Meet Your Next Raved-About Speaker!
Ashley Bendiksen is an acclaimed youth motivational speaker, award-winning activist, and expert in teen dating violence and sexual assault prevention, student mental health, and resilience. As a Top Youth Speaker®, Ashley is one of the best youth speakers in the nation! Combining heartfelt storytelling, education, and actionable strategies, Ashley's message is life-changing for students and caring adults who hear her speak. (Warning: Expect tears, smiles, and hugs!)
AUDIENCES THAT
- High Schools and Middle Schools
- Colleges/Universities
- Fraternities and Sororities
- Youth Leadership Conferences
- Education Conferences
- Staff Professional Development Trainings
- Nonprofit and Corporate Organizations
Ashley's Signature Programs
GRADES 6-12 STUDENTS
At 14, Ashley was excited about her first dating relationship. Unfortunately, it became abusive, starting a cycle of unhealthy relationships that would negatively impact Ashley during her entire adolescence – personally, socially, emotionally, and academically. Sadly, Ashley’s story is not unique. In the U.S., 1 in 3 teens will experience dating violence - an issue that surpasses bullying and impacts youth at higher rates than any other demographic. Additionally, 1 in 5 high school students know someone being abused. This can be physical, sexual, or more commonly, emotional.
These behaviors impact student mental health, safety, social-emotional well-being, and academic achievement. As a survivor turned subject matter expert and teen dating violence speaker, Ashley teaches teens what a healthy relationship looks like, what to watch out for, and what to do when abuse occurs.
- Education on dating abuse and top red flags to spot
- Qualities of a healthy relationship vs. costs of a toxic one
- How to set boundaries and maintain personal priorities
- Seeking help and tips to help a friend
- *Variation: Sexual assault and consent
COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY
As a student, Ashley faced devastating harm: domestic violence and sexual assault. But perhaps the most devastating harm was growing detached from herself in the process. Today, as a leading expert and national speaker, Ashley finds that these types of relationships and experiences are everywhere. Whether someone experiences domestic violence, sexual assault, or even just a toxic relationship, this ‘loss of self’ is often the greatest wound. A person might prioritize their partner’s moods, needs, and behaviors, sacrificing their own life in the process. Survivors often feel lost and alone, without knowing where to start. Miraculously, Ashley rebuilt her identity and reclaimed her life. Her story of resilience and adversity inspires, while her expertise empowers others with the skills to take action in their own lives, on campus, and in their communities.
This interactive presentation combines Ashley’s story with a focus on your choice of topics:
- Your go-to relationship guide, from starting a new one to getting out of one that’s toxic
- Red flags of domestic violence and emotionally abusive relationships
- Title IX and sexual violence prevention
- Building healthy relationships and detoxing from toxic ones
- Reclaiming your life, authentic identity, and self-worth
- Bystander intervention skills + how to support a friend so they actually listen
- Womxn’s empowerment, resilience, and leadership
ALL GRADES, ADD-ON BYSTANDER INTERVENTION WORKSHOP
Every student has the power to be a leader, helper, and change-maker in social settings - because every student is a bystander. Bystanders play a key role in preventing harm. Unfortunately, research shows that most bystanders don’t act because they’re not sure what to do or how to help. This dynamic and interactive presentation helps turn ‘passive bystanders’ into ‘active bystanders’ through education, simple intervention strategies, role-playing, and scenario-based activities. Bystander intervention is a proven violence prevention approach and can be applied to dating violence, sexual assault, bullying, peer pressure, hate speech, and other harms. It’s also proven to shift and strengthen school culture.
- Bystanders as leaders to reduce harm
- Building empathy and responsibility
- Finding your unique intervention “style”
- How to spot red flags and safely offer help
EDUCATORS, STAFF, & YOUTH SERVICE PROVIDERS
The majority of youth-serving adults have never been trained on one of the largest issues impacting the youth they serve: abuse. In every community and every classroom, students and children silently experience harm. In the U.S., 1 in 3 teens experience abuse by a dating partner. Recent data indicates alarming increases in sexual violence and online exploitation among middle and high school teens. Further, 1 in 7 children experience abuse or neglect by someone they know, trust, or are in the care of.
Unfortunately, despite this high prevalence, these issues are often overlooked by caring adults. Warning signs are often subtle or misunderstood. This lack of intervention leaves youth at risk for further harm, as well as serious short and long term consequences. For many, it also becomes an adverse childhood experience that negatively impacts both their present and future life. Adults play a crucial role in recognizing harm to safeguard the lives of vulnerable youth. With improved awareness and skills, early detection and intervention can save and change the trajectory of a student's life.
