Ashley Rhode-Courter

Ashley Rhodes-Courter is a New York Times bestselling author, licensed clinical social worker, international child welfare advocate, and one of the most powerful voices in America on resilience, foster care, and overcoming adversity. She has been sharing her story on the national stage since delivering her first keynote at age 14.

A Survivor Who Became a Champion for Children

Born to a single teen mother, Rhodes-Courter was placed in Florida’s foster care system by age three. Over the next decade, she was shuffled between 14 homes, some deeply abusive, before being adopted at age 12. Despite her ordeal, she excelled academically, earned Eckerd College’s most prestigious full-tuition scholarship, and graduated early with honors. Her memoir, Three Little Words, became a New York Times bestseller, followed by the sequel Three More Words. The story is being adapted into a major motion picture.

Turning Trauma Into Transformation

Rhodes-Courter holds a master’s degree in social work, runs her own company, and founded a nonprofit organization serving at-risk children. She has been invited to speak on Capitol Hill and has visited the White House twice for her advocacy work. Her keynotes share a deeply personal story of survival, self-advocacy, and transformation that inspires audiences to embrace resilience, find their voice, and recognize the power of one person to change the trajectory of another’s life.

Three Little Words

(Based on her award-winning New York Times Bestselling memoir)

Born in 1985 to a single teen mother, Ashley was in the foster care system by the age of 3. Most of her placements were abusive and overcrowded. In one home, 16 people lived in a trailer and the children were regularly beaten, neglected, verbally assaulted, and food was withheld. Another foster parent became a convicted pedophile. She was also placed with an alcoholic relative that was shot twice in front of her.

After spending almost ten years in foster care, living in 14 different homes, Ashley was finally adopted from a Children’s Home when she was twelve. Ashley is now inspired to use her story to better the lives of others. She doesn’t see herself as a victim but instead, understands the importance of praising those that step up to help others, turning pain into power, and encouraging others to create change for themselves and others. It only takes one person to change the life of another and her story serves as a passionate example of triumph and inspiration.

Reframing Your Life: What’s Good About Bad Experiences

“Instead of letting my past experiences cripple me, I was able to put a positive spin on my experiences.” A negative force can give someone a rallying point and lead them not only find solutions to their dilemma but provide a new path to happiness.  Productivity, contentment, and success are just a mindset away. Finding opportunities for growth and learning are keys to enhancing professional and personal lives and relationships.

Keys to My Kingdom: School as Sanctuary; Teachers as Mentors

Ashley attributes education as the cornerstone of her success. “I was lucky enough to have teachers who took a special interest in me—an uncertain foster child—and nurtured me in the classroom where I felt safe.  They made me feel special, talented, and encouraged me to continue to excel academically. They also called in abuse complaints and tried to protect me—even when they were ignored many times. One anonymous one probably saved my life.” In this lecture, Ashley talks about the importance of recognizing strengths, engaging students and youth, and reminds us that school may be the only sanctuary some children have. Ashley gives us a unique glimpse into the lives of children that may have abusive or troubled home lives, and discusses how that can translate in the classroom.

Making a Difference: How One Individual Can Change The Life of Another

It takes only one person to change a life. We all know someone who has been neglected, abused, impoverished, ill, in foster care, is medically fragile, or has a special need.  Heroes can be a foster parent, teacher, nurse, mentor, CASA, relative, pastor, peer, neighbor, counselor, community member, business owner, or friend.  “Several people reached out to me and can be credited not only for my success, but my survival–and one was an unpaid volunteer.”  Sometimes, the biggest impact is being made when you’re not even trying!