Children in Johnstown are sharing an important message with each other and the community: choose love.

This week, K-7th grade kids from the Learning Lamp’s free after-school program decorated banners to hang at each of their locations in at-risk neighborhoods: Coopersdale, Moxham and Oakhurst.

Every Monday – Thursday from 4 – 6 p.m., kids in the program get homework help, dinner, make crafts and play games.

“It’s just to kind of help build a positive environment and a positive safe space for them to be in after school,” said Amanda Peretin, the outreach coordinator for the Learning Lamp.

It’s also an educational opportunity.

This year, the Learning Lamp adopted the Choose Love Enrichment Program. It’s a new curriculum that teaches social and emotional skills kids need throughout life and that are scientifically proven to help children have better outcomes when they grow up: by encouraging resilience, compassion and good decision-making.

The Choose Love program is also a way to stay positive despite violence, including the recent Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and two separate shootings in Oakhurst last week that left one man dead and two others injured.

“Because of the violence that we’ve seen, something else that we’re choosing along with our Choose Love Movement, is we’re having our centers become trauma-informed spaces,” said Peretin.

Workers said the program creates a safe space for kids to choose to love themselves and each other.

“Despite what circumstances and what’s around you: how can you choose to be better for yourself?: Peretin said. “Through education, through pushing yourself to do better in school, pushing yourself to have better relationships with your peers and other adults and your community as a whole.”

The signs will hang at all three program locations as a reminder for the kids and the community.

The Learning Lamp is looking for volunteers to work with the children.

To learn more, click here.