Courtney Macavinta
Jeremy, Tru, Courtney
COURTNEY MACAVINTA is Co-Founder and President of The Respect Institute. She is an award-winning author, speaker, coach and web publisher who has reached millions of youth, families and communities through programs, such as the Respect Rally, her blog RespectRx.com and best-selling book, RESPECT (Free Spirit Publishing, 2005), which has won both IPPY and iParenting awards. Courtney is the visionary leader behind The Respect Institute’s programs and is our spokesperson.
Throughout her tumultuous youth in San Jose, Calif., Courtney dealt with many of the same issues teens face today, from self-doubt and negative body image to risky choices, bullying, potential high-school dropout and confusion about her multi-racial identity—she’s of Mexican, Filipino, Portuguese, French and Irish descent. Her hard-working family also struggled for respect amid substance abuse, incarceration, violence, poverty and racism. Like many, she fought to find respect without a compass or clue—then discovered it was within all along. Today that is her message to people everywhere: Respect is always within reach because true respect starts on the inside.
Courtney has been featured on CNN, ABC, Fox, National Public Radio, MSNBC and in USA Today, CosmoGIRL!, Teen People, Teen Vogue, Mothering, Glamour, The Seattle Times, The San Jose Mercury News and numerous other media. She also has been featured as a role model in the books The Quarterlifer’s Companion, and Cool Women, Hot Jobs. Having been in online media since 1995, Courtney formerly was Editorial Director of the groundbreaking and Webby-nominated online and radio network ChickClick. Additionally, her articles have been published by The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, The Associated Press, The Sacramento Bee, CBS News.com and others.
She has spoken, trained or led event programs for thousands of youth, adults and organizations across the country coaching them to use The Respect Basics to end cycles of disrespect and thrive. She leads our innovative partner model, co-actively leveraging other’s powerful platforms to distribute our respect-building tools and training.
Courtney has partnered with organizations such as Girls Inc., the YMCA, YPO-WPO, Omega Institute Teen Camp, The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, Girl Scouts of the USA, the Dove Self-Esteem Fund, Girls For A Change, Girls Rock! Camp, the state women’s conferences, Junior League, Sidwell Friends Schools, KIPP and Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation. Additionally, she led a special program for teens attending the Democratic National Convention in 2008 and was invited to the White House in 2010 based on her work in domestic violence prevention and youth development. She also did a TEDx Los Gatos Talk in 2011.
Courtney has a B.A. in Journalism from San Francisco State University and is a certified co-active coach (CPCC) through the renowned Coaches Training Institute as well as a graduate of its Leadership Program. She lives in Northern California with her husband, former pro athlete and Respect Rally co-leader Jeremy Cleland, and son Tru.
“I believe our challenge now is to create a world where every child who is born, is born into a circle of respect. And that they accept with passion, the responsibility to create a ripple of respect beyond their circle that travels around the globe. I believe this is possible. Because no matter what you’ve been through, you can always return to respect in your heart. I believe this, because this is my story. My family marinated in many disrespectful cycles (teen pregnancy, high school dropout, addiction, incarceration, joblessness, racism, domestic violence and abuse). Yet I discovered how to create the respect I was looking for, and how to work at recovering from disrespect that comes from the inside and outside. I also believe respect for all is possible because it’s the story of thousands of others I’ve met, whether they are a 5th grader struggling in Los Angeles or a proud grandmother telling her truth in Costa Rica or a father who happens to be the Vice President of the United States of America. We all know, ultimately, that respect is the remedy.” —Courtney
