Company: Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, Newtown, CT
Company Description: Scarlett Lewis founded the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement after her son was murdered during the Sandy Hook tragedy. Scarlett decided to be part of the solution to the issues that we're seeing in our society—and that also caused the tragedy. She created social and emotional learning (SEL) programs that teach children how to manage their emotions, feel connected, and have healthy relationships.
Nomination Category: Company/Organization Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Organization of the Year – Government or Non-Profit– 10 or Less Employees
 Nomination Title: Choose Love For Corrections
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes, explaining the achievements since July 1, 2022 of the nominated organization, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
A video of up to five (5) minutes
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video. If you are submitting written answers to the questions for this category, provide them in the appropriate spaces below:
Note: the video is under five minutes.
- Briefly describe the nominated organization: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Scarlett Lewis founded the Choose Love Movement following her 6 year old son, Jesse's, murder during the Sandy Hook tragedy in December 2012. It is the worst mass shooting in an elementary school in U.S. history.
Jesse used his final moments to heroically save nine of his friends. Shortly after his death, Scarlett discovered a message Jesse had written on their kitchen chalkboard,“Norturting Helinn Love” (Nurturing, Healing Love). Scarlett knew if the shooter had been able to give, and receive love, the tragedy would never have happened. The three words of Jesse’s message are included in the definition of “compassion” across all cultures. The three words led to the creation of a formula for Choosing Love: Courage + Gratitude + Forgiveness + Compassion-in-Action that can be used by anyone, at any time, anywhere in the world to manage their response to any situation.
Choose Love For Schools™ is the flagship program for Pre-K through 12th grade, created by and for educators that teaches educators and their students how to Choose Love in any circumstance. It is a no-cost Character Social Emotional Development program for schools, which expanded to Homes and Communities, and now Corrections.
- Outline the organization's achievements since July 1 2022 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Choose Love partnered with CAST to redesign the Choose Love activities, discussions, and assessments to account for variability of the learning environments and learners within the NHDOC, and created a [REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION] program where participants are taught how to respond to any situation with kindness by using the “Choose Love” formula.
Choose Love for Corrections was specifically designed with the incarcerated population in mind. The Corrections Choose Love Program incorporates the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework to ensure the material is accessible in a prison environment. The Corrections Choose Love Program includes daily engagement activities implemented during group sessions that reinforce and support social and emotional learning skills. Choose Love mission is to improve residents’ relationships with each other, their families, and communities to better prepare them for reentry. Participants learn growth mindset and how their body reacts to different situations, how to apologize, how to forgive. Learning these skills is extremely important.
Choose Love for Corrections was launched by the New Hampshire Department of Corrections (NHDOC) [REDACTED FOR PUBLICATION]. The program was launched in Florida’s Miami North Corrections Community Release Center in 2024.
- Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):
Choose Love is based on love and is universal, adaptable, resonant, simple, and sustainable. This is why it transcends the classroom, age groups, or settings. Choose Love has been developed with rigor and based on science. When practiced daily, the Choose Love principles will transform lives, relationships with others, and create a ripple effect of happiness, health and productivity throughout schools, homes, and communities reaching 10 million children and adults. Scarlett Lewis started speaking with inmates when she first developed the Choose Love Movement. Many inmates have communicated that if they had these skills they would not have committed their crime.
The Choose Love for Corrections program has brought great success and motivation into the facilities, and there is currently a 150 man waitlist inside the men's facility. Choose Love for Corrections has also expanded beyond NH, and the first class completed the course inside the Miami North Work Release Center, with plans to continue. Upon completion of the program, a graduation ceremony is conducted.
Additionally, Shannon Desilets, the Choose Love Program Director and now Community Wellness Administrator in NH DHHS, was asked to present with the NH DOC at the upcoming CLA Regional Conference for leaders in Corrections.
“The people who are currently incarcerated would be facilitating and leading the group. And that’s really revolutionary. You don’t find peer-to-peer programs run very often within correctional facilities,” stated Amanda Bastoni, CAST Research Scientist and Project Lead.
- Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 7 words used.
4:47 minute Video - Choose Love for Corrections - submitted with applications
Story published by CAST:
https://www.cast.org/impact/work-stories/new-hampshire-prisons-apply-udl-choose-love-curriculum
NH Department Of Corrections Hosts Choose Love Graduation For The First Time At New Hampshire State Prison For Men
https://www.corrections.nh.gov/news-and-media/nh-department-corrections-hosts-choose-love-graduation-first-time-new-hampshire
WCAX: NH inmates practice kindness in ‘Choose Love’ program: March 2023
https://www.wcax.com/2023/03/21/nh-inmates-practice-kindness-choose-love-program/
Choose Love for Corrections Podcast with Shannon Desilets and Garry Tucker, Miami
https://dreamvisions7radio.com/choose-love-for-corrections-in-miami/
Gary Tucker shares his personal journey, detailing how the class not only changed his perspective but also empowered him to inspire fellow inmates. Together, they share how Choose Love can lead to meaningful change, not just within the walls of correctional facilities, but also beyond.
Testimony from a recent graduate of the Choose Love Movement's corrections program
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9c576nOZ4Q/
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