• go to The Respect Institute

-275 million children worldwide witness domestic violence every year (UNICEF). -While 1 in 5 teens in a serious relationship report being hit, slapped or pushed by a partner (LoveIsRespect.org).
-Half of teens admit to bullying someone in the past year (Josephson Institute of Ethics).
-8.8 million children in the U.S. witness a crime in their home each year. (DOJ, 1997).
- 1 in 3 teens drop out of high school (EDE Research Center).
-Teen suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among young adults (Centers for Disease Control).

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!

What is the Respect Rally? Watch the video about our ground-breaking girl program:

Respect Rally from Respect Rx on Vimeo.

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.

Comments (0) | by Courtney on January 16

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Are you a:
• teen service provider
• school staff member
• student activities director
• youth organization
• parent
• teen conference planner
• prevention agency

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!

The Rally and Leader Training are now delivered by the new organization: The Respect Institute!

Comments (0) | by Courtney on January 9

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After attending a Respect Rally, more than 500 teens surveyed showed the following notable shifts:

• 98% understood the difference between respect and disrespect (up from 51% prior to attending the Rally).

• 84% 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%).

• 94% said they feel more comfortable setting boundaries and speaking up (up from 70%).

• 66% said they definately knew how to trust their gut (up from 35%).

• 80% said felt safe sharing and addressing ways they’ve seen girls and women disrespected (up from 44%).

• 65% definately had a powerful vision of their future and how they want to change the world (up from 33%).

• 73% understood how to create respect in their relationships (up from 39%).

• 81% said they will definitely get help when they were disrespected or if they need it to achieve their goals or create change (up from 42%).

• 62% of said “no way!” to feeling alone after the Rally (up from 19%).

* Based on a post-program survey of 638 teens.

The Respect Rally

Testimonials about our programs for middle, high school and college students::

"After the Respect Rally, our students saw themselves as agents of change and developed ways to begin spreading respect locally and globally. If Respect Rallies happened at all schools across the nation, our world as a whole would definitely be impacted positively."
—Stephanie Payes, Counselor, KIPP San Jose Collegiate

"The respect philosophy (or the Respect Basics) are quite useful for students and are framed in a new and fresh way. The Respect Basics are kind of a recipe for respecting yourself and others, and it's important for young people to see that respect is a process that doesn't just happen. We must work toward it. Also, what is fresh for students is the emphasis Respect Rx places on the interconnectedness of us all, and how disrespect affects all of us. When one person is disrespected, we are all moved or affected by it. I think it was beneficial to all. Again, some kids were affected in major ways, brought to tears as they discussed the impact of disrespect in their own lives. They made pledges to not allow the chain of disrespect to continue. At any time we can get kids together and make them comfortable as they sort out the respect/disrespect they've seen in their lives, it's going to be beneficial. The Respect Rallies provide a perfect context for this to occur."
—Joe Manning, Respect Rally Leader trainee, Faculty Valley Catholic High School

“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, San Jose, CA

"I am sincere when I say that the past week of Respect Rx assemblies for more than 1,500 girls throughout Connecticut was the most enriching week I have ever spent in my 42 years in education. As a result of the program, many of the girls will be empowered to make changes that will help them develop into strong women who are confident, capable and self-reliant."
—Robert Lehr, Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference & Connecticut Association of Schools

“The Respect Rally was absolutely incredible! I cannot explain to you the impact this had on every woman who attended. They are extremely pumped to hold a Rally next year and have already started talking about it! I really do find myself living the Respect Basics now, too.”
—Jessica Klein, Women's Resource Center, Eastern Michigan University

“In my 25 years in education, I've never been to an assembly where you can hear the overhead lights buzzing at times that's how engrossed the students were in the program.”
—Deborah Rutigliano, Vice Principal, City Hill Middle School

