Over the past decade since the nonprofit cause emerged from the devastating 12/14 tragedy, the Newtown-based Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement has reached over three million people across more than 120 countries.

Throughout February, the movement is leading its Choose Love Awareness Month and celebrating love in action. Everyone from students and educators to families and communities from all over the world are welcome to participate.

Named after Jesse Lewis, who was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012, the movement focuses on spreading his kitchen chalkboard message of “nurturing healing love.”

According to the group’s official site, “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. This year’s theme is Love-in-Action, focusing on how we can use positive action, [like] walking, meditating, helping others, to overcome negative feelings, ie, anxiety, embarrassment, anger.”

The initiative had its kickoff event on February 3 with a free, virtual talk from Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement Founder/Chief Movement Officer Scarlett Lewis, who is the mother of the late Jesse Lewis.

She discussed all the interactive offerings and activities happening this month.

Scarlett started off with a mindfulness check-in and led everyone in doing the organization’s Brave Breath lesson.

She explained that this year’s theme is love in action because, “It’s one thing to have love inside of us. Every one of us has love inside of us … but it’s really important to show it to other people, too. We like to be shown that we’re loved. It’s actually a beautiful thing. It’s very healing for us, and it cultivates hope when we show others that we love them.”

During the event she read an excerpt from her fourth book Choosing Love: A Pathway To Flourishing, which was released in 2022. She wrote with her mom, Maureen Lewis, and it was illustrated by Jane Davidian.

Scarlett told The Newtown Bee in a recent interview, “It’s a different kind of children’s book, because it is for everyone … every page has a beautiful, original watercolor that corresponds with the lesson that’s being taught. The interesting thing is that it may be a new lesson for someone that’s younger, but it is a reminder and reinforcement for parents, grandparents, caregivers, and whoever else is reading it with them. These are all the universal life skills that we need to be able to be the best versions of ourselves, put our best foot forward, and literally thoughtfully respond with love to anything that comes along in our lives.”

The recording of the kickoff event can be watched on the group’s YouTube page.

Calendar Ideas

Another way that people can participate in Choose Love Awareness Month this February is to check out the custom calendar. It recommends positive actions that people can take to overcome negative feelings and choose love every single day.

Each week there is a focus on one of the Choose Love Formula pillars: courage, gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion-in-action.

“It’s amazing how powerful this formula is in every situation, circumstance, and interaction that you can possibly face,” Scarlett shared.

Coming up soon is Forgiveness Week from Sunday, February 12, through Saturday, February 18, and every day has a different suggestion or message:

*February 12: Make a paper gratitude quilt. Draw pictures of what you are thankful for. Patch them together.

*February 13: Tell someone why you are grateful for them and encourage them to do the same.

*February 14: Happy Valentine’s Day! Share LOVE all day!

*February 15: Take a forgiveness breath.

*February 16: Forgiveness is a gift to yourself.

*February 17: It’s Random Acts of Kindness Day. Do something kind.

*February 18: Read a poem about forgiveness; then write your own.

Everyone participating is encouraged to get their family and friends involved, too, to put love into action.

“This Choose Love Awareness Month is really a month where we can come together, because we are stronger together, to celebrate but also to be part of the solution by addressing the root cause of the suffering that is leading to so much of the dysfunction that we are seeing in our society today,” Scarlett said.

Art Contest

A creative part of this year’s Choose Love Awareness Month is an art contest for elementary, middle, and high school students.

The Choose Love Movement website explains, “The Love-in-Action Art Contest is seeking artwork that shows how you turn your negative feelings or experiences into positive action. When you are feeling anxiety, stress, sadness, or anger, what action do you take to overcome those negative feelings? Everyone has different ways to help them feel better. You might pet your dog, go for a run, meditate, draw or paint, shoot hoops, do something kind for others, or hug someone. Is there a special place you go for comfort like the beach, the park, a special spot in your house? Is there someone special that you talk to like a parent, friend, sibling, or teacher? There are so many ways to take action that will lead to happier or calmer feelings.”

Submissions must be original drawings and all art must be on an 8.5x11 paper or canvas.

By sending in artwork, the submissions become the property of the Choose Love Movement and may be used by the Movement for marketing purposes. A student winner from a previous year had their artwork used as a wrap on the Choose Love RV that was driven around the country.

Submissions need to be postmarked by February 28, 2023, and mailed to: Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, ATTN: CLAM 2023, PO Box 605, Newtown CT 06470.

Both classroom submissions and individual submissions will be entered into a drawing.

One classroom will be chosen at random to receive a Be Part of the Solution Kit, which contains 25 wristbands, 25 pencils, 25 journals, one heart pin, one rubber duck, one Choose Love photo frame, one Choose Love bumper sticker, and a recorded morning announcement from Scarlett Lewis.

An individual winner will also be randomly chosen and receive a Choose Love Swag Package with one Choose Love T-shirt, one baseball cap, one journal, one pen, one bumper sticker, one plush duck, and one drawstring duck sack.

Winners will be notified by e-mail.

“It’s going to be really fun,” Scarlett said during the kickoff event.

For more information, e-mail info@jesselewischooselove.org.

Free Workshop

Towards the end of Choose Love Awareness Month, Scarlett will be hosting a free parent and education workshop called “How to Turn Anxiety into Positive Action.” It will take place virtually on Monday, February 27, from 7 to 8 pm.

“Scarlett will be discussing inspiring ways to turn our children’s and students’ anxiety into positive action by using the Choose Love message and formula every day in your classroom, homes, and communities,” the registration site detailed.

To learn more about Choose Love Awareness Month, visit chooselovemovement.org. Sign up for the group’s monthly newsletter, follow on social media, and donate to continue to help spread awareness about the movement.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.