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Courtney  Macavinta

Courtney Macavinta

Author & Esteem Coach

Courtney Macavinta

Author & Esteem Coach

Biography

Courtney Macavinta is Founder of The Respect Institute (Ri) whose mission is to give youth and their influencers tools to build self-respect so they can end cycles of disrespect and thrive and is based on her internationally best-selling book, RESPECT. Ri has reached more than 150,000 youth and their influencers in schools, jails, and prevention/intervention programs around the globe for the past decade, including a framework for nurturing self-respect in youth, and a program for ending the school-the-to prison pipeline via teacher training and school policy reform.

She’s been featured by CNN, ABC, National Public Radio, USA Today, Teen Vogue, and was as a youth development expert for projects for the Obama Administration and the Clinton Global Initiative.

Her honors include American Express NGen Leadership Award top five, one of the '42 leading women in education' by the University of Southern California, Silicon Valley Woman of Influence, Ashoka Activating Empathy winner, and Local Hero Award Winner by Cosmopolitan for Latinas.

From 2015-2018, she served as a Juvenile Justice Commission for Santa Clara County, California.

Speaker Videos

RESPECT: Building Self Esteem for Our Children

TEDTalk: The Respect Institute

Speech Topics

Respect Connect

This interactive workshop empowers middle school, high school, and college students to boost self-respect and spread respect for all through the Respect Basics: 

  • Tell your truth
  • Know you’re valuable 
  • Follow your passions 
  • Trust your gut 
  • Set boundaries – speak up! 
  • Be compassionate – listen 
  • Get help
  • And spread respect. 

Youth and young adults learn through stories, discussion groups (Respect Pods), videos, and interactive exercises how to make self-respecting choices, create healthy relationships, reach their goals, and end cycles of disrespect, such as bullying, cultural discrimination, peer pressure, inequality, and violence. Youth learn to lead social change to spread respect for the entire community. 

Disrespect Dilemmas: How to Deal

Do your so-called friends or others bully you? Do you struggle with saying “no” or standing up for what you believe in? Have you been on the bad end of a rumor? Have you ever been in a major fight with a siblings or your parents? We all go through these dilemmas. So what makes a relationship respectful? In this workshop, middle and high school students learn how to use the Respect Basics to make sure respect is a basic in all your relationships: family, friends, and with boyfriends/girlfriends.

Do What You Want

Not sure what to do after college or with your future? It’s time to listen to your gut and follow your passions. During interactive and group exercises, get clear on what you want and the resources – inside and out – it will take to make your goals a reality. Create an action plan to get what you want – and the self-respect to go with it.

Body Respect Basics

A big part of self-respect is respecting your body too. We bring to light the forces that can often make a girl disconnect and disrespect from her body or hate her body (and the person who lives there). With eye-opening discussion, girls will walk away with the ability to make healthier choices, and more importantly, how to respect themselves. (Also a great mother-daughter topic.)

Girl Drama: Get the (Respect) Rx

It’s time for a respect revolution – no overthrow necessary! We look at the roots of issues like name-calling, rumors, and sexual harassment so that girls know how to deal in the face of disrespect. Girls also get the tools to rise above drama and transform foes into friends – and most importantly, become their own best friends.

Bully-Proofing Basics

From the Web to mobile phones, school hallways, and even at home, learn how to bully-proof from the inside out using The Respect Basics. In the face of bullying – as bystanders, victims, or when they're tempted to bully – teach your kids how to set boundaries, know they're valuable, ask for help, and spread respect as leaders. 

Dealing with Disrespect Dilemmas

Gossip. Bullying. Negative body image. Family and relationship drama. Cliques. Low self-esteem. Unhealthy behaviors. Risky choices. Peer pressure. Explore common dilemmas youth face based on our nationwide surveying and programs and discover how they can build resiliency through The Respect Basics. Also share the disrespect dilemmas that concern you – in your family and among your kids. Get easy-to-use tools that help you work through conflicts with your kids as well as coaching skills to help them make self-respecting choices and be positive leaders.

Staying Connected: Middle School & Beyond

From the onset of adolescence,  in this session, “youth influencers” – from parents to educators and mentors – get tools you can use to keep the connection strong between you and your kids as their independence grows. Learn coaching skills to help you create a mutually respectful relationship with middle schoolers and how to recover when disrespect or disconnection occurs. Also, find out how to continue to use our Respect Basics tools throughout high school and college years, too.

Testimonials

Books & Media

Books

RESPECT