And this is why in 2012, we’re focusing on training advocates working in jails & with other at-risk youth through “Respect on the Inside.”

–People under age 25 represent the largest # of re-offenders.

–It costs $90,000 a year to jail a youth in California alone.

–We aim to make 7x our impact in 2012: We can reach 30,000 youth for just $1 each with a life-changing program that helps them re-define respect and master tools to build their self-respect and healthy relationships.

We will maximize your social change investment. Make a tax-deductible donation today and invite your friends to do the same.

With love and respect,
Courtney, Co-Founder of The Respect Institute

Impact Report

About YPO-WPO: YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) connects successful young chief executives in a global network unlike any other. The organization unites approximately 18,000 business leaders in more than 100 countries around a shared mission: Better Leaders Through Education and Idea Exchange™. To join YPO, you must be under the age of 45 and the chief operator (CEO, managing director, president, chairman or equivalent) of a company that fulfills minimum size and revenue requirements. Upon turning 50, you “graduate” from YPO into WPO (World Presidents’ Organization), which allows you to continue reaping the benefits of the YPO experience while also recognizing that your priorities may have shifted over time.

The Respect Institute is proud to work with YPO chapters to serve the entire family with enriching educational programs and events that allow families/spouses/partners to connect. Here is the program we’re doing in Miami:

Thriving in a Supportive Role
Support staff are the linchpins of all organizations. When it comes to your company reaching its goals one thing is for sure: You matter. Learn how to amplify your self-care to insure that you thrive, make “respect” a basic in communication in your organization to make sure it thrives, and lead others in being successful and reaching the organization’s goals from your leadership post. Workshop for executive assistants to CEOs and presidents who are YPO-WPO members.

Reinvent Your Self-Care
Where is your time and energy going? What would fully support you thriving in all areas of your life — your health, relationships, parenting, work, community leadership and beyond? Learn how to practice the Respect Basics to reinvent your self-care, define “balance” in your own terms, and set new boundaries that improve your relationships and to make the impact you want. You’ll connect with other members, share your stories, partner to complete interactive exercises, and get practical tools that help you recognize the energy drains in your life and re-focus your attention on what matters to you most. Most importantly, learn ways to coach yourself and those around you (including your kids) to make self-respect the foundation of your choices.Workshop for YPO-WPO spouse/partners.

Mother-Daughter Program: Keeping Your Connection
Fun, experiential program that lets you connect with your children and other members, share your stories, partner to complete interactive exercises, and get innovative take-aways and tools. Look again at Gossip. Bullying. Negative body image and low self-esteem. Relationship drama. Digital disrespect. Explore together common dilemmas daughters and mothers face and learn how to strengthen your self-respect, communication and bond using The Respect Basics.

Follow @respectrx

Oct. 4
8:30-10:30 am
Howard County Public Schools
Respect: Keep It Going! Kit (12-week program)
Middle School Counselor Training to implement program throughout Howard County schools.

Oct. 5
Howard Community College

9:30 am – 1:00 pm
Middle school workshop—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. 200 7th and 8th graders from 20 middle schools.

2:30-4:30 pm
College workshop—Communication Secrets: Facebook or Facetime?
Come learn some innovative and easy communication tips that will help you end misunderstandings, get where other people are coming from, and get what you want when it comes to your relationships, education or career. Learn how to control your impact—online and offline—when you’re communicating, negotiating and making requests. This interactive workshop will be delivered by The Respect Institute, which works with students and their allies all over the country and has been featured by CNN, USA Today, Teen Vogue and others.

7:00-9:30 pm
Public event—Choose Civility Symposium 2011: BUILDING A RESPONSIBLE, BULLY-FREE COMMUNITY
SMITH THEATER
Save the date for an examination into how civil understanding, respect and behavior can have a positive impact in helping to eradicate bullying. Through our partnerships with the Howard County Public School System and Howard Community College, we will engage the ideas and thoughts of students, their parents, and the Howard County community. The symposium will be moderated by noted NPR journalist Korva Coleman, engaging experts with perspectives from academia, psychology and behavioral science. Featured panelist Courtney Macavinta is President of The Respect Institute and coauthor of the best-seller RESPECT. Additional panelists include Hammond High School Principal Marcy Leonard and psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Brad Sachs.

