World Speech Day celebrated at Daytona State College

World Speech Day 2026 in central Florida was held April 21st. Students at the Daytona State college DeLand and Deltona campuses presented speeches during the month of April on the topic, “Ideas for a better world.” Santiago Avila, Mayor of Deltona presented Professor Reed Markham with a World Speech Day proclamation.

According to Simon Gibson, Founder of World Speech Day, “In the face of so much turmoil, uncertainty, and hardship, public speaking can be utilized to search for and share ideas for a new beginning, a new harmony that can help us explore new paths to a better world.”

Simon Gibson launched World Speech Day at the Athens Democracy Forum in 2015. The idea came from Simon’s work in establishing a free database for contemporary and historical speeches. During this work, it became clear that speeches change the world, socially, politically, in the arts, business, and religion. They play a profound role in holding our societies together and shaping change. The plan was to form a day to celebrate speeches and speech making through live public speaking events worldwide, reaching out to #unexpectedvoices everywhere.

In the last eleven year more than 100 nations have been involved in World Speech Day. Schools, universities, speakers’ clubs, think tanks, community groups, companies, NGOs, all holding meetings in classrooms, auditoriums, community halls, even cafes, proving the unique power of speeches to explore new ideas.

For more information contact, Reed Markham, USA Ambassador, Global Advisory Board and Associate Professor, Communication Department at Daytona State College, DeLand, Florida, reed_markham@daytonastate.edu