Scarlett Lewis founded the nonprofit Choose Love Movement after the death of her 6-year-old son, Jesse, in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
She later developed programs focused on character development and social-emotional learning aimed at helping individuals respond constructively to trauma.
Choose Love programming has been used in more than 17,500 schools across all 50 states and in more than 135 countries. Lewis is a national and international speaker and has been recognized as a Forbes 50 Over 50 Impact honoree. She has also spoken at the 2022 New York Times DealBook Summit and appeared as a guest on “The Oprah Podcast.”
Lewis is also the author of four books and hosts the podcast “Choosing Love for Authentic Power,” which has more than 220,000 listeners.
What have been your biggest professional accomplishments so far?
My greatest accomplishment is founding the Choose Love Movement after the loss of my son, Jesse, in the Sandy Hook tragedy. By transforming profound grief into purpose, I created a model for healing that provides no-cost character and social-emotional programming, now impacting over 11 million children worldwide. Hurt people, hurt people; healed people, heal people.
What’s the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally?
My goal is to continue to create a global ripple effect of happiness, health and school safety. Choose Love addresses root causes of violence, supports mental health and builds essential life skills, reducing the suffering before it becomes an issue. Grounded in science and centered on love, it is a universal, adaptable and sustainable approach that helps people flourish.
What’s one of the biggest professional challenges you’ve overcome?
My biggest professional challenge has been leading a transformational shift in school safety — championing proactive, love-centered prevention and social-emotional development as essential foundations for thriving schools, mental wellness and safer communities.
How are you involved in the community?
Choose Love programming is used in schools, organizations and communities throughout Connecticut. Through speaking engagements across the state, I inspire and motivate students, educators and communities to cultivate resilience, compassion and proactive solutions to mental health and school safety challenges.