TeenSpeak

2024 TeenSpeakers

Luna Muammar

My story of strength: Family, and being Palestinian in America during the war in Palestine.
Hilmija Hasic

My story of strength: Identity, self awareness, and emotional intelligence.
Gabriela Gonzalez

My story of strength: Faith, friendship, and personal growth
Sarah Bock

My story of strength: How physical health can affect emotional health, and how I overcame these obstacles.
Akilah Roland

My story of strength: Faith and adversity
Baya Holt

My story of strength: Friends, and identity.

Since 2019, TeenSpeak has been able to empower 30 area teens to use their voices to speak up and speak out and share their Story of Strength. These teens are taught how to be public speakers through coaching sessions with local public speakers and then empowered to stand in front of a live audience at TeenSpeak and deliver their talk. We have watched students over the years overcome social anxiety, the fear of public speaking, learn about their inner power, and find their love for speaking. Some of our students have gone on to be keynote speakers, hosts of events, win speech and debate awards, and even step into the title of Miss Indiana Teen USA.

We believe in giving teens a platform to use their voices, build their courage, and tell their stories. We have a team of seasoned public speakers who volunteer their time to coach teens on how to write a short speech about their personal story of strength, then deliver that speech in a short TED Talk-style presentation in front of a live audience.

2024 Presentations and Q&A

Please enjoy this years TeenSpeak presentations and the inaugural Q&A with our speakers.

Our first ever Q&A with our TeenSpeakers. The students had the opportunity to answer questions directly from the audience, giving us a chance to dive in deeper into our students stories.

2024 TeenSpeak Coaches

Our amazing 2024 TeenSpeak coaches. Each student is paired with a coach, and student coach that guides the speaker through our public speaking training and helps prepare them for their TeenSpeak Presentation.

Pastor, Speaker, Entrepreneur, and host of The Cupz Podcast!
With over a decade of dynamic speaking experience, Justin Davis is a seasoned orator who seamlessly blends passion, faith, and entrepreneurial wisdom to captivate audiences of all sizes. As a multifaceted professional, Justin has left an lasting impression on stages ranging from intimate workshops and corporate training seminars to large-scale business engagement events.
Beyond the pulpit, Justin is a thriving entrepreneur and the charismatic host of The Cupz Podcast, where he explores the intersections of faith, personal development, and the entrepreneurial journey. His unique ability to connect with diverse audiences has made him a sought-after speaker, bringing inspiration and actionable insights to those eager to navigate the realms of personal growth in order to get more out of their life.
As a Speaking Coach, Justin Davis is poised to empower the next generation of communicators. His wealth of experience, coupled with a genuine desire to uplift and guide our youth, makes him the perfect mentor for our TeenSpeak candidates.

Nicholas (Nick) Shipe was born and raised in Northeast Indiana attending Dekalb High School, Johnson & Wales University, and finally graduating with degrees from Ball State University in Communications and Business. While attending BSU, Nick was crown national champion 3 years with multiple top speaker awards. In addition to the Debate Team at BSU, Nick was honored with being able to attend the Virginia Ball Immersive Learning Center for a summer where he was able to do a case study and documentary on Mergers and Acquisitions within the business field.
Currently, Nick resides in the Fort Wayne area. Happily married to his wife Emilia Shipe who is a teacher at Garrett High School. Has 4 wonderful children; Ayden, Adi Jo, Coco, and Cici. Nick enjoys golding in the summer time, spending time at the lake and loves to cook.

David Abbott is the current senior pastor at Trinity UMC in Fort Wayne as well as the founding pastor of the Table-a unique faith community located in Fort Wayne as well. He has been married for 17 years to Jessica and they have two children: Koleson and Zoe. They also have an Olde English Bulldog, Brock, who runs the show.

Dr. Saloumeh DeGood is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Chicago, Illinois and Fort Wayne, IN. In addition to running a wellness center and group practice, she provides wellness programs about burnout and stress reduction to medical residents and healthcare professionals. She is the current President of the Sufi Psychology Association and the founder of the Caring 4 Our Caregivers initiative which donates stress relieving wellness resources to healthcare professionals and hospitals. She has authored two textbook chapters, one for nursing and the other psychology.
Her experiences include workshops, retreats, teaching higher education, supervising clinicians, and international presentations including one given at the World Congress of Psychotherapy at the UNESCO in 2017. She was awarded the NBC5 Making a Difference Award and was featured in American Healthcare Leader. Dr. Saloumeh was the recipient of a 3-year Templeton Foundation research grant to study the effects of Sufi Psychotherapy and is the Principal Investigator of another study examining the benefits of the Tamarkoz® Sufi meditation method, which she uses when working with oncology patients and healthcare staff.

