Preparing Educators for a Happy, Healthy and Courageous School Year
Scarlett Lewis at the University of Rhode Island (photo credit: URI)
Scarlett Lewis, Founder of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, was the keynote speaker for an educator workshop, “Nourishing Insights, Preparing Educators for a Happy, Healthy and Courageous School Year”, at the University of Rhode Island on August 23, 2018. The workshop was sponsored by URI’s Center for Non-Violence & Peace Studies, the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement and the South Kingstown school district.
Scarlett addressed over 200 educators about the power of Choosing Love and how they can teach their students how to choose love through the Choose Love Enrichment Program, a comprehensive pre-K through 12th grade, evidence-based social and emotional classroom (SEL). The program focuses on four important character values – Courage, Gratitude, Forgiveness and Compassion in Action – which cultivates optimism, resilience and personal responsibility. Included elements are positive psychology, mindfulness, neuroscience, character values and more.
“While we can’t choose what happens to us, we can choose how to respond. When you choose courage, when you experience gratitude, forgiveness and compassion, you are choosing love,” stated Lewis.
After her son Jesse was killed at Sandy Hook, Scarlett has dedicated her life to sharing his message of love and believes every child should have access to SEL. Paul Bueno de Mesquita, Center Director, presented Scarlett with the “Changing the World One Heart at a Time” award for her dedication and commitment to spreading Jesse’s message of Nurturing, Healing, Love as a Global Movement for Peace.
Other speakers included Dr. Maria Laura Ortner, Global Director of The Tapping Solution Foundation, Dr. Chris Kukk, Director of the Compassion, Creativity, and Innovation Center, Allison Morgan, President of Zensational Kids. Mindfulness Breath and Movement for Whole Self, and Dr. Thomas Pruzinsky, Professor of Positive Psychology at Quinnipiac University.
Sponsors include:
Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement
University of Rhode Island’s Center for Non-Violence & Peace Studies
South Kingston Education Foundation
Love Some Images Portrait Design Studio
Nationwide Lennon Insurance Agency
Voss, Artison Water from Norway
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