Remember Jaleesa Taylor of 'A Different World'? She's 56 now & looks good in pic with John Legend

Dawnn Lewis is looking more fabulous than ever at her 56, and she recently met with John Legend and his wife, Chrissy Teigen, in a star-studded event hosted by the LA Dodgers. Lewis is still active in the entertainment industry, and she’s been using her influence to help those in need.

The award-winning actress, musician, producer and social activist, has been an active part of the entertainment industry for over three decades. Better known for her role as Jaleesa Taylor in the successful ‘80s series “A Different World,” Dawn has dedicated her life not only to acting but also to give back to society through her foundation.

Lewis recently attended the Blue Diamond Gala organized by the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation to raise funds for their running programs serving youth and communities in some of the most challenged neighborhoods of Los Angeles. The Gala, hosted by Arsenio Hall and George Lopez, had as the principal attraction a private concert by John Legend.

The singer and his wife, Chrissy Teigen, posed for an iconic photo with Dawn Lewis and “The Real” co-host Loni Love that Dawn shared on her Facebook page. The actress looked casual but stunning in a yellow top with form-fitting gray pants and golden accessories.

The actress is known for supporting all kind of beneficences, and she runs her own non-profit called A New Day Foundation, which provides financial and programmatic support for the education of underprivileged youth, and assists grassroots community based non-profit organizations.

She’s also a known motivational speaker, and always finds the time to travel around the country giving lectures, and mentoring young people on how to achieve success using her journey as an example.

“There’s no limit if you’re willing to do the work, live and participate on a level of excellence. Go ahead and do that thing,” she told Vibe in an interview last year.

Dawn is aware of the influence and importance that “A Different World” had in television back in the early ‘90s. It was the first show to portray African Americans as intellectuals, living the college experience and figuring out life.

When asked about the most important lesson she believes the show taught the black youth, Lewis stated that since the show “It’s about stepping up, taking a chance on you and being true to yourself,” perhaps the most valuable lesson was not to expect anyone to pick you up and never give up.

“This is why I believe that the show is relevant and resonates with young people today. Those questions for humanity really just don’t change, especially for our teens today. There are so many distractions out there stimulating us constantly. It’s easy to say that you’ve got all this knowledge at your disposal, but you may not know how to put it together,” she stated.

After realizing the impact that the show had on the black community, even after its end, Lewis made it her mission to continue bringing light to issues that affect her community, especially when it comes to education, and she’s been doing it amazingly.