Dawnn Lewis: "A Different World" star discusses career in animation, music, and philanthropy.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dawnn Lewis.

For decades, my guest has used her celebrity platform for mentoring, lecturing, giving concerts, and donating her time and talents to causes across America and abroad on behalf of Organizations such as UNICEF, UNCF, Congressional Black Caucus Against HIV AIDS, and American Heart Assoc. She is amazing. In addition to acting, she does voice work on Star Trek Lower Decks, and she currently lends her voice to recurring characters on The Simpsons and Futurama.

Dr. Dawnn Lewis is the proud daughter of Guyanese parents and is a force of talent and compassion who seamlessly navigates the realms of entertainment and philanthropy with grace. As President and CEO of Morning Jewel Inc., a prominent multi-platform production company spanning film, television, animation, music, and experiential events, she has solidified her position as a leader in the industry.

Brooklyn-born and raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Flatbush, Dr. Lewis is the visionary founder and CEO of A New Day Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting underprivileged youth and grassroots nonprofits. Her charitable efforts span the globe, providing educational resources and participating in community projects in Guyana, India, and other locales. She earned an Honorary Doctorate in the Humanities for over four decades of community and philanthropic service.

Dr. Lewis’s contributions to the entertainment industry are equally impressive. As a Trumpet Award and Grammy Award-winning singer, she has left an indelible mark on the music world, earning multiple NAACP Image Awards, BMI Awards, and ASCAP Awards for her songwriting prowess. Her music has been used in several other Film and TV soundtracks for Disney, ABC, NBC, HBO, and WIGS Films. Her talents extend beyond music, with a diverse portfolio of work as a film, television, and stage actor, series TV creator/producer, and esteemed inductee into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame. She returned to Broadway in the original cast (2019-2022) of the exhilarating TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL (12 TONY Nominations), co-starring as ZELMA BULLOCK, Ms. Turner’s mother.

Dr. Lewis can be seen in a variety of projects, including “Young Rock” alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and the NETFLIX animated series “Karma’s World,” created by Chris “Ludacris” Bridges. Her versatility continued to shine in her role of “Captain Carol Freeman” in “Star Trek: Lower Decks” even as she prepared for the release of her holiday film “Black Jack Christmas” on BET+, half of which was filmed in Jamaica. She has lent her voice to iconic characters in beloved franchises like “The Simpsons,” “Curious George,” and Disney/Pixar’s Academy Award-winning films “Inside Out” and “Monsters University.”

Dr. Lewis is dedicated to advocacy and leadership in the entertainment industry, holding positions on various boards, including the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and the SAG-AFTRA National Board of Directors, and serving as a Trustee for the SAG Pension Plan and chairing the SAG-AFTRA Singers Committee.

Dr. Dawnn Lewis’s remarkable journey is marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence in both her craft and her commitment to uplifting others. Her impact resonates not only on stage and screen but also in the countless lives she has touched through her philanthropic endeavors.

Company Description *
The A New Day Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, founded by Award Winning Actress, Musician, Producer & Activist Dawnn Lewis in 2017. For decades Ms. Lewis has used her celebrity platform for mentoring, lecturing, giving concerts and donating her time and talents to causes across America and abroad on behalf of Organizations such as UNICEF, UNCF, Congressional Black Caucus Against HIV AIDS, American Heart Assoc., KIS Foundation For Sickle Cell Disease, The Urban League, NAACP, SAG/AFTRA and others. She has served on the National Advisory Board of the National Center For Civil and Human Rights, since its inception and is now continuing this walk of service under the umbrella of her own nonprofit organization – A New Day Foundation 501(c)3.

The foundation's mission and purpose is to provide financial and programmatic support toward the empowerment and education of underserved youth; provide capacity building pro bono services to assist small/grassroots nonprofits; and to provide general support services in well deserved yet under financed communities.

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