- Education and awareness of how youth and students experience abuse
- The impact of abuse/neglect on academic, social emotional, and mental health
- Crucial role adults play in early detection and intervention
- Red flags to look for, plus simple intervention and referral strategies
- Proactive ways to increase safety and promote prevention
What People Are Saying...
Want Even More Value?
MANAGED BY AN AGENCY YOU CAN TRUST.
Ashley is represented by TOP YOUTH SPEAKERS - the premier agency for youth motivational speakers in North America. Booking Ashley means you get...
A Proven Exceptional Speaker
Trusted by Thousands of Schools
High Quality Preparation Support
100% Speaker Satisfaction Guarantee
Have Questions?
Check out these commonly asked questions or send Ashley's team a message.
Ashley offers a few different investment options, depending on how much impact you'd like to bring to your school or event. When you reach out, Ashley's team will provide these options to you along with our recommendation.
If you lack the funds or budget to pay for a speaker, you're not out of luck. Schools find money from multiple sources. You may easily have funds available to you that you aren't even aware of.
Download Ashley's Free Guide: 10 Ways to Find Money to Pay for a School Speaker for easy, proven, and tested strategies to bring in a speaker.
Presentation length varies based on whether Ashley is offering an assembly, workshop, or staff training. Typically, a student presentation ranges from 45-60 minutes. Workshops and staff in-service trainings range range from 60-120 minutes. However, Ashley is able to customize every presentation to your time period.
Ashley has extensive experience offering virtual presentations. Expect the same top notch content, just delivered in a different format. Unlike some speakers, Ashley is committed to providing a professional, high-quality virtual experience. You will NOT get a talking head nor will Ashley wear headphones! Ashley guarantees clear and crisp audio, exceptional video quality, and ample lighting. She also uses fun, high quality software for a seamless presentation experience (no sloppy screen sharing or pauses). Ashley also will schedule a tech run-through for every event!
As a highly experienced teen dating violence speaker and youth motivational speaker, Ashley guarantees age-appropriate presentations for every audience. She has experience speaking to youth in K-12 and at the college level. This is often a mere matter of changing language, using different stories to demonstrate lessons, or presenting issues from a different angle or perspective, depending on the age group.
Ashley promises to include every student in her message. To do this, she incorporates themes of leadership, facing challenges, inspiration, motivation, and service into every presentation - regardless of the details of a student's life. These themes exist in Ashley's personal story as well as her actionable takeaways for audiences. With expertise presenting on dating violence, mental health, achievement, bystander intervention, allyship, and leadership development, she guarantees that no youth feel left out.
Organizers consistently compliment Ashley's ability to address difficult topics in a way that is light yet powerful. ("All the funny gifs really help!") With more than a decade and a half of experience as a teen dating violence speaker and youth speaker, Ashley introduces heavy issues in a way that is approachable, entertaining, and empowering. She does not go into extreme detail and does not provide any "prescriptive" ideas while sharing her personal story. Still, prior to Ashley's visit, she will provide ideas on ensuring staff is prepared to respond to any student disclosures.
Ashley is represented by Top Youth Speakers®. Both she and her team will support you through the planning process. You will receive PR materials to help you prepare. This includes Ashley's stage introduction, headshots, bio, promotional graphics, and other helpful preparation materials. Additionally, you will receive a simple list outlining Ashley's technical and presentation needs.
Ashley loves to highlight the schools she is visiting. Prior to her arrival, Ashley will make every effort to announce your school/event on both her social media platforms and on her email newsletter.
During Ashley's visit, Ashley is available for any special interviews for your own web platforms or school newsletters. Following the event, Ashley will create follow-up event posts on both her social media accounts and blog.
If this is a conference or major event, Ashley will additionally live stream on her social media platforms. She will also incorporate strategies to get audience members to tag any of your unique event hashtags or accounts.
Ashley loves offering additional free resources for your audience. She will provide them with a link to a library of online resources to reinforce her presentation. Additionally, whenever available and appropriate, Ashley will bring free "swag" like buttons, pins, and stickers. Based on availability and your investment, Ashley will also bring t-shirts and other merchandise, both free and for purchase.
"IT WAS A SCHOOL SPEAKER WHO HELPED ME REALIZE WHAT I WAS GOING THROUGH. NOW, I AM THAT SPEAKER.... LET ME CHANGE THE LIVES OF THOSE YOU SERVE, THE WAY A GUEST SPEAKER ONCE CHANGED MINE."
xx Ashley
Youth Motivational Speaker | Teen Dating Violence Speaker
Interested in Booking Ashley to Speak?
BRANDON SPINAZZOLA
Speaking Events Coordinator
brandon@topyouthspeakers.com
(800) 799-1460 ext. 1