PARENTS September 26, 6:30-8:30, auditorium
Parents can learn how to keep your bond strong and help your kids deal with bullying, sexting, risky choices and other disrespect dilemmas.

GRHS September 27-29, 2011
Students learn how to build self-respect and end cycles of disrespect so they can thrive during this half-day, nationally praised program. Faculty and student leaders are trained to keep RESPECT going all year through our weekly program!
You can follow what students have to say during the live twitter feed from the program! @grhsrespect!

It’s a cliche but I’ve had a full circle moment. I’ve gone from a girl who saw her mom being beaten, saw her father being arrested, and who couldn’t sleep with the lights off until a few years ago…to being the mother of a son who lives in a safe, healthy household with a father who protects him to being invited to be in a room full of change agents who are working daily to end violence.

I was honored to be a part of the very hard-working crowd at the White House event commemorating Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Vice President Biden, author of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and President Obama both spoke in detail about what they (and their partners) are doing to end violence against women.

The hard truth: One-in-every-four women experiences domestic violence during their lifetimes and more than 20 million women in the U.S. have been victims of rape.

What excited me about the policy news was how comprehensive the plan is to combat violence against women–and children. From helping victims gain financial independence (jobs, housing, credit) to helping children recover from the trauma of witnessing domestic violence.

I was so proud to be able to speak personally with the Vice President and Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) about the importance of helping domestic violence victims get on their feet and stay safe as they try to leave their abusers. The economic strategy piece is so needed. When my mom tried to leave her situation (back in the 1970s) she walked to the bank and asked the manager for $50 loan. Thank god he said yes. But that was her only hope. We need to offer countless lifelines instead.

For example, the President noted that the Department of Housing and Urban Development released new rules today to prevent the victims of domestic violence from being evicted or denied assisted housing because a crime was committed against them. And the Vice President and the DOJ are launching a new effort to help victims of domestic abuse find lawyers to represent them pro bono.

Also a focus: Children need help recovering or they’ll be crippled by the effects of domestic violence–or worse–become abusers, adult victims, addicts or miss their chance to thrive. Baseball manager Joe Torre spoke at the event about growing up in an abusive household the lifelong scars he carried as a result. That’s my story. And it’s the story of tens of millions of other children. I got help–I’m still getting it–but many don’t know how. Or when they reach out the helping hand has been cut off (funding-wise that is).

Still there is work to be done. You need to decide if you support the agenda. The Vice President spoke of how 22,000 calls a month still come into the Domestic Violence Hotline from primarily women. And those are the ones who risk it to reach out.

The coordinated effort that is needed is being helped along by the White House Council on Girls and Women. (Thank you!)

Meanwhile, we’ll be doing our part: Teaching respect for oneself and others as well as building back respect when it is lost so you can thrive.

The President also said, “And if there’s one group that I want to thank, am grateful for, it’s people who are willing to tell their stories — because it’s hard.” My father, who died 10 years ago, would be proud I broke the cycle. Because he told me his truth–he was also was a victim of abuse as a precious boy–and he eventually experienced some healing too. Tell Your Truth is a Respect Basic. And I’m glad I have.

I’m heading to Indonesia to work with a special group of mothers and daughter from YPO-WPO Asia Pacific (July 14-17)! It’s my first-ever international program.

For three days, the women and girls will explore how to strengthen bonds in RESPECT communication workshops while exploring the beautiful tapestry of Bali, yoga and local temples.

Check out how to bring a similar mother-daughter experience to your area and the program PDF about the Bali event to learn more.

Mount Mary College, an urban Catholic college for women sponsored by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, is recognized as a diverse learning community that works in partnership with local, national and global organizations to educate women to transform the world through developing competence, community, compassion and commitment.

This tour stop was sponsored by the Brewers Community Foundation and the Mount Mary Diversity Committee. The Respect Institute was also able to give free copies of RESPECT to all the teen girls in attendance.  Here are just a few of the comments from the participants:

“After today, I have tools to create respect in my relationships”

“I believe respecting myself will help me reach my goals.”

“The Respect Basics are valuable to use in my work”