Media Kit
Be the Change you wish to see in the world.
Choose Love Media Kit
About Scarlett Lewis
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…
Read Full Bio
Scarlett became an advocate for social and emotional learning (SEL) and character development 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. Choose Love extends beyond the classroom through additional no-cost programs, including programs for the home, communities, athletics, and the workplace. In addition, the movement offers Choose Love C.A.R.E.S. (Cultivating Authentic Relationships in the Education System) and Experiential Educator Wellness Workshops for school leaders and educators, and multiple extension programs. The Choose Love programs have been accessed in all 50 states and in more than 120 countries, reaching 3 million children.
Scarlett Lewis 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 in-depth 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.
About Jesse Lewis
Jesse McCord Lewis was an amazing child, full of light and love that was unmistakable in his presence. He brought joy to the world with his infectious and radiant smile. He was smart and compassionate beyond his years.
Jesse died bravely on December 14th, 2012, trying to lead other children to safety during the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. He ran into the hallway to help when he heard the shots. He shouted out to his classmates to run and was able to save 9 lives before losing his own. He was six years old.
He left behind a message of “Nurturing Healing Love” on his family’s kitchen chalkboard. The message is phonetically spelled because Jesse was in first grade and just learning how to write. The profound message serves as comfort for his family and inspiration for the world to be better and love harder. He also left behind a sweet note to his older brother, reminding us all to “Have a lot of fun!”
Fun Facts About Jesse
Favorite Toys:
Rubber Ducks and Toy Soldiers
Favorite dessert:
Ice cream cake with pistachio ice cream
Favorite book:
Rose’s Foal, of course!
Favorite Color:
Turquoise
Favorite Things:
Painting with mom and protecting his family
Favorite board game:
Memory game (Scarlett says he won every time and had to give her hints!)
Favorite Singer:
Justin Bieber
About Choose Love Programs
Our signature program, Choose Love For Schools™, is a next-generation Character Social and Emotional Development (CSED) for Pre-K through 12th grades. The Choose Love Formula, and its use to elevate Choice Moments, is the central theme of the program with courage, gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion-in-action woven throughout.
The program teaches educators and students how to Choose Love in any circumstance, and helps them become more connected, resilient, and empowered individuals. These skills, tools and attitudes have been proven through decades of scientific research to be the best way to ensure a healthy, meaningful and purpose-filled life.
Other programs include Choose Love For Home™, Choose Love For Communities™, and Choose Love For Athletes™ are based on the foundations of Choose Love for Schools™.
Choose Love has grown organically, one person at a time, and now reaches 3.5 million children and adults. Scarlett Lewis envisions reaching 5 million people by 2025. Help us get there by sharing Choose Love in your home, your schools, and your community.
Books
Scarlett’s Books
This thought-provoking hardcover children’s book is a collection of life lessons that guide young readers to live a life with courage, gratitude, forgiveness and compassion-in-action. Written by Scarlett Lewis and her mother, Maureen Lewis, this children’s book is intended for adults to read with children, reflect and discuss.
Scarlett’s emotional and inspiring memoir takes you through her journey of losing her son at Sandy Hook and how she found the courage through her son’s 3 words (nurturing healing love) to live a life of love, positivity, and fearlessness.
This all-encompassing book details how Scarlett’s journey as one voice asking people to replace an angry thought with a loving one and to thoughtfully respond with love in any situation became a global movement that continues to expand every year.
This children’s book, complete with Scarlett’s own photographs, tells the poignant story of a beloved horse and her newborn foal.
Books Featuring Scarlett
In The Media
Interviews
CBS News
CBS News
Law & Crime Trial Network
CBS Morning
CNN Newsroom with Fredrika Whitfield
Today Show
Today 3rd Hour
Articles
Speaking Engagements
Podcasts
Respect Talks with Elizabeth Rohm
Sunday Paper with Maria Shriver
Choose Love with Scarlett Lewis
See The Movement In Action – Connect With Us On Social Media:
Quotes from Scarlett
You can’t always choose what happens to you, but you can ALWAYS choose how you respond. You can respond in love!
Courage is being kind and gentle, doing the right thing when no one is looking, and thoughtfully responding to a reactive situation.
Love is the most powerful force in the universe, a want and need that connects every human being on the planet.
If we can teach our children that they have the power to choose a loving thought over an angry thought, we can create a more peaceful world.
I decided to be part of the solution to the issues that we’re seeing in our society—and that also caused the tragedy. I became an advocate for social and emotional learning that teaches children how to manage their emotions, feel connected, and have healthy relationships.
Testimonials
Scarlett, you define bravery and kindness…Your movement will save lives, and honor one very, very special one. Please visit the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement to join Scarlett’s mission to help the world live love a little better, every day.
– Lady Gaga
I learned I can be strong. I can forgive. And I can help anyone that may need a little push to make their day. This has changed my life and many others.
– Justin R., CT Student
I’ve been a counselor for 40 years, and I’ve never presented anything more important to the kids than this. This is by far the best thing I’ve ever done for them.
– School Counselor, NH
I’m so grateful to have met Scarlett, to be able to have her in my book, and to be able to learn from her because she’s such an incredibly wise and inspiring person. All the work that she’s done since losing her son, Jesse, is so admirable and is making the world a better place. It’s changing the future for our children.
– Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt
Through choosing love I learned how one good decision can lead to a bright path. One smile can save a life. That life can save another. Two grows to four, four to eight, eight to sixteen, and so on. I learned by choosing love that one person can create a chain reaction to make a positive impact on the world.
– Student at a high-risk school, CT
Choose Love Enrichment Program is not only for the students but it gives me the important tools to be a better teacher. I learned to use courage, gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion-in-action in the classroom. It has given me the vocabulary to help my students through challenges.
– Educator, HI
The program has been widely and enthusiastically endorsed by our schools; which was expected. What we did not expect was the overwhelming support by our first responder community. NH’s Police community has been one of the programs biggest supporters. Not only is the program changing our school culture, but it is also changing our community culture. I cannot think of a better program to implement in our schools. I have been transformed from a reluctant and skeptical attendee to a true believer.
– Perry Plummer, Former Assistant Commissioner, NH
I think the Choose Love program is indispensable for humans. It’s only been a year, but I feel a response. In particular, it looks like the teachers are happier. If the teachers aren’t happy, the happiness of the children cannot be raised.
– Junko, Choose Love Ambassador, Japan
This is the most comprehensive and age appropriate program I’ve encountered in my 23 years of teaching. Our kids are missing empathy and it’s beautiful to see them build this skill! Thank you!
– Educator, NC
The Choose Love Enrichment Program™ highlights important character values that we want all children to have and engaging approaches to develop them.
– Roger Weissberg, NoVo Foundation
Thank you for developing such an intentional curriculum that aligns with best practices for teaching all students, even our trauma students. I’m a first year elementary guidance counselor, I was in the classroom for 12 years and your curriculum has provided me with essential resources to start this school year off successfully. I recently attended a trauma informed learning training and so much of what I’ve been teaching with Choose Love was right in line with what they were recommending at the training.
– Britney S., KY Educator
