Dr. Dawnn Lewis, a multitalented and multifaceted individual: President & CEO of Morning Jewel Inc. – a multi-platform production company in the areas of film, television, animation, music / music publishing & experiential events. She is also the Founder & CEO of the A New Day Foundation – a non profit 501(c)3 organization, that provides financial & programmatic support to underprivileged youth and grassroots community based non profit organizations. The Foundation co-produced with the Los Angeles Urban League the A NEW DAY: Concert For A cause – The Entertainment Family Gives Back! - an All-Star fundraising concert event, raising awareness & funds for non-profit organizations, that serve the Inner City Community. The A New Day Foundation hosts the annual Focused N F.I.T. For A Different World program: The programs purpose is to “shock the mindset”, motivate and empower today’s youth by highlighting Dawnn Lewis’ extraordinary personal and professional journey, while Financial & Technology partners equip college and college-bound high school students with tangible tools to be "F.I.T." - Financially and Technologically Informed. The A New Day Foundation collaborates with several Community Service Organizations, including Internationally Acclaimed EMMY Award winning Actor – Glynn Turman and his IX Winds Ranch Foundation, to host ANDF Progams: MenTORS & SISTERS HANGOUT!, for Boys & Girls 13-19 respectively. In the winter of 2018, ANDF partnered with BLIZZARD Entertainment & LA Studios to conduct a workshop for our Teen programs in the creation & Production of Animated content. These programs allow the A New Day Foundation to create a safe place for the teens to have difficult conversations about life & goal issues; while introducing them to new cultural opportunities and experiences. In 2019, Dawnn received an Honorary Doctorate in the Humanities for her more than 35 years of unwavering service and support to underserved youth and communities across the county and abroad. She is an: NAACP Image Award, Trumpet Award, Grammy Award-winning singer, multiple BMI & ASCAP Award-winning songwriter, film, television & stage actor, and a Series TV creator/producer. Dawnn is currently filming the new FOX Investigative Drama Series “BLOOD RELATIVE”, starring Melissa Leo & Tate Donavan, as COMMANDER HANNAH DIXON and was co-starring in the hit Broadway musical TINA (12 TONY Nominations), about the legendary Tina Turner herself, as ZELMA BULLOCK, Ms. Turner’s mother. She is also currently co-starring in the HULU reboot of the Veronica Mars series, starring Kristen Bell while starring in the NETFLIX series Where In The World Is Carmen San Diego! As “The Chief”, and the new successful CBS animated series STAR TREK: LOWER DECKS as “Captain Carol Freeman”, (nominated for a Best Voice Actor NAACP Image Award 2021). Dawnn recently finished shooting the independent feature films BE THE LIGHT!, written, produced, directed by and starring – IZOMBIE star Malcolm Goodwin; A CHRISTMAS RETREAT, directed by Jake Helgren and guest starred in the hit AMAZON series THE BOYS. Dawnn mesmerized audiences with her powerful voice and stirring performance in the ETC 2017 production of Gershwin’s PORGY & BESS as “Serena”, and the Freud Reprise production of “The World Goes Round”; and before that was seen recurring on three hit series: NBC’s THIS IS US!, TNT’s MAJOR CRIMES & the CW’s IZOMBIE, as well as the AMAZON presentation: THE LEGEND OF MASTER LEGEND, starring alongside John Hawkes (Winters Bone, American Gangster) and Shea Whigham (Kong: Skull Island & Boardwalk Empire). Dawnn can also be “heard” giving voice to several animated characters such as “Patty” in APPLE & ONION, “LaBarbara” in FUTURAMA, “Mrs. Hanshaw” & “Mrs. Buttercup” in SOPHIA THE FIRST, “Granny McStuffins” in DOC MCSTUFFINS, “Bobe” in HOME, “Professor Klabbrax” in CLEOPATRA IN SPACE, as well as a variety of characters in the animated series THE SIMPSONS, CURIOUS GEORGE, TURBO & Disney/Pixar’s Academy Award winning animated feature hits INSIDE OUT! and MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, and the soon to be released MINION’S 3! Dawnn’s CD’s: “Worth Waiting For” & “Donny McCullough & Friends: CANDLES IN THE WINDOW” are available on Amazon & ITunes. Dawnn’s 2019 released feature film: REVIVAL, is written & produced by acclaimed actor Harry Lennix, starring GRAMMY sensation Mali Music. She’s served the last 9.5 years on the National Advisory Board of the NATIONAL CENTER FOR CIVIL & HUMAN RIGHTS in Atlanta, Ga., & completed her sixth term on the SAG National Board of Directors, participating in it’s successful merger with sister union AFTRA, while serving for 4 yrs as the National & Los Angeles Co-Chair of the SAG now SAG-AFTRA Singers Committee. She currently serves as a Trustee for the SAG Pension Plan, on the SAG-AFTRA Hollywood Board and as a SAG/AFTRA National Union Delegate. Perhaps best known for her roles on the hit TV shows A DIFFERENT WORLD (composer of shows theme song), HANGIN’ WITH MR. COOPER & ANY DAY NOW, she also had recurring roles on the ABC Family’s THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER and the CW Network series ONE TREE HILL. Dawnn also starred in the NYC City Center “Encore’s” Broadway presentation of THE WIZ as Addapearle and is often called upon to create and establish leading characters in successful shows such as: “Smitty” in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, co-starring with Matthew Broderick & Megan Mullaly & received rave reviews and the BEST ACTRESS: FRED AWARD (Los Angeles) and nominated for the 2007 BEST ACTRESS: SUZI AWARD (Atlanta, ALLIANCE THEATRE), for her “knock your socks off!!” performance in the World Premiere of the Broadway hit “SISTER ACT: THE MUSICAL” as the “outrageous, Nun-On-The-Run”, Deloris Van Cartier. Dawnn’s record label, Morning Jewel Music, released her successful solo CD Worth Waiting For; the title song is featured in the Disney movie THE POOF POINT soundtrack, in which she starred. She’s recorded with or composed for Everett Harp, Patrice Rushen, Vanessa Williams, Nancy Wilson, Take 6, Wayman Tisdale, Grover Washington Jr., Quincy Jones & Tom Scott to name a few. Dawnn also finds time to teach Master Classes, mentor youth across the country, give motivational lectures and lend her support to: The Brotherhood Crusade, The United Negro College Fund; American Cancer Society; The March of Dimes; EMPOWHER; the Hall of Fame Foundation; Habitat For Humanity; The United States Conference on AIDS; The K.I.S. Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease; Artists For A New South Africa; The Los Angeles Urban League; Campfire Boys and Girls; The NBA/WNBA and other important causes.
Look for more detailed information about Dawnn:
Web site www.DAWNNLEWIS.com www.ANewDayFoundation.net
FaceBook: Dawnn Lewis Official Fan Page FaceBook: A New Day Foundation
Twitter & Instagram: @dawnn_lewis
