About Junior Speakers
Helping the next generation of speakers find confidence in their voices
Junior Speakers was built from a love of communication, confidence, and helping students discover the power of their own voice.
The Story Behind It
Hi!
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 300+ elementary schoolers 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 undertaught 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.
Meet the Team
The people behind Junior Speakers
Meet the team helping bring this mission to life!
Ava DiNapoli
Hi! I'm Ava DiNapoli, the founder of Junior Speakers. Public speaking truly changed my life and I want nothing more than to share my passion. From leading my high school Speech & Debate team to teaching youth internationally, I've dedicated the past few years to sharing as much knowledge as possible. I can't wait to continue working with more students and growing Junior Speakers!
Mia
Hi! My name is Mia Lavi, and I'm the Executive Director of Junior Speakers. In addition to leading Junior Speaker classes with Ava, I have been a Camp Counselor for five years, and a Girl Scout for 11. I am very excited to continue sharing my passion for stories and writing with young kids, inspiring them to dream big!
Explore More
Learn more about what we offer
From workshops to Girl Scout programs to confidence-building speaking opportunities, Junior Speakers is dedicated to helping youth grow into strong communicators.
