Shannon Desilets

Shannon’s journey is an example of when one’s passion and purpose come together. At her core is the desire to help others. Shannon’s expertise in brain-based trauma therapy is what first introduced her to the Choose Love Movement, as she has provided therapy to the Newtown/Sandy Hook CT community for the last 10 years. She has been an instructor of this specialized therapy (MNRI), teaching and providing therapy worldwide. With a strong desire to work to bring the Choose Love Movement to her son’s school in NH, she became a Choose Love Ambassador, but things didn’t stop there.

Shannon was appointed by and has worked directly out of the office of Governor Chris Sununu since August of 2018. She has led the nation through the efforts and example being set by the state of NH, utilizing this Character Social Emotional Development lifespan program. She is a pivotal member of the School Safety Preparedness Taskforce, working directly with Homeland Security. Under her direction, New Hampshire has become the first in the nation to launch Choose Love for Caregivers (designed for foster parents and workers in the field), as well as Choose Love for Corrections.  She provides workshops for every division within the Department of Safety and various other state departments.

Shannon is a published author for STRIVE magazine, sharing what NH has made happen with the Choose Love Movement. Shannon also leads the Choose Love Youth and College level Ambassadors.  In addition, she serves as the Choose Love liaison for governmental departments nationwide.

Her heart shines when bringing the Choose Love Movement forward, and she is fueled to bring this to all!

Dr. Vivek Murthy

Dr. Vivek Murthy served as the 19th and 21st Surgeon General of the United States. As Vice Admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, he commanded a uniformed service of 6,000 public health officers.

Dr. Murthy’s work has widened the lens through which we understand forces that shape our health and well-being. During his two terms as Surgeon General, his initiatives shaped national and international conversations, garnered global media coverage, and compelled change across business and non-profit organizations. He has drawn attention to critical, underappreciated health issues including the epidemic of loneliness, the impact of social media on youth mental health, parental mental health and well-being, the youth mental health crisis, and health worker burnout.

In 2020, Dr. Murthy published the New York Times best-seller Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World. His 2025 “Parting Prescription to America” laid out a vision for rebuilding community as the key to health, happiness, and fulfillment.

Raised in Miami and an ardent lover of mangoes, Dr. Murthy graduated from Harvard College and received his MD from the Yale School of Medicine, and his MBA from the Yale School of Management. He trained in internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. A renowned physician, public health expert, research scientist, entrepreneur, and author, Dr. Murthy lives in Washington, DC with his wife, Dr. Alice Chen, and their two children.

Allison Williams

Allison Williams is the Chief Learning Officer at idealis, where she leads organizational transformation and leadership development efforts rooted in research, human-centered design, and practical wisdom. She also brings over two decades of experience in higher education, student affairs, and organizational leadership—shaping how individuals and institutions grow through care, clarity, and connection.

Before joining idealis, Allison served as Vice President for College Life and Dean of Students at Muhlenberg College, where she oversaw student mental health, crisis response, student holistic development, and equity-centered programming. She also taught graduate courses in organizational leadership and led restorative practices and culture-building efforts across several institutions.

Allison holds a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University and a Master of Education in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia. She is certified in restorative practices and behavioral intervention techniques at the individual, group, and institutional community level.

A proud mom of four ranging in age from 5 to 18, Allison brings her lived experience as a parent to every space she leads—bridging professional insight with real-world empathy, and reminding us that leadership and love are never far apart.

For a preview of the energy and insight Allison brings, listen to her talk about ”How to Navigate Change (Without Falling Over)” on the idealis. podcast here.

Scarlett Lewis

Scarlett Lewis founded the nonprofit Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement in honor of her son, Jesse, who was murdered duringthe 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 is the author of Nurturing Healing Love: A Mother’s Journey of Hope & Forgiveness, a memoir of her journey toward choosing love and forgiveness; From Sandy Hook to the World: How the Choose Love Movement Transforms Lives, an indepth look at how Scarlett founded the Movement and its impact around the world today; and Rose’s Foal, a children’s book, with photographs by Scarlett Lewis, that tells the poignant story of a beloved horse and her newborn foal.

Since the tragedy, Scarlett has spoken across the U.S. and internationally to diverse audiences sharing her empowering story and the organization’s far-reaching programs, urging everyone to become part of the solution to the issues the world is facing. Scarlett has spoken at multiple national, statewide, and community-based events including hundreds of talks at schools, addressing educators and administrators.

