Dawn Lewis is a GRAMMY Award-winning, multiple BMI and NAACP Image Award-winning singer, composer, producer, actress, activist, and Women Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee. She has been an actor since 1987, making her television debut on “A Different World” as Jaleesa Vinson-Taylor. Lewis’ other notable roles include portraying Robin Dumars on the ABC sitcom “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper” for its first season (1992–93). Since then, Lewis has appeared in numerous TV series, including other sitcoms, and has performed on stage.
“I’ve been really grateful to do some good work in the industry with some good people on amazing projects,” Lewis said about her career. “Completing projects that impact society and move people in different ways is something you can’t count on and wasn’t something I imagined when I first started. I am grateful for the opportunities I have received to be part of projects that mattered on different levels.”
Lewis’ career in the entertainment industry has earned her numerous achievements, such as winning multiple ASCAP awards. She is now nominated for a 2025 NAACP Image Award in the category of outstanding character voice-over performance (television) for her portrayal of Captain Carol Freeman in “Star Trek: Lower Decks.”
“I am truly honored to receive this nomination,” said Lewis. “The ‘Star Trek’ franchise has always been an inspiration to me, as it champions diversity and inclusivity. To be a part of this groundbreaking series is a privilege, and I’m deeply grateful to the NAACP for this recognition of my voice-over performance.”
Lewis’ role as the fierce and intelligent Captain Carol Freeman in “Star Trek: Lower Decks” has garnered widespread acclaim from fans and critics. Her performance has been praised for its depth, nuance, and authenticity, contributing to the show’s success as a fan favorite in the “Star Trek” franchise.
A Commitment to Giving Back
Lewis is the founder of A New Day Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing financial and programmatic support to empower and educate underserved youth. The foundation offers pro bono capacity-building services to assist small and grassroots nonprofits and provides general support services in underfunded communities.
“I’ve been giving back to communities locally and abroad for decades, and once I got the chance to expand and receive corporate support, I jumped at the opportunity to help people on a larger scale,” Lewis said about her journey from funding her program herself to now receiving support and resources to expand its reach. “In the eight years we’ve been around, I have been able to fund $1 million in scholarships to students and have used our resources to expose kids to advancing educational opportunities.”
In addition to A New Day Foundation, Lewis has launched programs such as Inspiration 52, which operates in two junior high schools and two high schools in the Long Beach area, focusing on financial literacy and entrepreneurship. Another initiative, HBCU Heroes, is a virtual program for current HBCU students that provides training in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and healthy lifestyle choices.
She will also host the annual Focused N F.I.T. for A Different World Conference on May 31, 2025, at Loyola Marymount University. This full-day conference covers financial literacy and technology, health and wellness, and motivation/activation skillset management, targeting high school juniors, seniors, and their parents, as well as college freshmen and sophomores.