TUCSON, Ariz. -- Scarlett Lewis, a mother whose 6 year-old son Jesse was killed in the Sandy Hook mass shooting spoke in Nogales to share her mission of change.
This mission will soon be implemented in Santa Cruz County schools, after first piloting at the Little red school in Nogales.
At the school, Scarlett explained the importance of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement; a program that focuses on social and emotional learning and was inspired by three words Scarlett says his son wrote shortly before he died.
“I miss Jesse every day. Every second of every day,” Scarlet said.
There isn’t a day that goes by that Scarlett lewis doesn’t think about her six year old hero, Jesse.
“When the shooter came into the room, his gun jammed. Or ran out of bullets and during the short delay, Jesse called to his friends and told him to run. And they say it’s because he told them to run that they ran,” she added.
With his last breath, Jesse saved nine lives at Sandy Hook Elementary. Now with her every breath, Scarlett works to spread compassion — thanks to three words Jesse left behind.
“I saw a message that he had written on our kitchen chalkboard. Shortly before he died he had written three words— nurturing, healing love. And I knew instantly, that if the shooter had been able to give and receive nurturing healing love...the tragedy would never have happened,” Scarlett told KGUN9.
Inspired by her son, Scarlett started the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement.
“That is focusing on education and teaching kids social and emotional intelligence. We know through decades of research that that reduces and prevents violence.”
Now the Choose Love Enrichment Program, that focuses on social and emotional learning, is being implemented at the Little Red School in Nogales,” Scarlett said.
Principal of the Little Red School in Nogales, Kathy Romero, could not be more thrilled that her school is getting to pilot this program.
“It’s not only going to start here, but it’s the beginning of what is going to happen in Santa Cruz county. It’s not only important for our students to learn core academics now, but with the increase of mental awareness and health issues within our student population, we need to make sure that our students are resilient as well,” said Romero.
To date, The Choose Love Enrichment Program has been downloaded in all 50 states, and 75 different countries.
