Ashley Rhodes Courter
- The Quintessential American Success Story Child Advocate
- Education and Overcoming Adversity Speaker
Travels From
Florida
Since her first National Keynote at age 14, Ashley Rhodes-Courter has shared her story with thousands in the United States and in over 7 countries.
Ashley Rhodes-Courter, MSW, is the quintessential American success story. Born in 1985 to a single teen mother, by the age of 3 she was in Florida’s foster care system where she spent almost ten years being shuttled between 14 homes—some quite abusive—before being adopted from a Children’s Home at the age of twelve.
Despite her ordeal, she excelled in school because she believed that, “my education was the one thing nobody could take from me.” Early in her life she felt compelled to advocate for herself and the other children she lived with, particularly in the abusive foster homes.
Her efforts and academic achievements landed her Eckerd College’s Trustee Scholarship where she graduated with honors and ahead of schedule earning a double major in Communications and Theater and a double minor in Political Science and Psychology. Ashley then went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California.
During her undergraduate studies, she was one of 20 college students selected for the USA Today All-USA Academic Team and was named one of GLAMOUR Magazine’s Top Ten College Women. She was also selected as one of the four Golden BR!CK Award winners for outstanding advocacy for community change by DoSomething!. As part of their campaign, she was featured on 25 million bags of Cool Ranch Doritos.
By the age of 22, Ashley had become a New York Times Bestselling Author. Her first book, “Three Little Words” is now an International Bestseller and has been published in at least 4 countries. Her second book, “Three More Words” debuted at #1 on Amazon Bestseller’s List. Both books are used in classrooms across the country in various community and First Year Experience Collegiate programs.
Ashley has received State, local, and National awards for her speaking, advocacy, and philanthropy. She has spoken on Capitol Hill and has been invited to the White House twice. “Three Little Words” is now being made into a major motion picture.
For more information on Ashley Rhodes Courter, contact Executive Speakers Bureau at 901-754-9404.
Motivating Change in Three Little Words
(Based on her award-winning International and New York Times Bestselling memoir, Three Little Words)
Born in 1985 to a single teen mother Ashley was placed in foster care at the age of 3. Most of her 14 placements were abusive and overcrowded. In one home, 16 people lived in a small trailer where the children were regularly beaten, neglected, verbally assaulted, and starved. Another foster parent became a convicted pedophile. At one point, she was also placed with an alcoholic relative that was shot twice in front of her.
After spending almost ten years in the system, Ashley was finally adopted from a group home when she was twelve. Instead of seeing herself as a victim, Ashley has used her experience to find the strength to accomplish incredible things. She became a New York Times Bestselling author by age 22, holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work, ran for Florida State Senate at age 26, created and heads a non-profit organization, and she has been a foster parent to more than 20 children. In this inspiring keynote, Ashley will show audiences how to overcome their own personal and professional challenges to accomplish more than they ever thought possible. She delivers her story with humor and grace, and attendees will leave energized and ready to take on the world!
Partial List of Takeaways:
- Decode several key elements of resilience like: Accountability, optimism and openness, identifying constructive influences, and accepting and giving help
- Becoming a successful life strategist and overcoming fears or “failures”
- Impact positive thinking and introspection by turning set-backs into successes
- Give hope, inspiration, and motivation through a personal story of perseverance and determination
- Encourage community engagement
The Keys to the Kingdom: School as Sanctuary
Ashley talks about the importance of recognizing strengths, engaging students and youth, and reminds us that school may be the only sanctuary some students have.
Keynote, Commencement, and Workshop options are individualized for each group. Areas of expertise for Youth and Professionals can include information from the following topics:
- Tips for teaching through tough times or connecting with troubled or difficult students
- Explore why some students act the way they do: the impact of coming from a broken home
- How to engage beyond the textbooks
- Provide potential assessment tools
- Helping Students succeed and transition
- The ACEs Decoded: Working through Adverse Childhood Experiences
- Trauma-Informed Classrooms
- LGBTQ+ issues and understanding
- How to create safer, more inclusive schools
- Embracing Diversity
- Transitioning to College and Collegiate Success
Power of One Person and Making a Difference: How One Person Can Change the Life of Another
It only takes one person to change the life of another and Ashley’s story serves as a passionate example of triumph and inspiration.
Partial List of Takeaways:
- How to reengage or recruit employees, workers, or volunteers
- Top 10 tips on engaging the local community
- How to successfully raise funds for a non-profit organization or cause
- Turn personal pain or tragedies into a powerful voice for others
- How to help another while maintaining self-care and avoiding debilitating transference
Three More Words: Coming Full Circle
Based on her life experiences and #1 Bestselling memoir, Three More Words, Ashley Rhodes-Courter, MSW, works with organizations to personalize presentations to meet their specific needs and objectives. Ashley is a foster child who came full circle to become a social worker, volunteer, AND foster/adoptive parent. Ashley and her husband have cared for more than 25 children and their eldest of three children was adopted from foster care. Her unparalleled, multi-faceted experiences give audiences a deeper understanding of the various traditionally underrepresented populations many non-profits serve. Ashley leaves audiences having seen a true story of resiliency in the face of extreme adversity, and the healing power of service to others.
Takeaways and Objectives may include:
- Raising funds for charitable groups by personifying their work
- How to give and receive help
- Creating Positive Influences and Setting Goals
- Becoming, or helping others become, a successful life strategist
- Making a positive impact by turning Pain into Power
- Give hope, inspiration, and motivation through a personal story of perseverance and determination
- Encourage community engagement
- Volunteer, Donor, and Member Retention
