RespectRx.com is now the home of Courtney Macavinta's blog.

Does this sound like thriving to you?

Our programs are designed to empower youth, families and community members with The Respect Basics to reverse all of these negative trends and to lead us toward a better world.

The Respect Rally is a half-day summit or assembly where middle school, high school, college students or just girls learn to boost their self-respect, improve relationships and become leaders of change.

The Rally is now delivered by the new organization: The Respect Institute!

DOWNLOAD a Respect Rally Information Kit below
All the information you need about the Rally!

What does the Respect Rally include?
The Respect Rally is a four-hour conference—followed by a 24-session curriculum (The Respect Keep It Going! Kit)—that empowers teens to boost self-respect and spread respect for all through Respect Basics.

The program includes:
• 2 phone coaching sessions prior to the event focused on co-designing the event to meet your organization’s needs, such as event planning logistics, sponsorship and marketing ideas (if needed), registration process, volunteer staffing plan and setting outcomes.
• Planning Guide with guidelines, tips and a checklist for planning your Rally.
• All-day facilitation of the Rally (8 hours total with set-up)
• Activity worksheet, a Respect Rx gift for participants and one copy of RESPECT for your site.
• The Respect: Keep It Going! Kit includes up to 24 additional respect-building sessions (from workshops to group discussions to materials for creating an after-school Respect Pods for teens.) 

• Free access to all updated and new Rally and Kit activities or handouts.
• Membership to Respect Connect—our online social network for Rally Leaders and participants.
• 1 post-program evaluation and goal-setting coaching call for the organization.

What is the format?
Respect Rallies were designed as a full-day immersion experience. All participants gather in one space and work in Respect Pods throughout the Rally. Some adult volunteers are needed as Respect Role Models who help create a safe and supportive space for teens. A Rally can also be a component of a larger conference, leadership program or camp. In addition, the modules can be broken up and delivered workshop-style over the course of a few weeks.

How old do teens need to be to participate?
The Rally was designed for teens in grades 9-12. However, you can customize the Rally to be a college event or as a 90-minute program for middle school students called Respect Connect.
• Download the Respect Rally One Sheet about our new co-ed program. (PDF)
• Download the Respect Rally Information Kit about our girl program (PDF)

How many teens can participate?
Up to 500 depending on space and adult volunteers. Teens sit in circles (pods) for a large part of the event. A Respect Rally can also be a component of a larger conference, leadership program or camp. In addition, the modules can be broken up and delivered workshop-style over the course of a few weeks.

What do teens learn?
Through storytelling, music, group activities, dialogue circles, self-reflection, community support and vision-building exercises, teens learn what respect truly means. They define respect and disrespectful behavior and how it affects them. They learn how to take action to create more respect in their lives. And when they leave a Rally, teens report that they know how to boost their self-respect, create mutual respect in relationships, make positive choices and take action to change their world so all people are respected.

“I loved that the Respect Rally allowed our 600 students to bond in smaller groups and see that the issue of respect is universal. The language Respect Rx uses is so perfect—it's like the language of teenagers and allows them to express themselves and tap into their power to address issues of disrespect in their lives. The visualization during the Rally was absolutely amazing—to see total silence as they were doing reflection, the girls scribbling while writing their letters, their eagerness to share with the group. The student-run Respect Groups have also been something that girls really resonate with as far as taking control of their lives. The Kit is easy to integrate with girls leading the way.” —Heidi Rolfson, Counseling Department Chairperson, Notre Dame High School in San Jose

Can we do a Rally for boys?
YES! In 2009, we launched our Rally program for boys and a co-ed version. We can also customize the Rally to meet your organization's scheduling or prevention or awareness-raising focus, such as body image, bullying, communication and boundaries, drug, tobacco & alcohol prevention, goal-setting or dating violence prevention.

What changes for teens after the Rally?
After attending the Rally:
• 98% of teens understood the difference between respect and disrespect (up from 51% prior to attending the Rally).
• 84% of teens understood how to respect themselves (up from 25%).
• 72% pledged to follow their passions (up from 37%).
• 90% respected each other as equals (up from 65%).
• 82% felt equipped to make positive choices and act as role models (up from 42%).
• Detailed outcomes: Read evaluation results from 500 girls here and girl advocate testimonials. (Boy-specific survey results pending after June 2009 pilot).

What does the program cost?
• Program Fee is based on a sliding scale so we can reach all youth. Travel expenses negotiable based on distance from our San Francisco Bay Area office. Can be included in program fee above based on discussion.

CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE:
email us or call (415) 315-9707

LEADER TRAINING
Learn about how you can complete a Respect Rally Leader Training.

Who wants to:
...teach teens about self-respect?
...show teens how to create mutual respect in relationships?
...break the cycle of and prevent alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse, eating disorders, bullying, pregnancy, STDs, high-school dropout or dating violence among teens?
...foster self-respecting choices among teens?
...develop teens as leaders who spread respect for all?
...host an annual interactive teen conference that's coupled with a respect-building curriculum for your organization?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you're ready to attend a Respect Rally Leader Training based on our best-selling and award-winning book for girls, RESPECT: A Girl's Guide to Getting Respect & Dealing When Your Line Is Crossed, which has been featured by CNN, National Public Radio, USA Today, Glamour, Teen Vogue and others.

Now the Rally is for guys too!

"Dealing with sexual harassment and your teens" Does your teenage daughter know when she's being sexually harassed? It's far more prevalent than you might think. Courtney Macavinta, co-author of "Respect: A Girl's Guide to Getting Respect & Dealing," has some tips on talking to your children. Watch the clip.
(06/10/08)

"Much Ado About Miley:" Miley Cyrus’ sexy Vanity Fair photo shoot and her subsequent offer from Playboy are on the tips of collective tongues everywhere. Add in the sexy new Gossip Girl ad currently making waves—and focus on disturbing girl fight videos being posted on the web—and it’s no wonder that many parents are obviously concerned about how their daughters are being influenced by these media blasts and celebrity role models. Watch the clip here.
(05/14/08)

"Self-Respect for Teens:" A teenage girl's life today is often ruled by unrealistic images and ideals. This may be limiting their personal potential by creating a negative body image and putting them under unnecessary pressure. Here's what we can do as parents to encourage our girls to hold their heads up high with self-respect.
(11/06/07)