The Choose Love Movement has announced the Choose Love Awareness Month (CLAM) in February 2024. The Choose Love Movement teaches children essential life skills through its free character social emotional development programs.

Choose Love Awareness Month is the annual campaign to spread awareness of the Choose Love Movement, and the importance of teaching children essential life skills through its free Character Social Emotional Development programming.

Scarlett Lewis, founder and chief movement officer of The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, says choosing love “can help heal everyone suffering from anxiety and disconnection due to the turbulent times we’re facing.

“Our response is an action. The opposite of anxiety is action,” she added. “So we can reduce our anxiety through our thoughtful response. I’d like to encourage everyone to create starfish moments to create a ripple effect of kindness.”

Each week in February highlights a pillar of the Choose Love Formula – Courage (highlighted during the first week of the month), Gratitude (second week), Forgiveness (third week), and Compassion-in-Action (fourth week) — and includes the benefits of each plus tips on how to incorporate these character values into real-life situations every day.

An activity toolkit is available at no cost at chooselovemovement.org/awareness-month-2024 that includes activity sheets and useful resources.

This year’s theme is “Jesse and the Starfish,” a classic story reimagined as Jesse Lewis who saved nine classmates before being killed on 12/14. The story reminds readers that everyone can make a positive impact through a small act of kindness. It’s about recognizing the value of each individual connection and understanding that, collectively, these moments contribute to a more compassionate and interconnected world.

During Choose Love Awareness Month, readers are asked: How can you create a Starfish Moment, or a small act of kindness?

Additional CLAM highlights include a student essay contest about Starfish Moments, which will be open to all students with prizes for individuals, classrooms, and a $500 scholarship for high school students.

Virtual events are also scheduled, both free to attend:

*Parent/Educator Event “Choose Love with Starfish Moments” on Tuesday, February 13, at 7 pm, when Lewis will talk about Starfish Moments, making heroic choices, and putting your best self forward every day; and

*Educator Spotlight Webinar “Choosing Love in Your School” on Tuesday, February 27 (details TBA).

For more information, visit ChooseLoveMovement.org.