Ashley Rhodes-Courter

About Ashley

• Was born to a single teen mother and was put into foster care at the age of three, where she spent the next 10 years living at over 14 homes.
• Many of the foster care homes she lived in were mentally and physically abusive environments—she later learned that 25 percent of her caregivers either were or became convicted felons.
• School became her sanctuary and it helped her cope with and transcend her circumstances—says “nobody could beat my knowledge out of me.”
• She was eventually adopted from a children’s home when she was 12.
• Says all of her experiences growing up “created a platform of passion” and a desire to advocate for others—as a teen, she got directly involved in lawsuits that changed foster care laws.
• At age 17, she won a writing contest with an essay about her life and was granted a book deal—her first book, “Three Little Words,” became a New York Times and international bestseller.
• Earned a full scholarship to Eckerd College, where she majored in communications and theater and minored in political science and psychology; she also holds a master’s degree in social work.
• She is now a celebrated speaker, advocate, nonprofit founder, author, and foster parent working to change policies surrounding the foster care system and provide support to children and parents.