We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Donna Lewis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Donna below.

Donna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

“Be sure that your latter is on the right building”. I always knew my purpose was to organize and create, since I was a young girl. I remember, gathering friends in my neighborhood to choreograph dances to the Cheetah Girls and later compose vocal arrangements in my high school gospel choir. With this, I always had a unique fondness for academia. I loved challenging the status quo, while organizing peers to take action on important issues.

Those memories brought about an epiphany of my purpose and has led me to recently take a life changing risk.

One year after completing my undergraduate degree, I quit my nearly 80k white collar job to pursue my purpose of being a musician and social entrepreneur. Some may be boggled by the fact that I completed a degree in managerial accounting, however like many first- generation college students, I was influenced to pursue a degree that would promise me a financially stable future. During the 2020 pandemic, I was disheveled when I realized that my “latter was on the wrong building”. World events and the pandemic impact hit close to home, which gave me more of a compelling reason to follow my dreams.

In 2023, I founded Genisx (pronounced Genesis), which is an organization that advocates for individuals who challenges the status quo and those who are searching to find their purpose within it. We emphasize bringing modern individuals, creatives and entrepreneurs who collectively challenge the status and work to find ways to live their purpose, without compromise.

In July 2023, we will launch our first project, entitled Generations Decoded, which is a multi-media project, that brings together diverse generations to engage in global conversations. In partnership with the Milwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN) we will host a weekly “coffee shop” podcast inviting everyday people to join conversation surrounding mental health, gender roles, workplace culture and more. This will be followed by monthly networking mixers, where individuals can feel more connected to community and voice their perspective on important issues. This will also be accompanied by pop ups from small businesses and performances from talented artists. I believe that with more conversations and collective effort we will help transform our culture to embrace people who choose to live their purpose.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Donna “Re’nee” Lewis and I am a singer, songwriter and multi-musician from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I am also the founder of Genisx (pronounced Genesis), a non profit supporting modern and creative individuals that challenge the status quo.

My love for music began as a child, with musical influences form gospel, rnb and 70’s sounds. I began singing at 6 yearls old, at a church in my hometown. I come from a musically inclined family, being the daughter of the late Jazz Trumpeter Don Lewis, who was an influential local jazz musician and music educator in Milwaukee. Most recently, I joined Adorner on lead guitar, which is a Milwaukee-based psychedelic rock band. On July 23rd, I will release my first double single entitled, Epiphany/Don’t Be afraid, comprised of personal life and world experiences rooted from the 2020 pandemic.

I dedicate my work to amplify voices of a unique generation and culture, while using art to elevate the impact of important issues.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience is something that I pride myself on possessing. My upcoming musical project “Epiphany/Don’t Be Afraid, will address traumas that I have overcome, including a deep spiritual transformation that I experienced towards the end of my undergraduate degree. This experience included grief of losing loved ones in the pandemic, experiencing the impact of childhood trauma, identity crisis and healing. Most importantly this was done, while having estranged relationships with family and accepting new realities that prompted me to make critical decisions for the well being of my mental health and destiny.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Society can stop being a capitalistic f*ck and make room for people who don’t want to give up their lives to make “The Man” richer. I believe with more creative and entrepreneurial unions, there is true economic opportunity for modern and “eccentric” individuals to thrive. This might be in best interest of venture capitalist, who are looking for progressive and unique issues to invest in. Perhaps Genisx, might be on a run to create economic opportunity for the creative ecosystem. :)      

Contact Info:

• Website: Genisx: https://www.genisxsocial.org/ Donna Re’nee: https://www.donnareneemusic.com/
• Instagram: Genisx: Genisx.mke Donna Re’nee: _donnareneemusic
• Facebook: Donna Re’nee, Genisx Social
• Linkedin: Genisx
• LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/donnareneemusic Genisx: https://linktr.ee/genisxsocial

Image Credits
Mikaela G.