I was fortunate to grow up in the homeland of Iowa, raised by entrepreneurs in an Italian/American Family. My extreme shyness gave me the opportunity to be the silent observer from the sidelines. I grew up as a dancer and artist, which gave me ways to express myself that I couldn’t find by communicating with my voice. Instead, I spoke volumes with my body through the movement of dance, through the strokes of a paintbrush and pen as a painter and writer, and behind the lens of a camera as a witness to the human spirit. Who wouldn’t figure that I would grow up wanting to empower young people to have their voices heard?

As a performer, photographer and filmmaker, I have experienced places in the world that most people have only dreamed to see. I have trekked through the rain forest, traveled through natural disasters, interacted with world leaders and the soulful people of indigenous villages, have been in the middle of international riots capturing the human spirit on film, while trying to understand what makes people think the way they do and feel the way they feel.

Once I found my voice, you couldn’t shut me up. I have had the extreme pleasure of speaking globally at several conferences and symposiums, also including several appearances at the United Nations on behalf of children, while also interfacing, interviewing, photographing and filming various world leaders including: His Holiness Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu, King Goodwill (King of the Zulus), Dr. Jane Goodall, Sir Richard Branson, Presidents and dignitaries from various countries, and more.

I have dedicated my life to this vision of bringing the youth of the world together; to see how we can make the world a better place to live. I invite each and every one of you to look back to those days when you were a child dreaming of what life would be like as an adult, and remember what it was like during those awkward adolescent times too. Join me on this path of empowering youth to be everything they can be, while giving them tools to have respect and honor for those around them, and most importantly, respect and honor for themselves.

Tess receiving Medal of Excellence out of United Nations (Geneva) for her work in educational entertainment. Pictured here with fellow awardee, representing the Nelson Mandela Foundation.	Tess with Sir Richard Branson at Virgin Unite Fundraiser for his mom Eve, for humanitarian project in Morrocco.	Tess with Ann Curry - NBC Today Show Anchor at United Nations (New York). Tess served on Ann's committee to raise money for school in Botswana- Dule Sentle.
Tess with Cat Cora -Iron Chef and Founder of Chefs for HumanitY Cat attended the UN event for Dule Sentle and Tess continues to honor the work that Cat does with Chefs for Humanity.	Tess with Dr. Jane Goodall and Team. Tess worked with Dr Goodall in 1994 for mentorship for inner city students. Here they re-connect at the World Summit for Sustainable Development - Tess interviewed Dr Goodall for the mentorship series Youth Speak Out.	Tess with Matt Peterson ED of Global Green Matt and Tess have worked on environmental events for educating the public (Earth Day) for global warming. Pictured here at WSSD in South Africa

SEE PHOTO GALLERY containing a portion of Tess Cacciatore's photography collection from her travels over the past several years. www.tkcphotography.com

TESS CACCIATORE's BIO

Tess Cacciatore is the Founder and Executive Director of the World TrustFoundation, whose mission is to mentor the future leaders, and give youth of the world a voice, to create a sustainable future.

Through the past decade Tess has traveled globally to connect a collaboration of non-profit groups to empower youth around the world to come together, locally and internationally, to learn, think and take action that impacts positive change in their lives, in their local communities and in the global community as a whole.

The World Trust Foundation’s activities include Earth Heroes, an environmental social network for 9-17 year-olds; the Young Leaders Network, a mentoring program and environmental social network for 15-25 year-olds; Social media, video, music and other forms of performance are central elements of the World Trust Foundation’s work, which is being demonstrated through a Virtual Classroom Network.

For over a decade, Tess has been media-accredited to attend and film such events as the “World Conference Against Racism” and the “World Summit on Sustainability” in South Africa. She has also interviewed young people from around the globe for Youth Speak Out, one of the original television series planned for the World Trust Network. Tess has spoken regularly at the United Nations (Geneva and New York) and other international platforms on behalf of children and the important use of media and technology to bridge the cultures of the world. Tess addresses audiences of several thousand people through numerous conferences, workshops and festivals, and reaches millions through radio and TV appearances. Her media appearances have included: The Today Show, Prime Time with John Stossel, Waking Up in America, The Lisa Garr Show and several cable talk shows. Her appearances in print media have included Family Circle, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Des Moines Register, XL International Entrepreneurs, Parenting Magazine, Dance Teacher and Dance Spirit and Nick Jr. (a magazine published by the Nickelodeon Television Network). She has also hosted a weekly, radio show called Live Feed to raise awareness of the FEED 333 program under the World Trust umbrella that spanned each holiday season from 2005-2008. Tess has recently appeared in three feature films about her work (The Millionaire Mind, The Peace Project, Voices of Women).

Tess's career as a Producer in the entertainment and technology industries has spanned over twenty years, and has helped drive the global productions through World Trust. Productions and events include: Earth Day LA, Human Rights Symposiums for Youth, Live-Streamed broadcasts connecting world leaders, empowerment camps, workshops and mentorship curriculum, to name a few.

Tess is the Vice President of Women National Book Association (WNBA) Los Angeles Chapter and has served on the board of Offbeat Prodigies (to mentor gifted children with special needs) and is a Founding Director for the IOWA Knowledge & Leadership Coalition.

In 2003 the Fete d' Excellence within the Sub-Commission for Human Rights at the United Nations (Geneva Switzerland) awarded Tess the Medal of Excellence for her work in educational entertainment.

Her passion for women and children and her work in Africa has garnered her a nomination for a song that she wrote and produced called "Politics of Love" with a group that she formed called VOICES FOR THE CONGO. This group is made up of world class musicians, activists  and artists from Congo and abroad, including those from the United States. Check out Stand UP Movement to see the flim presentation and the music video that she produced after filming in Congo to support the awareness of women and children in Congo.