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Next week I'll be heading to Connecticut to lead Self-Esteem Week! We'll be empowering more than 1,000 girls and hundreds of adults with the tools and inspiration to get REAL.

The week is presented by the dedicated folks at the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference and Dove Self-Esteem Fund. I can't wait to see some of the girls and educators I met last year and to work together to change our world--inside and out!

Comments (0) | by Courtney on April 22

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In the wake of Jamie Lynn Spears' pregnancy and movies like "Juno," teen pregnancy almost seems trendy. Well it should at least be a hot topic: More than 750,000 teen girls are getting pregnant each year. And the Latino community—my community—currently has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the U.S. More than half of all Latina girls get pregnant at least once by age 20.

Many teens say they are concerned about pregnancy, but still think "it can't happen to me." Well before you roll the dice (and no judgment: we've been there fellow risk-takers) remember, sex without respect is always risky. That's why we've partnered with the The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy to promote May 7 as the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Like Respect Rx, the project is centered around making informed choices, knowing your boundaries and respecting yourself.

For those who aren't ready to get a STD (not fun) or not ready to be moms or deal with the responsibility that comes with it, you deserve to be empowered to make choices that are right for you. Or if you've been taking risks out in the sexual scene and don't feel great about the outcomes, then do check out the quiz below to find out how you make choices about S-E-X. You'll also find TV ads made for teens, by teens to raise awareness on the issue (you can enter—the best ad wins $500!) It's all at StayTeen.org. Girl advocates: There are lots of tools on the site for you too.

And for the teen moms out there, we want you to know that you're not alone. You deserve support, resources and the chance to continue your own healthy development. My mom was a teen mom and she didn't really get that chance until way later in life. Fyi, teen mothers are less likely to complete school and more likely to be single parents. Just another reason to take care of you—before, during and after sex (and all the stuff that goes with it).

Comments (0) | by Courtney on May 7

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Next week I'll be heading to Connecticut to lead Self-Esteem Week! We'll be empowering more than 1,000 girls and hundreds of adults with the tools and inspiration to get REAL.

The week is presented by the dedicated folks at the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference and Dove Self-Esteem Fund. I can't wait to see some of the girls and educators I met last year and to work together to change our world--inside and out!

Comments (0) | by Courtney on April 22

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I'm making the rounds as an inner beauty expert for CosmoGIRL! Check out below for more details:

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Comments (0) | by Courtney on April 14

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Why do so many of us hate on our bodies? Is it all the toxic media we digest or a mean comment someone made to us in 3rd grade (or just last week)? So many girls are at odds with their bodies and want to change something—or everything—about the way they look.

Still, your body is where you live—your home sweet home. Your body is here to support you being the real you and fulfilling your dreams. That's why respecting yourself means respecting your body. Try these body image boosters to help you appreciate your body and encourage healthy choices that work for you. Tips featured on uniquely ME!

Comments (0) | by Courtney on March 20

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Guest post by Vanessa Van Petten, author of You're Grounded!

"You can't write a book, you are just 17, and you are a girl!"

No. Way. I believe that you can do anything you put your mind to, and girls, especially have the power to change the world. When I was 17, I realized the gap between parents and teens was growing even deeper, and parents needed to hear from real teens about what their own kids were doing.

It took many months of late nights, spending all of my allowance and babysitting money and working really hard, but I finally self-published a parenting guide from a teen's perspective—called "You're Grounded!" That is when I realized that we can do anything we work hard at! Here are few ways girls, and parents of girls, can be encouraged to take leadership positions early in life—because you can make a difference:

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Comments (0) | by Courtney on March 20

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My dad is in jail for drugs. So much has happened to my family because of him. I want to forgive him but it's hard to go see him. I can't even think about him without crying. I still love him. What should I do?

Rx: First things first [LONG HUG]. One thing I haven't written about too much here, but that I talk to girls a lot about in person, is that I've been exactly where you are right now. My dad was in and out of jail a lot when I was growing up. Before I was born he also did a long stretch in federal prison. All of his arrests were connected to suffering from the disease of alcohol/drug addiction. My dad went through hell in his life—and my mom, me and my sibs got our share too because of it.

My first memory is of my mom holding me up as a human shield to try get my dad to stop beating her—possibly to stop from killing her. I remember that she was covered in blood and cowering on the bed into a corner. I remember the wild look in my father’s eyes as our eyes met. I think he was definately high. I was somewhere around 2-years-old. And my dad did stop. That time.

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Comments (0) | by Courtney on March 11

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I just met the awesome people behind the new documentary Girls Rock!, which tells the inspiring story of girls who attended the The Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls in Portland. At the camp, girls ages 8-18 come from all over the country to learn to rock. The girls form bands, write songs and build community. They bang their heads! Listen to our conversation on KALW's Your Call radio about girl culture and Girls Rock! here.

Please go see the movie (clip below) which opens this weekend! And check out the web site for more screening dates through May. To get inspired, watch the trailer, which, well, rocks! The movie is about the universal struggles girls go through and how the camp is life-changing for this group. (It would be for anyone!) They discover a support network and their strengths. And the girls' creativity and vulnerability just blows me away (as usual!).

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Comments (0) | by Courtney on March 7

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This Saturday, 500 girls joined us in Getting REAL at the Jenna Druck Foundation's annual “Spirit of Leadership” Conference. It was one of the most amazing events of our lives! The girls were inspired by the legacy of an amazing young woman Jenna—a passionate leader, great friend and very loved daughter and sister.

The girls came from all over San Diego to confirm something major: That every young woman is ALREADY a leader, and that this world needs every girl to lead in her own way!

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Comments (0) | by Courtney on March 4

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• 92% of teen girls would like to change something about the way they look
• 86% of the approx. 10 million American girls and women who suffer from an eating disorder report the onset of their condition by age 20
• Just 2% of women think they’re beautiful
• More than 50% of women between ages 18-25 would rather be run over by a truck than be “fat”

Girls and women: We don’t have to let unrealistic ideals diminish our power. We can get REAL instead.

Check out the Getting REAL workshops for girls, college women and moms. And join our Getting REAL new social network.
Colleges: Book this interactive presentation today in conjunction with your campus’ National Eating Disorders Awareness Week or V-Day programs in 2008.

Comments (0) | by Courtney on March 1

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My dad always yells at me and calls me names. It really hurts my feelings but if I yell back I get in even more trouble. My mom doesn't do anything. What should I do?

Rx: First, [hug]. Second, I totally feel for you—I know that it really does hurt so much. What you're dad is doing is called "verbal abuse" and for most if us it leaves deep scars just like physical abuse. You just can't see the wounds as easily, right?

When our family put us down it seems to hurt more than anything in the world because we love them so much (and want them to love us). But the yelling and name-calling can make us feel just the opposite: Like no one loves us. And when this happens, a disrespect spiral starts that can pull you off course from reaching your potential in life. It's hard to make your dreams come true and to be the best you if you don't think you're worthy of love and respect.

So how do you deal when someone who is bigger than you, and has power over you, verbally abuses you? Try these steps to protect you and your self-respect:

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Comments (0) | by Courtney on February 25

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