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 her best-selling book, RESPECT, which won both IPPY and iParenting Awards.

Throughout her tumultuous youth in San Jose, California, Macavinta dealt with many of the same issues teens face today, from self-doubt and negative body image to risky choices, bullying, potentially dropping out of high-school, and confusion about her multiracial 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.

Macavinta 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 has also 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, Macavinta 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 to thrive.