully, Nine, not six, children got to grow up.
It was in her son’s last message to her, written on a chalkboard in their kitchen: Nurturing Healing Love. She found the message days after Jesse’s murder.
Nurturing healing Love became the foundation of the Choose Love Formula: Courage, Gratitude, Forgiveness & Compassion-in-Action = Choosing Love.
Choose High Performance co-founder Jerry Alena also knew Jesse. The Lewis family ate with the Alena family at least once a week and their older sons were best friends (and currently college roommates). After the tragedy struck, Scarlett asked Jerry, his wife Diane, and a close circle of friends to help her support her starting the Choose Love Movement.
Jesse’s last message (Nurturing Healing Love) led to the creation of the Choose Love Formula. The formula can be used by anyone, at any time, anywhere in the world to manage their response to any situation (Courage + Gratitude + Forgiveness + Compassion in Action = Choosing Love).
The Choose Love Movement™ gathered expert educators to create a social and emotional education program that incorporates the latest advances in neuroscience, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, character development, and positive psychology to provide children the essential life skills. These skills help people turn angry thoughts into loving thoughts, and the skills help people set positive paths for their lives regardless of their life circumstances.
Their signature program, Choose Love for Schools, is available as a no-cost Infant-Toddler, and Pre-K through 12th grade, character development and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program that teaches educators and their students how to choose love in any circumstance through wonderfully simple yet powerful themes and practices for the classroom that naturally evolve into a culture where students feel safe, nurtured, connected, and empowered.
The Choose Love Movement™ teaches essential life skills that help you feel safe from the inside out. The movement has solutions for all ages.
The Choose Love Movement™ sparks an emotional connection that opens the hearts and minds of students as well as educators and other school staff, to fuel connection and stoke personal growth. The Choose Love Enrichment Program™ teaches critical social and emotional learning skills that improve school culture and cultivate an environment that is welcoming, supportive, compassionate, and safe.
The program has proven to be so successful in engaging students and schools that we have created extension programs to teach and help reinforce these character values outside of school, including on athletics teams, at home and throughout communities (Champions Choose Love, Choose Love At Home, and Choose Love for Community Leaders.)
