Ashley Rhodes-Courter

(http://www.rhodes-courter.com/about-ashley/ ())

In 2010, a study showed that "one in three former foster children reported being abused by an adult in the foster home"(Stone). Unfortunately, Ashley Rhodes-Courter happened to be the one person out of three who was abused. Ashley Rhodes-Courter is an advocate for adoptive and foster children worldwide, but when Ashley was three years old, she was already placed in the foster care system. She spent almost ten years in the system and moved fourteen different times. In some of her foster homes, she had been repeatedly abused and  neglected. Ashley endured some punishments during her time in the foster care system. They were deprived of food, beaten with a paddle, lived in an overcrowded home, and forced to eat hot sauce. No one, not even her caretaker, the police, lawyers, or even social workers, helped to remove her or the other abused and neglected foster kids. After she spent ten years in the foster care system, she was adopted by Phil and Gay Courter. But now she has devoted her life to advocate adoptive and foster children. Although her life began with difficulties, she accomplished great things early in her life. She started her advocacy career in 2000 when she sued the Department of Children and Family for the abuse she suffered under a foster parent's abuse. Ashley is a National Child Welfare Ambassador for the American Humane Association and she serves as well on some national and international boards. Although her childhood experience was made up horrible unforgettable memories, she did not let her past define her life or what she was able to do. Instead, she turned her pain into power. Ashley Rhodes-Courter is truly an inspiration and a hero because she stands up for what she thinks is right, she cares for the improvement of the foster care system, and dedicates her life to her work.

(http://www.rhodes-courter.com/ ())

Ashley's ability to be courageous helped her to stand up to what she thought was right. In her memoir, Ashley describes how she wanted to change the fact that no one has had a successful lawsuit against the Department of Children and Families for abuse and neglect: "'Has any kid ever sued the Department of Children and Families?' I asked as I reluctantly climbed in... 'I want to talk to a lawyer and see what he thinks!' I insisted. 'Most of the time nobody wins.' Phil's voice sounded tired... 'You'll always have us.' That did not satisfy me. 'Who will Mandy and those other kids have?'" (Rhodes-Courter, 256). Being her courageous self, Ashley wanted to face this challenge straight on. Although someone told her that the last lawsuit was unsuccessful, Ashley still wanted to try and help the other foster kids. She didn't want to back down without a fight or at least a try. Ashley didn't let the negativity put her down. Instead, it helped to empower her. Ashley continued to fight for this lawsuit even though she received some negative comments. In the end, her courage was rewarded when she won the lawsuit against the department. Although Ashley was fourteen years old, her career was already successful. "Given her young age, Rhodes-Courter's accomplishments are remarkable. Yet, given her disruptive childhood, they are even more so. And still, Rhodes-Courter has continued her early success, writing a memoir about her experiences as a foster child that was published as Three Little Words: A Memoir in 2008." ("Ashley Rhodes-Courter."). As someone at such a young age trying to achieve great things, she had to have some non-believers and non-supporters. Yet she was able to take whatever negativity she received and turn it into power and strength. She was able to take the criticism she received and prove them wrong. With her courage, she stood up for what she thought was right and proved others wrong.

(http://www.rhodes-courter.com/about.html ())

By caring for other foster kids, Ashley saved and protected them from harmful situations, pain, and suffrage. When Ashley was younger, she had a natural instinct to care and protect the other foster kids in her foster home. She spoke to her legal guardian about her reasoning for why she felt the need to help. "'I need to do this!' 'Why?' he asked.'For me, for Luke, for Mandy, for the other kids they hurt. And' - I took a deep breath- 'to keep them from getting more children. I don't want this to blow over like the other investigations. They aren't fit to take care of gerbils, let alone children.'" (Rhodes-Courter, 251). Ashley wanted justice for herself and all the other kids who were harmed by the Mosses', the foster parents who abused them. She didn't want those two foster parents to take care of anymore children because she knew they weren't fit to take care of them. Ashley also knew of how abusive the Mosses' were and she did not want anymore children to suffer the pain caused by them. Ashley wanted her voice to be heard so the two foster parents wouldn't be able to care for more children. Since Ashley knew this problem was still happening, she wanted people around the world to care and to realize it. "She has also devoted herself to working as an advocate for adoptive and foster children like herself. As part of her quest to improve the foster system, Rhodes-Courter has appeared on several radios shows and television shows, including Montel Williams and Good Morning America. She has also spoken and lectured about her experiences around the country." ("Ashley Rhodes-Courter."). She knew how it felt to be in the foster care system and how it felt to have no voice in it. Ashley didn't want other children to experience the horrible experience she had. Ashley cared for the safety and voice of the children. Ashley's care to improve the foster care system, helped change and save many foster kids' lives.

