The Choose Love Movement with Scarlett Lewis

The Choose Love Movement with Scarlett Lewis

Las Vegas pastor, Troy Martinez, founder of Dads in Schools
Scarlett’s guest is Las Vegas pastor, Troy Martinez, founder of Dads in Schools. In response to rising behavioral issues, substance abuse and even gangs, Troy brought together a movement of community leaders, parents, and local volunteers who understand the power of presence to provide a safe environment that enables students to thrive as they focus on their relationships and education. This successful program can be duplicated in your area to provide sense of safety and caring. https://www.dadsinschools.com/
Learn more About Scarlett here: https://chooselovemovement.org/

The Choose Love Movement with Scarlett Lewis

Andrea Ackerly, illustrator and educator, Kimberly J. B. Smith “The Dove Who Inspired Beyond Barbed Wire"
"I have been so inspired by you and what you've taught me. So much about what I've learned through the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement has led Kimberly and I to writing the words on the pages in our book The Dove Who Inspired Beyond Barbed Wire: Dr. Viktor Frankl.” 
Scarlett’s guests are author and educator, Andrea Ackerly and illustrator and educator, Kimberly J. B. Smith. They discuss their new book, “The Dove Who Inspired Beyond Barbed Wire".
A shared admiration for the life and teachings of Dr. Viktor Frankl inspired this book collaboration and its message will inspire all who read it to focus on the things they can control and focus on fulfilling a loving and meaningful life of service and kindness.
Learn how to have hard conversations with your kids, about current events. This is a timely podcast! To purchase this book: https://www.amazon.com/Dove-Inspired-Beyond-Barbed-Wire/dp/1960142992
Learn more About Scarlett here: https://chooselovemovement.org/

The Choose Love Movement with Scarlett Lewis

Keely Roberts after the tragedy that forever changed the lives of her family members and Highland Park, IL
Scarlett Lewis met Keely Roberts a few months after the tragedy that forever changed the lives of her family members and the Highland Park, IL community. During their July 4th Independence Day parade in 2022, a gunman opened fire killing seven people and injuring more than 40. Among the victims were Keely Roberts, and her twin sons Cooper and Luke, both 8 at the time. Cooper was hit in the back with a bullet that exited his chest, damaging his aorta, liver, esophagus and spinal cord, paralyzing him from the waist down. His fraternal twin brother, Luke, was also wounded.
The gunman Robert Crimo III, 22, is awaiting trial on 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm. His father, Robert Crimo Jr., 59, was also arrested on seven counts of felony reckless conduct for allegedly helping his son procure a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card when he knew his son was a danger to the public. He recently pled guilty and is now serving time in jail. The Robertses, along with dozens of others, also filed a lawsuit against the Crimos, manufacturer Smith & Wesson, online distributor Buds Gun Shop and retailer Red Dot Arms. “We moved to Highland Park because it was safe. And then this happens,” says Keely, a former school superintendent. “But by the grace and kindness of others, a lot of good has happened too.”
Keely proposes a fantastic idea - What does it mean to be a villager? accountable for human connection, seeing the light of humanity in each other, being kind, fault versus responsibility, leaning into community, being part of something greater than yourself, asking for help, open and trust of those around you, reminding yourself there is more good than bad. caring show we don't walk along. "Human existence is a team sport" SEL is fundamentally critical, at least as important as academics. 
Learn more About Scarlett here: https://chooselovemovement.org/

The Choose Love Movement with Scarlett Lewis

Scarlett Interviews Jonathan Lewis Sr.
Jonathan Lewis, Sr.'s son was murdered outside his high school in Las Vegas by a group of fellow classmates. The attack occurred on 11/1/23 and he was taken off life support 6 days later. Jonathan Jr. died defending his friend. He was murdered over a set of headphones and a vape pen. His dad responded by expressing forgiveness and compassion toward his killers.  He said, "I think there's a failure of all humanity to recognize that we need to be teaching our kids to co-exist."  He says, 'we are the ones we've been waiting for....' https://teamjonathanlewis.com
Learn more About Scarlett here: https://chooselovemovement.org/

The Choose Love Movement with Scarlett Lewis

Rick Rood, New Mexico Choose Love Ambassador and Choose Love Professional Development Instructor
Scarlett Lewis' guest is Rick Rood, New Mexico Choose Love Ambassador and Choose Love Professional Development instructor, also 5th grade educator incorporating the Choose Love curriculum, and a professional coach/educator for over 30 years. He is proficient in math/music/tech and education so Rick uses all aspects of his brain to help kids, and big kids expand and excel to be the best versions of themselves! 
The Choose Love Coaching program is a 12-week curriculum-based journey towards internalization of the Choose Love concepts and successful unique-case implementation in an educational setting (school, classroom, Afterschool Program, etc.). School leaders will work in a group coaching setting or one-on-one with a Choose Love certified coach and practitioner to deepen their understanding of the core principles of the Choose Love formula and its successful and meaningful implementation.
Register for Choose Love's January spotlight webinar with Rick Rood to introduce Choose Love's new coaching program. https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/mnc6tft/lp/7a5f7524-5616-4c2a-a15d-8bc14aeec9b7
Learn more About Scarlett here: https://chooselovemovement.org/