"Courtney, Respect Rx's founder, is a phenomenal program facilitator and a true gift to the girls she works with. She is, as she teaches the girls to be, a 'creative, resourceful and whole' woman who truly leads by example. I found her style to be intuitive and organic which created activities and conversations that were inspiring and incredibly impactful for the girls and adults alike. Her energy set such a positive tone, and she created a safe space where everyone treated each other with respect, was open to learning and growing and was encouraged to explore and celebrate their unique strengths and talents. It has been wonderful to work with her on the uniquely ME! program!"
—Leanne Gluck, Project Manger, uniquely ME!, The Girl Scouts of the USA

"The feedback received from students regarding Courtney's Respect Basics presentation was very positive and they greatly appreciated both her showing her genuine self through sharing her story as well as her practical Basics the students could use in their day to day. After Courtney left, I had students telling me how much more they realized they too had a story and they were worth something. I believe this event triggered students in a way that will now challenge them to "get help," one of the Respect Basics. I would recommend the program to other campuses and we will certainly invite Respect Rx back to SJSU."
—Staci Gunner, Student Conduct & Civility Coordinator, Division of Student Affairs, San Jose Sate University

"Courtney embodies what she teaches. Her passion, creativity and confidence in women and girls is contagious. She offered us numerous practical tools, which proved invaluable in helping us to carry out our mission, and in building empowerment, tolerance, and respect amongst our volunteers and the girls we aim to serve. One thing that truly sets Courtney apart from other leaders and advocates is her ability to affect individuals and the group at the same time. Courtney not only inspires social change, but she makes it possible."
—Sarah Mehlfeld, Program Coordinator of the Bay Area Girls Rock Camp

"Courtney is able to connect with young women in a manner that at once opens them up to their most vulnerable selves, and also allows them to identify and stand in their power. Her ability to connect with young women across class, race, and age, coupled with her passion to truly partner with young women to create social change, has made her an invaluable resource."
—Patricia Torres, Program Director, Girls For A Change

Evaluation Comments: Adult Training Participants
“I respected the safe environment—many wonderful activities to use with my students.”

“It was interactive and transformative.”

“I liked the positive focus on action-based resources and materials. I rediscovered that opening up personally and connecting with kids is how you begin to impact them.”

“The presenters were incredible! I'm inspired to create a similar lesson plan for the students in my school.”

“I'm now inspired to enact changes in my school and to make a DIFFERENCE!”

“We were so excited by the program and the direct impact it can have with the young women at our school. We are already planning to meet tomorrow to summarize what we learned and begin to formulate a plan for our girls.”

Girl Participants
“I was really inspired. I came home today and looked in the mirror and was surprised to find that I was actually proud of who I saw. I think it’s because of what you said about respecting yourself and being happy with who you are. Thank you so much for helping me achieve better self-esteem in just one day.”

“My favorite part of the assembly was how we went forward five years to meet our Future Self. I thought it was so cool. I also loved how you shared your story from when you were younger. I think it touched everyone’s hearts. Thank you for coming to our school; it was very fun and interesting, I think all other girls in different schools would love it too!”

“I liked that it was hands-on, not all listening.”

“I learned that you shouldn't change who you are because real friends should accept you for you and for the ones that don't, they weren't meant to be in your life.”

“You showed me that I can be what I want to be, and that you can be yourself, anytime, anyplace.”

“It made me realize that whenever I think times are rough, that someone loves me for being ME!!! Your assembly today also made me remember that I need to stop being who everyone else wants me to be, and just be who I want to be. Thank you for setting me straight and realizing the important things, and not just the foolish things that seem to fill teenagers’ minds. You inspired me today!”

“Girls in my school who are geeks, popular, and goth showed their true selves.”

“People in my grade that I thought would never speak up actually talked. Although I wasn't one of them, I really enjoyed hearing what they had to say and saw them in a different way. I really liked what you did and think people might actually change from it.”

"I wanted to tell you that your program did boost my confidence. It was incredible how just one little program could do that to you. I mean, I saw the other girls share their personal insecurities and it made me comfortable in my own skin. Everyone has their amazing qualities that make them who they are and unique. I learned that if we tried to be like other people, we're just lying to ourselves and not becoming who we really are. I also learned that you shouldn't change who you are because real friends should accept you for you."

Read more testimonials from girls. Read more testimonials from advocates.

Comments (0) | by Courtney on June 18

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