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Ashley Rhodes-Courter

New York Times Bestselling Author and International Child Welfare Advocate

About

Gender: Female
Nationality:
Languages: English
Travels from: United States

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Biography Highlights

  • She began her speaking career at 14 and has been on the international circuit. After nearly a decade in foster care, she became a New York Times Bestselling Author at 22. At 26, she ran for State Senate. She has raised millions for global non-profits. Her personal story inspires resilience and perseverance in overcoming obstacles. Her second memoir, “Three More Words,” debuted at #1, and her first book, “Three Little Words,” is optioned by Hollywood Producer, Cathy Konrad.

Biography

Meet Ashley Rhodes-Courter

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 was born 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 early, with honors, 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. 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. Her largest audience was a sold-out arena of over 20,000.

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. “Three Little Words” is now being made into a major motion picture.

In December 2021, Ashley was one of 10 incredibly inspiring women showcased on the televised special on NBC for their amazing “Women of Worth” work by L’Oreal Paris, honoring the intrinsic worth of everyday women inspiring others and creating positive change in their communities. Ashley has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Today Show, New York Times, USA Today, Women’s World Magazine, Roadtrip Nation, GLAMOUR Magazine and many more top global outlets.

Videos

Topics

What three little words could change your life? In her most-requested Keynote, Ashley Rhodes-Courter, LCSW, shares her personal story of survival, breaking barriers, and beating the odds. Ashley spent nearly a decade in the foster care system as a child and experienced extreme child abuse and neglect. Today, she is an award-winning New York Times Bestselling Author and CEO. Laugh, cry, and be motivated by her first-hand experiences and unique expertise.

Available: Virtually

Preventing burnout, techniques to help with stress, anxiety, tragedies, and disappointments. What is and isn’t self-care, advocating for yourself and others, perfect for those whose jobs or volunteer work directly serves others. It only takes ONE person to change the life of another.

Available: Virtually

School was a sanctuary for Ashley where she was protected and encouraged by teachers and faculty. These unspoken heroes often do not receive the credit they deserve. Ashley’s trainings and keynotes provide content that help educators identify abuse, neglect, bullying, and explore complicated family dynamics. Audiences leave with useful tools and a renewed sense of purpose and passion.

Available: Virtually

Exploring Growth mindset; tapping into potential; what’s a big problem vs little problem; understanding ourselves and how we process the world; practical tips for developing a more ptimistic outlook; learning lessons; and encourage audiences to focus on solutions rather than problems. When audiences reframe their circumstances, they will gain skills necessary to navigate challenges with confidence, embrace new opportunities and challenges, learn effective communication strategies, and tips to tackling imposters syndrome.

Available: Virtually

Adversity, or even trauma, can be a catalyst for growth and transformation. Change is inevitable. Stay relevant and succeed in the workplace and in your home life. You may find yourself leading during pandemics, political volatility, and personal challenges. Ashley helps audiences stay flexible and open-minded during emergencies and shifting cultures. Two devastating plane crashes in Ashley’s family system are just two examples used to help demonstrate how we can turn tragedies into purposeful triumphs.

Available: Virtually

Books

Three Little Words

Discover the Power of Your Own Voice Three Little Words is an International Bestseller and details the inspiring true story of the nearly ten years Ashley Rhodes-Courter spent in the foster care system. Despite all odds against her, Ashley triumphed over painful memories and real-life horrors to ultimately find her own voice. Ashley lived in fourteen different foster homes, including two group homes. As her mother spiraled out of control, Ashley was left clinging to the unpredictable, dissolving relationship, all the while getting pulled deeper and deeper into the foster care system. Ashley is juggled between caseworkers, shuffled from school to school, and forced to endure manipulative, humiliating treatment from a very abusive foster family. In this inspiring, unforgettable memoir, Ashley finds the courage to succeed, trust, and bring justice and hope to others.

Read more..

Three Little Words

Discover the Power of Your Own Voice Three Little Words is an International Bestseller and details the inspiring true story of the nearly ten years Ashley Rhodes-Courter spent in the foster care system. Despite all odds against her, Ashley triumphed over painful memories and real-life horrors to ultimately find her own voice. Ashley lived in fourteen different foster homes, including two group homes. As her mother spiraled out of control, Ashley was left clinging to the unpredictable, dissolving relationship, all the while getting pulled deeper and deeper into the foster care system. Ashley is juggled between caseworkers, shuffled from school to school, and forced to endure manipulative, humiliating treatment from a very abusive foster family. In this inspiring, unforgettable memoir, Ashley finds the courage to succeed, trust, and bring justice and hope to others.

Three More Words

Three More Words is the sequel to Ashley Rhodes-Courter’s acclaimed memoir Three Little Words (2008), Rhodes-Courter once again exposes the horrors of the American child welfare system. She describes getting a lap band to control a post-traumatic tendency to gain weight, settling down with her husband and learning to enjoy a safe romantic relationship, and building up an inspirational speaking business to support her family. Parents will be inspired and amazed by this former foster child’s willingness to take on many severely abused foster children herself—even during her own pregnancy. Kirkus Reviews praised the book’s “vivid descriptions of her experiences with her foster children.”

Read more..

Three More Words

Three More Words is the sequel to Ashley Rhodes-Courter’s acclaimed memoir Three Little Words (2008), Rhodes-Courter once again exposes the horrors of the American child welfare system. She describes getting a lap band to control a post-traumatic tendency to gain weight, settling down with her husband and learning to enjoy a safe romantic relationship, and building up an inspirational speaking business to support her family. Parents will be inspired and amazed by this former foster child’s willingness to take on many severely abused foster children herself—even during her own pregnancy. Kirkus Reviews praised the book’s “vivid descriptions of her experiences with her foster children.”

Sam is My Sister

Former foster child turned New York Times and International Bestselling Author, Ashley Rhodes-Courter, LCSW has released her debut children’s picture book, Sam is My Sister, about her three children—one of whom is transgender. In the book, Evan loves being big brother to Sam and Finn. They do everything together―go fishing, climb trees, and play astronauts. But lately, Evan notices that he and Sam don’t look like brothers anymore. Sam wants to have long hair, and even asks to wear a dress on the first day of school. As time goes by, Evan comes to understand why Sam wants to look like a girl―because Sam is a girl. Sam is transgender. And just like always, Sam loves to dream with Evan and Finn about going to the moon together. Based on one family’s real-life experiences, this heartwarming story of a girl named Sam and the brothers who love and support her will resonate with readers everywhere.

Read more..

Sam is My Sister

Former foster child turned New York Times and International Bestselling Author, Ashley Rhodes-Courter, LCSW has released her debut children’s picture book, Sam is My Sister, about her three children—one of whom is transgender. In the book, Evan loves being big brother to Sam and Finn. They do everything together―go fishing, climb trees, and play astronauts. But lately, Evan notices that he and Sam don’t look like brothers anymore. Sam wants to have long hair, and even asks to wear a dress on the first day of school. As time goes by, Evan comes to understand why Sam wants to look like a girl―because Sam is a girl. Sam is transgender. And just like always, Sam loves to dream with Evan and Finn about going to the moon together. Based on one family’s real-life experiences, this heartwarming story of a girl named Sam and the brothers who love and support her will resonate with readers everywhere.

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