Dawn J. Fraser

25/05/2026

A New(ish) Dawn: Mission #1 🌱

I figured I’d show my Mom some love by assembling a mini greenhouse for Mother’s Day.

She tends to all kinds of plants in her yard, from plums and corn to basil and thyme, but between pesky insects and hungry squirrels, she doesn’t always get the pick of the crop.

So I got a simple greenhouse to see if I could make part of her garden just l1% better. But somewhere between moving things aroundl and putting the pieces together, it started feeling even better than expected.

Maybe growth works like gardens do.

The seeds are often already there. The tools are scattered around us. The creativity, possibility, and potential have been sitting quietly in the corners.

Although this mission was intended to show some gratitude it reminded that sometimes life isn’t asking us to start from scratch… it’s just waiting for us to till the soil and bring a few things back to life. 🌿

22/05/2026

Over the course of a few days, the team from The Moth and I had the privilege of working with exonerees, lawyers, activists, and advocates at the Innocence Network Conference. Together, we coached stories and later hosted The Moth Showcase featuring people whose lives have been shaped by wrongful conviction and the pursuit of justice.

Every time I do this work, I leave changed.

I leave reminded of the staggering force of human will. The kind that survives what should break a person.

Stories of young men pulled off the street while playing video games, telling police exactly who committed the crime, and still losing decades of their lives. Women wrongfully imprisoned after tragedy struck a child. Survivors who experienced assault while incarcerated and were denied support. Stories where the system got it painfully wrong.

And yet…

So many of these stories are not about staying trapped in what happened. They are about what comes next.

They are about people choosing to keep moving toward possibility after having years stolen from them.

And beneath nearly every story was one thing that had been missing for far too long:

The truth.

For years, many of the people on that stage were not believed. Their truths were questioned, ignored, buried, or rewritten by louder narratives.

Maybe that’s what stays with me most.

Because we are living in a moment where narratives shape public life. Stories shape policy. Stories shape perception. Stories shape who we see as worthy of empathy.

And too often, stories built on distortion move faster than truth.

I will always lean toward truth.

I will always lean toward justice.

I will always support the stories of those who have not been heard.

Because everyone deserves the chance not only to tell their story, but to reclaim authorship of it.

21/05/2026

06/04/2026

Thrilled to share that I’ll be co-emceeing this year’s TEDxStanford event alongside Lauren Yu and Bowen Zheng!

As someone who grew up in the Bay Area, and spent over a decade in New York honing my love and craft of storytelling, it’s been a dream to tie together parts of my journey as a communications coach, show host, and consultant who has been blessed to work with brilliant minds, passionate leaders, and advocates of change worldwide.

Join us on Sunday, April 12th as we hear stories and ideas from the emergency room, to the journey of Miss USA to the London Royal Ballet and beyond!

Who’s coming!?

🔴 TEDxStanford — Get Your Tickets at:
https://lnkd.in/e5-gZabv

Featured Speakers: Kris Evans, Anagali Duncan, Beatriz Stix-Brunell, Celine Qin, Morgan Reyes, Michael Chaleff, Alma Cooper