Josh joined NeighborLink after serving four years at a local church in Fort Wayne. In his role, he facilitated community building and outreach opportunities for high school students and young adults, Josh loves coming alongside churches, businesses, and communities that love the vulnerable in tangible, practical ways. Josh now works to develop and engage our volunteers throughout every step of the NeighborLink process. Josh enjoys riding his bike, drinking coffee, playing video games, cheering on Manchester United, the Chicago Bulls, and The Chicago Fire. He also loves to attend concerts with his wife, Kendyl, and walk their dog, Rooney.

Dr. Ron S. Lewis is the founder of Lewis Way Leadership Development. Lewis Way Leadership Development (LWLD) is a professional development and consulting firm designed to support organizations and businesses to achieve workplace synergy and harmony. Dr. Ron S. Lewis is a dynamic and inspiring trainer and speaker who has passionately presented to thousands of students and professionals about G.R.I.T. (Guts, Resilience, Intensity, and Tenacity).
He graduated from Barry University with both his bachelor's and master's degrees, graduated from Indiana Tech with his Ph.D., and recently graduated from the University of Saint Francis with an MBA concentrating in Marketing. After four years in the non-profit industry, Dr. Lewis transitioned to higher education. He taught undergraduate and graduate collegiate courses, including Managing Human Resources, Leading Change Management, Organizational Development, and Culture.
Dr. Lewis uses relatable principles accompanied by compassionate stories from his own experiences and research through his doctoral education. Dr. Lewis has delivered presentations about leadership, academic success, and diversity. Dr. Ron Lewis's recent appointment to Assistant Professor and Director of the Marketing & Sports Management Program at the University of Saint Francis illustrates his continued dedication to inspiring, training, and teaching others.

Amy Hanna is the co-founder of the RespectTeam and co-founder of TeenSpeak. She serves on the RespectTeam board and is a Regional Director for Youth for Christ of Northern Indiana, overseeing the counties of Dekalb, Noble, Steuben and LaGrange. Amy has been a public speaker for over 15 years and has worked with teens for over 25 years. She loves helping people to find their voice on and off the stage and is excited to help this year’s TeenSpeak event as a coach.

Tisha Strasser went from statistic to CEO as a remarkable woman of resilience and determination.With a background in owning and leading a construction company that spans over a decade, she not only shattered the glass ceiling; but also laid the foundation for her future to empower girls and women. Through sheer grit and tenacity, she navigated a male-dominated industry, becoming a trailblazing owner and leader.
Fueled by her passion for empowering the next generation, she founded and ran a non-profit organization dedicated to helping young girls rise above adversity. Her non-profit has touched countless lives in providing mentorship, education, and support to empower girls to believe in themselves and reach for the stars. This empowerment extends to our disabled community and athletes as well.
Tisha’s life has been marked by personal challenges. She faced and overcame trauma with unyielding strength. Her battle against chronic illness taught her the value of resilience and self-care. Today, she stands as a beacon of hope for others; sharing her story to inspire them to overcome their own obstacles and emerge as their own heroes.
With her thriving past experiences alongside her non-profit making a lasting impact, and her commitment to helping others, she is a shining example of a woman who has transformed adversity into strength. Her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, and she continues to pave the way for others to rise above their circumstances.

Student Coaches

Mallory Schrader
Student Board President

Sully Nolot

Melanie Reyes

Emilee Richardson

“TeenSpeak has changed my life.”

This is a quote that we hear often from our TeenSpeak students. We have watched extremely shy students come out of their shells and have their "moment" on stage. We have watched students with diagnosed anxiety, social anxiety, and fears of public speaking overcome their fears and literally be changed from the moment they step on stage. We have watched students own their stories of pain and use them to empower themselves and others. And we have watched TeenSpeak change lives.

Sounds scary? Many of our previous speakers can tell you they almost didn't follow through with it, but they are so glad they did!