Dawnn Lewis-Lupe Ontiveros Image Award 2017
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 & President of the A New Day Foundation – 
a non profit 501©(3) organization, that provides financial & programmatic support to underprivileged youth and grassroots community based non profit organizations. The Foundation recently 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. In the spring of 2018, the A New Day Foundation is launching the 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.
She is an: NAACP Image Award, Trumpet Award, Grammy Award-winning singer, multiple ASCAP & BMI Award-winning songwriter, film, television & stage actor, and a Series TV creator/producer. Earlier this year, Dawnn mesmerized audiences with her powerful voice and stirring performance in the ETC production of Gershwin’s PORGY & BESS as “Serena”, and can now be seen on the hit series: TNT’s MAJOR CRIMES, the CW’s IZOMBIE & the recently launched new AMAZON pilot: 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 characters such as “Patty” in APPLE & ONION, “Chief” in the new WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CARMEN SAN DIEGO, “LaBarbara” in FUTURAMA, “Mrs. Hanshaw” & “Mrs. Buttercup” in SOPHIA THE FIRST, “Granny McStuffins” in DOC MCSTUFFINS, “Bobe” in HOME, 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. Dawnn’s CD’s: “Worth Waiting For” & “Donny McCullough & Friends: CANDLES IN THE WINDOW” are available on Amazon & ITunes.
Dawnn’s upcoming feature film: REVIVAL, written & produced by acclaimed actor Harry Lennix, starring GRAMMY sensation Mali Music. She’s served the last 8.5 years on the National Advisory Board of the NATIONAL CENTER FOR CIVIL & HUMAN RIGHTS in Atlanta, Ga., & completed her fourth term on the SAG National Board of Directors, participating in it’s successful merger with sister union AFTRA, while serving all 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 FaceBook: Dawnn Lewis Official Fan Page Twitter: @dawnn_lewis