Mother Of Slain Sandy Hook Child Visits GHS, Shares 'Choose Love'

GUILFORD, CT — While Guilford High School juniors and seniors sequester to tackle the SATs Thursday, 'Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement'creator Scarlet Lewis will spend time with 9th and 10th graders.

Guilford D.A.Y, the community coalition focused on encouraging young people to make positive choices, is sponsoring the visit.

Lewis founded the nonprofit after her son's murder in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy of 2012. She's since "dedicated her life to helping children and adults around the world to thrive mentally, socially and emotionally by creating safer and more loving communities," said Guilford DAY co-chair Lisa Ott.

The 'Choose Love' curriculum is already "woven into the culture throughout the Guilford school system and D.A.Y. is working on building a community effort to encourage all of us to practice courage, gratitude, forgiveness and compassion in action together," Ott shared.

From Guilford D.A.Y.:

The Choose Love Movement offers a deep understanding of our ability as humans to face challenges and grow from them. During her talk with students, Scarlett will share the Choose Love Formula (Courage + Gratitude + Forgiveness + Compassion-in-Action) to empower students, as well as adults, to choose love over fear, to manage their emotions, foster healthy relationships, and to be strengthened and grow from adversity. Scarlett will share what she learned from her personal tragedy and how choosing love has become her path forward. Choosing love is an opportunity to build a culture of love, resilience, forgiveness, and connection in our communities at a time when it is truly needed the most.

The Movement's Choose Love for Schools Program is a no-cost program that empowers educators and students to handle adversity, have courageous conversations, manage their emotions, and respond with love. Choose Love extends beyond the classroom through additional no-cost programming, including 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. Speaking to diverse audiences across the US and internationally, Scarlett urges everyone to become part of the solution. 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 is the author of three books.