Helping the next generation find their voice

My name is Ava DiNapoli, and I'm the founder of Junior Speakers. I'm an incoming UC Berkeley student and the 2025 National Runner-Up at the National Speech & Debate Association Tournament, placing second amongst 600+ of the nation's top competitors. Public speaking has truly transformed my life, bringing me a confidence, purpose, and joy I hadn't found elsewhere. From competing at tournaments across the country to coaching 600+ students located around the world, I've seen firsthand how valuable strong communication skills can be.

However, I quickly noticed a problem. Public speaking is severely under taught in elementary schools, with limited guidance and resources for young students. I found it striking to learn that 77% of people fear public speaking, and can't help but question why more action hasn't been taken to support youth in building communication skills. I founded Junior Speakers to challenge this problem, and I'm determined to help students build foundational speaking skills to find confidence in their voices.