In 2022, Scarlett was named to Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2022 Bloomberg 50, and was a featured speaker at the New York Times DealBook Summit 2022 alongside many of our world leaders, CEOs of businesses and emerging leaders. In 2021, Scarlett was named a Forbes 50 over 50 Impact Honoree, one of 50 women leading the way with impact and changing their communities and the world in ways big and small through social entrepreneurship, law, advocacy and education.

Scarlett was the keynote speaker at the 2018 and 2019 National Forum on Character presented by Character.org and in 2020 and the keynote speaker for the New England Head Start Association. In addition, Scarlett has presented at the Music City SEL Conference in Nashville; SXSW EDU Conference; ASCD Empower; the Nebraska Mental Health Conference; and multiple statewide Counselor Association Conferences.

Scarlett has been interviewed by CNN, NBC, BBC, Fox News, CBS, the Today Show, The Guardian, and many regional papers and podcasts about the Choose Love Movement and the neuroscience behind the Choose Love Formula and the benefits of SEL, and has been featured in high-profile magazines, including Fortune, People Magazine, Strive, and the Huffington Post. Scarlett also hosts the ChooSELove Podcast, interviewing noted authors and experts on post-traumatic growth, self-empowerment, brain health, resilience, forgiveness, trauma and grief, mental health, and more.

David Romanelli

Last year, the US Surgeon General released an advisory on the mental health and well-being of parents. Parenting is harder than ever. How do parents find peace amidst the busyness of the digital age? David Romanelli will share some simple, bite-sized wisdoms to navigate the everyday challenges and better enjoy the precious time with your children. For more, check out the program David co-created with Choose Love: https://peacefulparents.life/

David is a bestselling author, wellness innovator, and entrepreneur known for blending ancient wisdom with modern life. He is the founder of Meditate ON, a story-driven mindfulness platform designed to support a vibrant inner life. He has written three bestselling books — Yeah Dave’s Guide to Livin’ the Moment, Happy is the New Healthy, and Life Lessons from the Oldest and Wisest — all celebrating the joy of being alive.

David has spoken at organizations including American Express, Prudential, and Veuve Clicquot, and his work has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, O Magazine, Newsweek, and Food + Wine.

Rick Rood

Rick Rood has been on the front lines of Education for nearly 40 years, working directly with children and front-line staff. With degrees in Education, Afterschool Care, and Applied Mathematics, Rick is a student of the thought leader movement, distilling lessons from master teachers like Jack Canfield, Tony Robbins, and Brendon Burchard – giving them practical application to education professionals. Participants have described his workshops as “fascinating” and “life-changing.”

Rick is a classroom teacher, and in the past he has run afterschool programs, taught music, computer programming, and youth leadership workshops. Rick is a contributor to “Youth Today!” and is the author of Games Teachers Play Before the Bell Rings. Rick is a Certified High Performance Coach™ and works privately and in groups with education professionals to help them achieve higher levels of performance in their work and personal lives.

Rick is the driving force behind Transforming Teachers, Transforming Education, an organization rooted in the Positive Youth Development philosophy dedicated to training and inspiring youth-serving professionals. Through Transforming Teachers, Rick has delivered workshops and keynotes to thousands of education professionals, helping teachers transform their “inner game” of teaching to better serve youth, children, and families.

Rick and his team created the Beyond School Time Conference for Out-of-School-Time Professionals in 2018 as a way for California’s OST Professionals to connect, learn, and gather inspiration.

Maria  Shriver

Maria Shriver is a Peabody and Emmy Award-winning journalist, seven-time New York Times bestselling author, and a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment, brain health, and social change. As the founder of Shriver Media, she has used storytelling to spark national conversations on pressing issues such as poverty, Alzheimer’s, and gender equity through groundbreaking reports, documentaries, books, and live events.

During her time as First Lady of California, Maria created and led The Women’s Conference—then the largest women’s conference in the world—raising millions for scholarships and social initiatives, and establishing the Minerva Awards to honor trailblazing women. Her influential Shriver Reports helped reshape public policy and awareness around working women and caregivers, including the Emmy-nominated HBO documentary Paycheck to Paycheck.

A leader in brain health advocacy, Maria founded The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement and co-founded the wellness company MOSH to promote brain health through food, research, and education. She also executive produced the Academy Award-winning film Still Alice and continues to champion caregivers and families impacted by Alzheimer’s with compassion, creativity, and a commitment to public service.

