Respect Rally

The Respect Rally is a summit that empowers those ages 10-24 (middle school, high school or college students) to boost self-respect and spread respect for all through The Respect Basics.

Our work has been featured by CNN, National Public Radio, USA Today, Glamour, Teen Vogue and others. Based on the success of our founding girl program, we created a co-ed Rally and are currently creating boys-only programming.

After attending the Rally:

• 98% of 500 participants surveyed understood the difference between respect and disrespect (up from 51% prior to attending the Rally.
• 90%  respected each other as equals (up from 65%).
• 82% felt equipped to make positive choices and act as role models (up from 42%).

Who can host a Rally?
Schools, nonprofit organizations, advocacy and counseling service providers, communities or for-profit organizations who are leading educational conferences, for example.

How long is the Rally?
2 hours for middle schools and 4 hours for high schools and colleges. The Rally is interactive with music, videos, physical exercises, experiential activities, powerful discussions and breaks. Participants work in Respect Circles throughout the program and connect with the whole room throughout the day. We also offer an assembly version that’s 90 minutes.

What kind of space/AV do you require?
An indoor, open floor-plan like a gym, cafeteria, community room or other space that allows you to set up multiple circles of chairs (for up to 10 people each), and allows for chairs to be moved around for certain activities. We’ll send you AV requirements and room set-up checklist when your Rally is confirmed.

Do we need volunteers/staff to help during the Rally?
Yes. You need at least one licensed counselor/MFT/MSW on site to help create a safe space for all Rallies. Staff/volunteers are needed to direct participants to their Respect Circles, set up and break down the room for the Rally. Middle school: One adult per Respect Circle. High school: Faculty can sit in Circles if you want to create a stronger bond between staff and students. Or we recommend 1 to 20 adult-student ration in the room to support students during the Rally. College: Staff participation is optional.

Is the Rally therapeutic?
The goal of the Rally is to inspire participants to use The Respect Basics in their own lives so they can thrive, create more respect in their relationships, and be leaders of social change. It’s not designed as a therapeutic program. During the Rally, however, students share examples of respect and disrespect they’ve seen around them. When youth or young adults discuss examples of disrespect they have seen in their world, they often share examples such as teasing, bullying, cliques, fighting, family alcohol and drug addiction, abuse, sexting, racism, crime, war, gang violence or sexual harassment, to name just a few examples. The nature of  the Rally is not to encourage personal disclosure for therapeutic purposes. But sometimes, it does get personal for participants. For this reason, we require hosts to review the program content with our team before their Rally, create a More Resources plan should someone need more support after the Rally, to have a trained counselor on site, to advise participants that the Rally is not 100% confidential (mandatory reporters are in the room), and to get parental permission if the Rally is for minors.

What happens after the Rally?
You commit to keep RESPECT going year after year through our training and follow-up program. Rally hosts are trained to integrate the Respect: Keep It Going! Kit (a multi-week program) into your organization’s programming. For example, schools often use the Kit in homerooms, advisory/family groups, classroom sessions or as after-school program. The Rally is the inspirational kick-off event and the Kit is how you make respect the status quo.

What does the Rally cost?
As a 501(c)3 organization, we work on a sliding scale and the program fee ranges (from no cost to a fee for the program, materials and leader travel).

To inquire about program details and fees, please fill out this short form.