Meet Dawn and Lauren

Dawn Wilkerson Dawn Collins Wilkerson was born in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. She attended Lower Merion High School and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Peirce College. At the age of 14, Dawn survived a violent crime, which ignited her lifelong commitment to advocacy for survivors through organizations like Survivor Speaks and Crime Survivors Speak.

In 1995, she married Warren Wilkerson, and together they raised two children in Mill Creek, Pennsylvania. Since 1995, Dawn has worked with Philadelphia Family Court, currently serving as a Support and Enforcement Conference Officer to help families establish child support. She is also the treasurer and founder of A New Dawn Incorporated, a nonprofit that addresses violence, mentors youth, and supports neurodivergent individuals in the Mill Creek-Parkside area. Under her leadership, the organization has introduced innovative programs, including agricultural education at Aspen Farms, where she also manages a farmers' market to improve access to fresh food.

Dawn is a member of GirlTREK, joining other Black women in walks focused on wellness and empowerment. She holds leadership roles on various boards, including Deeply Rooted and the Philadelphia ReCAST board, both dedicated to fostering resilience and community equity. As President of the Mill Creek Advisory Council, she collaborates closely with the 16th Police District to build trust within the community. Additionally, as a passionate literacy advocate, she distributes books as a West Philadelphia Reading Captain and participates annually in the March on Washington to support civil rights and social justice.

Through her work, particularly with A New Dawn Incorporated, Dawn fosters safety, health, and empowerment in underserved communities. Her unwavering dedication to service and leadership is driving lasting change in Mill Creek and beyond.

Lauren Wilkerson is the president of A New Dawn Incorporated and a registered nurse at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, specializing in the pediatric intensive care unit. She also teaches health, wellness, and nutrition at A New Dawn Incorporated, including a canning and jarring course.

Lauren aspires to purchase a large greenhouse to grow various fruits, vegetables, and medicinal herbs. Among the crops she envisions cultivating are luffa, which can be harvested for use as natural sponges, along with a variety of herbs such as basil, mint, and chamomile for culinary and medicinal purposes. She plans to grow nutritious vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and leafy greens to support local food security and healthy eating.

The produce from the greenhouse will not only contribute to community health but will also be incorporated into her courses on canning and jarring, teaching participants how to preserve these foods for long-term use. This initiative aims to enhance food literacy and self-sufficiency within the community while promoting the benefits of growing and consuming fresh, locally sourced food.

Meet the rest of the team

Tamara Early, secretary

Tamara Early serves as the Secretary of A New Dawn Incorporated, where she plays a crucial role in maintaining the organization’s records and facilitating smooth operations. She manages the bookkeeping and sign-in sheets, ensuring accurate documentation of attendance and activities. In addition to her secretarial duties, Tamara assists with programming by coordinating schedules and managing emails to keep all stakeholders informed. Her attention to detail and organizational skills are essential in supporting the administrative functions of the organization, helping to ensure that A New Dawn’s programs run efficiently and effectively.

Barbara Lambert, a founding member of A New Dawn Incorporated, has a rich gardening legacy rooted in her childhood. Her mother, Dorothy Collins, cultivated flowers, fruits, and vegetables in their small North Philadelphia yard, where Barbara often assisted her. Barbara's knowledge of farming is deeply influenced by her family's roots in Virginia, where agriculture was a significant part of her upbringing. As a program manager at a neighborhood school, she is responsible for programming that promotes education and community engagement. Continuing her family legacy, Barbara has established a thriving garden in her backyard, nurturing her passion for fresh produce and fostering a love for gardening in her community.

Warren Wilkerson a founding member of A New Dawn Incorporated, has a strong background in STEM, having graduated from Carver Engineering and Science High School in Philadelphia. This education laid a solid foundation for his technical skills and problem-solving abilities. He furthered his studies at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he honed his expertise in engineering and technology.

Growing up, Warren actively helped his family with gardening, tilling the soil and maintaining their gardens, which fostered his connection to community and sustainability. After earning his degree, he served as a petty officer in the United States Navy submarine division, which enhanced his technical proficiency and teamwork skills.

In his current role, Warren works in the tech industry and maintains the website for A New Dawn Incorporated, ensuring that the organization has a strong online presence to promote its programs and initiatives. His technical background allows him to effectively support A New Dawn’s various programs, integrating technology with community engagement and helping to advance the organization’s mission of fostering empowerment and education in underserved communities.