Howard Glasser

In a world where children are increasingly labeled, medicated, and misunderstood, Howard Glasser stands as a beacon of hope—proving that every child, especially the most intense and challenging ones, possesses unlimited potential for greatness. As the founder of the Children’s Success Foundation and creator of the internationally acclaimed Nurtured Heart Approach®, Howard has revolutionized how we see, relate to, and nurture children.

Howard’s journey began not in a classroom or clinic, but in his own childhood struggles. As a former “difficult child” himself, he intimately understands the pain of constant criticism and the transformative power of believing in a child’s inherent greatness. This personal experience, combined with his extensive doctoral work in Clinical Psychology and Educational Leadership, forms the foundation of his groundbreaking methodology that has touched millions of lives worldwide.

Over the past 25 years, Howard has authored 15 books, including the bestselling “Transforming the Difficult Child,” which remains the top-selling book on ADHD and challenging behaviors. Four of his books rank in the top one percent of all Amazon publications—a testament to the desperate need for his message in homes and classrooms everywhere. His work has been featured on CNN, in Esquire Magazine, and has earned him recognition as one of the most influential living persons working to reduce children’s reliance on psychiatric medications.

The Nurtured Heart Approach isn’t just another parenting strategy—it’s a philosophy that sees intensity as a gift to be channeled rather than a problem to be fixed. Howard discovered that the very traits that make children “difficult”—their passion, sensitivity, and high energy—are actually superpowers waiting to be unleashed. Through his “Three Stands” methodology, parents and educators learn to energize success while refusing to accidentally fuel negative behaviors, creating an environment where children’s inner greatness naturally emerges.

What sets Howard apart is his understanding that transformation must happen at the heart level. His approach doesn’t rely on external rewards or punishments, but instead builds what he calls “Inner Wealth”—a child’s deep knowing of their own value and capabilities. This revolutionary perspective has been successfully implemented in thousands of homes, classrooms, therapy practices, and even entire school systems across the globe. Currently, the approach is being researched by Rutgers University and the University of Arizona’s School of Public Health, where Howard serves as a guest lecturer.

The ripple effects of Howard’s work extend far beyond individual families. Entire state systems, including New Jersey’s Coordinated System of Care, have adopted his methods. Foster care systems, juvenile justice programs, and special education classrooms worldwide use the Nurtured Heart Approach to help their most challenging children thrive. Through the Nurtured Heart Institute, Howard has certified over 5,000 trainers who carry this transformative work to their communities, creating a global movement of heart-centered child advocacy.

For the Hearts Open Wide Summit, Howard brings not just expertise, but hope—the radical belief that every child can flourish when met with the right energy and intention. His message resonates powerfully with parents and educators who are tired of traditional approaches that focus on what’s wrong rather than what’s possible. In a time when children’s mental health challenges are at crisis levels, Howard offers a path forward rooted in love, recognition, and the unwavering belief in human potential.

Howard’s work reminds us that opening our hearts wide isn’t just about loving children—it’s about seeing their greatness even when they can’t see it themselves.

Dr. Maria Ortner

Dr. Maria Ortner served as a school psychologist in Danbury, CT for 27 years prior to beginning her work with The Tapping Solution Foundation. Dr. Ortner is committed to promoting Tapping as an effective technique for teachers and students to deal with anxiety, stress and trauma in the school setting and beyond.

 Dr. Ortner holds degrees in Clinical and School Psychology, as well as a Doctorate of Education. She has extensive experience in education in the United States and abroad. Dr. Ortner is the Director of the Tapping Solution Foundation and travels the world to bring EFT/Tapping to people of all ages.

Daniel J. Siegel, M.D.

Dr. Dan Siegel is the Founder and Director of Education of the Mindsight Institute and founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA, where he was also Co-Principal Investigator of the Center for Culture, Brain and Development and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the School of Medicine.

An award-winning educator, Dan is the author of five New York Times bestsellers and over fifteen other books which have been translated into over forty languages. As the founding editor of the Norton Professional Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology (“IPNB”), Dan has overseen the publication of one hundred books in the transdisciplinary IPNB framework which focuses on the mind and mental health.

A graduate of Harvard Medical School, Dan completed his postgraduate training at UCLA specializing in pediatrics, and adult, adolescent, and child psychiatry. He was trained in attachment research and narrative analysis through a National Institute of Mental Health research training fellowship focusing on how relationships shape our autobiographical ways of making sense of our lives and influence our development across the lifespan.

Learn more about Dr. Siegel at: www.drdansiegel.com | www.mindsightinstitute.com