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 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.
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Tess Medal Winner with
Nelson Mandela Foundation |
Tess with Sir Richard Branson
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Tess with Ann Curry |
