Chris Bashinelli (The Sopranos, HBO) was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. After years of reading headlines about world hunger, human suffering and extreme poverty, he decided to move to Tanzania. He now travels to impoverished areas worldwide to find out first hand how the other half of the world lives. Chris is the producer and host of Bridge the Gap, an internationally recognized travel series that fosters intercultural dialogue by highlighting stories of every day life from around the world.

Chris is the Executive Director of the socially conscious production company, Bridge the Gap TV. He's interviewed everyone from Ben and Jerry to NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo, and has formed partnerships with the world's leading non-profit organizations, including the Jane Goodall Institute and Do Something.

Chris' experience is in the world of film, with credits ranging from The Sopranos (HBO), to An Inconvenient Truth Special on MTV. He holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts (Cum Laude) from Marymount Manhattan College. He is an Eagle Scout and a United Nations Guest Speaker. He has spoken at international youth conferences and Emceed in the UN General Assembly Hall with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Chris is inspired by the life of his late father and is determined beyond measure to produce wide-reaching, socially conscious media.

GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP - What does it mean to respect people no matter where they come from, what they look like, or what nationality they are? Chris grew up in Brooklyn, with the world on his stoop. His friends were Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, Korean, Italian, Russian, and Puerto Rican - to name a few. All his friends grew up on the same block and hung out on the same stoop. Always being around people that are "different" makes us realize how similar we all are. Chris shares his message of global citizenship transmuted through the lens of his international adventures in Bridge the Gap.

FIND YOUR WHY - Whether we want to build a space ship or be a great teacher, we need something to power us through all odds. When Chris returned from Tanzania, at the age of 20, he learned his father had cancer.

Within two years Chris' father would pass away and Chris found himself more lost then ever. Rather than let the 'tragedy' bring him down - Chris used this experience to propel himself forward. He realized that life is short, that we have to do what we're passionate about - more importantly - he remembered the selfless, simple life his father lived - he found his why to continue forward. Everyone can do the same, no matter what has happened to them.

IGNORE THE NOISE - It's not about what other people want you to do. It's about what you want to do.

Stop kidding yourself. We all know, deep down inside, there;s a bug that longs for a life that's meaningful. Chris has been there - messed up - and done that. He started as an actor, booking a role on the HBO TV Show, The Sopranos.

He listened to the noise. He was unhappy. He gave it up and moved to Tanzania, where he discovered his true calling. Yes. It's that easy.

CULTURAL EXCHANGE - Chris has harvested Buffalo with the Oglala Lakota Native Americans in South Dakota, climbed Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, harvested honey in Uganda and worked side by side with individuals from almost every corner of the Earth. He has walked in other people's shoes and experienced their way of life.

Chris is an artist of cultural immersion - entering communities with an open mind, devoid of prejudice - and through these immersions he's been privileged to hear some breathtaking stories that have changed his life. Whether it's vanilla farming with a 76-year-old farmer in rural Uganda, talking about relationships with young 20-somethings on a tuk tuk in Thailand, or looking for clean drinking water in Haiti - these stories of cultural exchange present a new way of looking at the world in which we live.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT - Chris is not here to share his decision to quit acting. He's not here to share adventures of survival from around the world. And he's definitely not here to share his deepest personal failures and triumphs... That is, unless it is something his audience can use in their lives. Chris' goal is to bare it all so attendees can learn from his mistakes. The goal here is practical steps forward. How can I create a TV Show? How can I raise money for my social enterprise? How can I be sure this is what I really want to do in my life? Chris can't give you the answer, but he'll give you a very good start.