(http://www.rhodes-courter.com/about-ashley/ ())

Ashley's dedication to her work helped the world realize the problem and her hard work earned her many prestigious awards and honors. Her memoir about how her childhood was in the foster care system helped internationalize her name and work. "Today, she's an internationally known child welfare activist who has penned a New York Times bestselling memoir about the hardships she overcame and consults groups on the subject." (Summers). Her devotion helped her name to be known internationally. Ashley's memoir is about her childhood and it lets people see how life in the foster care system would be like.This helped open the world's eyes to see the bigger issue. Her dedication helped the rest of the world realize the problem and she hoped she inspired them to help foster kids like Ashley. Since Ashley dedicates her life to her advocacy career, her hard work pays off with numerous amounts of recognition. "She has also devoted herself to working as an advocate for adoptive and foster children like herself. As part of her quest to improve the foster system, Rhodes-Courter has appeared on several radios shows and television shows, including Montel Williams and Good Morning America. She has also spoken and lectured about her experiences around the country. Indeed, at the young age of nineteen, Rhodes-Courter received several national honors for her work as a child advocate; she was named Youth Advocate of the Year by the North American Council on Adoptable Children in 2004, and she also received the Angels in Adoption award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute that same year. She has additionally been honored with the "Kids to Kids" National Service Grand Prize by the Child Welfare League of America." ("Ashley Rhodes-Courter."). Ashley's strong dedication lead to her to receive many awards. It's evident that Ashley is dedicated to her work based on the many prestigious titles and awards that she has been honored with. Her awards aren't any small ones. These are awards, like the "Kids to Kids" National Service Grand Prize, are known nationally and being rewarded with one shows how much work and dedication Ashley has put into her career. It's clear her strong dedication has paid off and been recognized with being honored many awards and titles.

(http://blog.casaforchildren.org/blog/story/ashley- ())

Because of Ashley's courage, care, and dedication, she was able to help and improve the foster care system and many foster kids' lives. Ashley spent almost ten years in the foster care system. In several of her foster homes, she was abused and neglected. But nobody, not even her social worker or the police, helped her out of her situation. Ashley was finally adopted when she was twelve years old. She sued the Department of Children and Families for the years of abuse she endured and that's where her advocacy career started to take off. Ashley is truly an inspiration. She shows that you have more power and strength than you think. She still accomplished lots of amazing achievements even with a rough childhood and at a young age. Ashley shows that I can turn your pain into something influential. Instead of hiding and doing nothing about the problem, she decided to take action and help others who are experiencing what she had to experience. Ashley shows that little actions can make a huge impact. By giving speeches around the world, Ashley has advocated for more than 500,000 foster children. She started her advocacy career at age fourteen, around the same age as us. Even at such a young age, she was able to make an impact in a lot of foster children's lives. She demonstrates how I can still make an important change in the world despite your age, your past, and what you do. Ashley accomplished and changed many things. For example, she got justice for the other foster kids that were abused in the same home as she was, she let the rest of the world know how the foster care system is like, she has a New York Times bestselling memoir about her childhood, and she has done much much more. But what stood out the most to me was that Ashley started all this when she was fourteen years old. Most of us, right now, are around that age. She makes me question myself that if we all stood up for what we believe is right, what beneficial changes would we have in the world? With Ashley Rhodes-Courter as proof, we can change the world for the better by doing small things with big impacts.

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