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. I'm an incoming UC Berkeley Student and the heart and voice behind Junior Speakers. My journey began with a deep passion for public speaking, which took root when I joined Speech & Debate in 4th grade. As I began competing in high school, I’ve traveled the country attending competitions, and eventually placed second in the nation amongst 600+ competitors at the NSDA National Speech & Debate Tournament. Through my journey, I discovered not only the power of my own voice, but a desire to help others find theirs.
This inspired me to found Junior Speakers in order to share the confidence and joy that public speaking brought me to the next generation of communicators.
Meet the Team
The people behind Voices Unmuted
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, Voices Unmuted is all about helping young people grow into strong communicators.