In her efforts to cultivate leadership amongst youth, she co-founded Art in Action, which trains young leaders to advocate for change in their communities through performance, music and visual arts. Integrating her international experience in Africa, Asia and the Americas with her Trinidadian roots and training in Capoeira, Dawn engages her audience to explore creative ways to utilize music and dance to transform democracy and generate collective action. By focusing on concepts of innovation, entrepreneurship, political race and leadership, Dawn explores both the formal and informal means to harness the power of culture.

 

Dawn holds a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Public Policy from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) as well as a Masters in Public Policy with a concentration in Leadership from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She spearheaded and organized Harvard University's 'African Diaspora in the Americas and Caribbean Conference (ADACC)', which showcased various African based arts and demonstrated their potential to engage and educate students about social, political and economic issues internationally. The Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard University honored Dawn with the Barbara Jordan Award for Women's Leadership for her contribution to furthering issues of public importance prior to serving as the Director of Programs and Development Director for Ifetayo Cultural Arts Facility in New York. Dawn is a strong advocate of equal access to quality education for all people, and founded the consulting firm Envision Admissions to assist prospective students create a unique, professional and authentic application proven to be successful at prestigious colleges and universities.

 

Dawn has organized cultural and political delegations to Brazil with Global Exchange focused on race, dance and politics, and is currently consulting with the youth based leadership training organization, Global Leadership Adventures. She is also working on the production of a television show that explores the concept of cultural agency by highlighting the work of prominent and up and coming artists and entrepreneurs. She is also working on the production of a video blog with Sister Outsider Entertainment that explores the concept of cultural agency, and promotes the work of both new and established artists and entrepreneurs whose work address socially conscious issues.