The Oklahoma Eagle Newswire
The John Hope Franklin Dinner for Reconciliation is November 16th at the Greenwood Cultural Center. The guest speaker for this years dinner is actress, and activist Dawnn Lewis.
Lewis is best known for her role as Jaleesa Vinson–Taylor on the NBC television sitcom A Different World from the series beginning in 1987 until the end of its fifth season in 1992, in addition to being on the show; Lewis co–wrote the theme song. Lewis other notable roles included portraying Robin Dumars on the ABC sitcom Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper for its first season (1992–93) and as Cheryl Spade in the 1988 film I’m Gonna Git You Sucka. Since then, Lewis has appeared in numerous TV series, including other sitcoms, and has also performed on stage and done voice-overwork.
In recent years, Lewis starred as Melba Early in the film adaptation of Dreamgirls. Lewis released her debut CD, entitled Worth Waiting For, in 2006. She most recently played Addaperle in The Wiz with New York City Center‘s Encores. In 2009, Lewis played Denise Fields on One Tree Hill. In 2010, Lewis played a minor recurriung role as Lauren’s mother in The Secret Life of the American Teenager. In 2012, she voiced Malora in Strange Frame. She also appeared as Dr. Knapp on Days of Our Lives in 2012–2013. As of 2015, Lewis is playing a recurring role on Major Crimes as Patrice, a love interest for Lt. Provenza, whom he met during a case. In March 2016, Lewis joined the vocal cast of Disney Junior‘s hit animated series Doc McStuffins as the voice of Grandma McStuffins.
Beginning with the 2008 groundbreaking for Reconciliation Park, which was Dr. John Hope Franklin’s last public appearance before his death in March 2009, the Center’s Board of Directors has created an exciting vision – to transform the bitterness and mistrust caused by years of racial division, even violence, into a hopeful future of reconciliation and cooperation for Tulsa and the nation.
A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization formed in 2007, the Center is building its reputation through its programs and projects even before there is a building. When completed in December 2009, Reconciliation Park will be a public-private partnership, owned by The City of Tulsa and managed by the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation, Inc. Then the work of designing, funding and building the physical Center for Reconciliation will begin.
For more information on the activities of the John Hope Franklin Center, please contact Jean Neal at 918-295-5009 or by email at jneal@jhfcenter.org.
Date: Thursday, November 16th
Reception: 6:30 PM
Dinner/Program: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Tickets are $25 for Adults and $15 for Children K-12.
Click here to register for the dinner.