The Choose Love Movement with Scarlett Lewis

Jenna Moniz, Education Program Specialist for the HeartMath Institute
Scarlett interviews Jenna Moniz, education program specialist for the HeartMath Institute. They discuss the power the heart has to influence all organs in the body based on your thoughts and emotions. Every bodily system syncs with the heart. Using scientific measurements of heart rate variability, the time intervals between heartbeats. High HRV is a result of anxiety, stress and anger and leads to depression, health issues and higher risk of death. High HRV is a result of love and appreciation and results in enhanced well-being, performance, cognition, sleep, your body's ability to relax and recover, resilience, flexibility and adaptability. The goal is heart coherence and order, harmony and stability where your nervous system is synchronized and your bodily systems optimized.  Your brain's function improves with heart coherence and enables you to access the intelligence of the heart that includes higher level thinking and problem solving capabilities. Using the Choose Love formula and changing angry thoughts to loving ones increases HRV and adds to coherence. Your level of coherence can impact those around you bringing peace, or chaos. Learn how to find coherence in this podcast and maximize your potential as well as your students’ potential.
Learn more About Scarlett here: https://chooselovemovement.org/

The Choose Love Movement with Scarlett Lewis

Reformed School Shooter, Jon Romano Part 3
“Not every story has a happy ending…but the discoveries of science, the teachings of the heart, and the revelations of the soul, all assure us that no human being is ever beyond redemption. The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.” Gabor Mate
Scarlett Lewis continues her conversation with attempted school shooter, Jon Romano. They discuss the pain, trauma and abuse that can lead to the pathway to violence. After Jon’s incarceration, he has found that ‘healed people, heal people.’ He currently works at a homeless shelter helping others with mental health struggles. They discuss how Choose Love works in prisons using the formula (courage+gratitude+forgiveness+compassioninaction) to teach prisoners how to manage emotions, essential life skills, how to have healthy relationships and make responsible decisions.
Learn more About Scarlett here: https://chooselovemovement.org/

The Choose Love Movement with Scarlett Lewis

Reformed School Shooter, Jon Romano Part 2
“Not every story has a happy ending…but the discoveries of science, the teachings of the heart, and the revelations of the soul, all assure us that no human being is ever beyond redemption. The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.” Gabor Mate
Scarlett Lewis continues her conversation with Jon Romano who has been released from serving a 17 year prison sentence for carrying out a school shooting in his high school in NY. He continues to heal and begins working in a homeless shelter. A man attacks him one day with knives and he becomes permanently disabled. Jon forgave the man, even advocating for a lighter sentence at his trial. He is trying to figure out how to move forward today and be part of the solution. A solution he says could come from educators never giving up on their students and through their love and caring. He believes social and emotional learning, starting as early as possible, would be helpful. He also believes that educators, parents, and students need to be aware of the resources that are available to them and make mental health a priority. In fact, Jon advocates for talking about brain illness rather than mental illness to reduce stigma and so more people will seek help. People make mistakes, learn and grow from them. We forgive people, as we forgive ourselves and allow them to take what they’ve learned to help others, and us in the process.
Learn more About Scarlett here: https://chooselovemovement.org/

The Choose Love Movement with Scarlett Lewis

Reformed School Shooter, Jon Romano Part 1
“Not every story has a happy ending…but the discoveries of science, the teachings of the heart, and the revelations of the soul, all assure us that no human being is ever beyond redemption. The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.” Gabor Mate
Scarlett Lewis’ guest is reformed school shooter, Jon Romano, who discusses his state of mind when at sixteen years old, he walked into his East Greenbush, NY high school and opened fire. A teacher was shot and injured as staff tried to wrestle the gun away from him. Jon pled guilty and spent the next 17 years in several federal prisons, in the general population. He reveals how he faced depression and a sense of despair at the time of the shooting. Jon wants to raise awareness and resources to direct our attention to the prevention of school shootings by social emotional learning so students can identify their own emotions and communicate with others who are struggling. 
We can listen to Jon’s story and see him as a human being in pain. When we understand his thought process, unmet needs, and level of pain, we learn how and why school shootings happen. Instead of simply blaming, we can proactively prevent school shootings by offering assistance to kids like Jon who are struggling. Scarlett and Jon discuss positive action steps that we can take today. Listen to this powerful 3 part podcast.
Learn more About Scarlett here: https://chooselovemovement.org/

The Choose Love Movement with Scarlett Lewis

Meena Srinivasan: Voted 1 of 10 Powerful Women of Mindfulness
Scarlett interviews individuals she believes are standouts in their efforts to provide hope and healing for our children and world. Meena Srinivasan is one of these individuals. Voted 1 of 10 powerful women of mindfulness and 'a precious ambassador of mindfulness' by Thict Nhat Han, Meena's philosophy born of her spiritual background has made a powerful impact in education. Scarlett and Meena explore 'who we truly are' and the mind body connection. They discuss the importance of understanding 'interbeing' as a concept - we are never alone and always supported. The concept of tenderness cultivates genuine connection and awakens us to the vulnerability needed for a deep sense of belonging. Listen to incredibly powerful practices you can start today  that ground you in the presence and wonder of your life as it is now. Learn a practice called 'turning towards' that enables us to strength our relationships and make new ones.
Learn more About Scarlett here: https://chooselovemovement.org/