Special Thanks to Cultural Icon, Ben Vereen for his constant prayers and encouragement, my brilliant, compassionate co-editors Andrea Christofferson and Shannon Wong, and master graphic designer, Jeremy John Parker who have all been patient with me as my vision shifted when My Precious Mother, Betty J Tilman left this Earth Realm and this Legacy Project grew leaps and bounds with many delays.
I am grateful to All of the GOOD IS POWERFUL BEYOND MEASURE co-authors who trusted me with their Sacred ReMemberings and every name in the book who has offered their support to me and Ms. Betty J. Tilman. This is your legacy too!
To my Aunt Virginia McGant, Uncle Alexander “Butchie” McGant and all members of my birth and extended family including the AlNifays, the Blakeys, Dr. June Pickett Dowdy, Helena Hughes, Carrie McCray, Dr. Jerome McKinney & Family, Dr. Sandra Murray, Charlotte Onyundo, Dr. Carol A. Scott, Shirley Scott, Aunt Betty Wysong and Brandon Jennings who created a beautiful portrait of MOMBetty, Mayor Ed Gainey, Melvin Hubbard El, Denise Barton, Donna Baxter Porcher, Jason Bernard, Donna Chernoff, Sage Crystal, Gayle Hodnett Dobbs, Naima Renee Dobbs, Sylvia Golbin Goodman, Joseph H. James, Jr., Carol Maillard, Rev. Dr. Sedrick Gardner, Elizabeth Anne Hin, Rev. Donald & Sheila Marbury, H. E. Mrs. Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, Iman H. Daniel Mujahid, Lewis Nash, Judge Oscar & Sheila Petite, Olivia & Yamin Majdi-Panella, Tyrone & Barbara Rasheed, Louise Robinson, Muhammed “MO” Rum & Family, Scent Elate Gift Shop, Cory & Libra Sene, Delores Southers, William Tiga Tita, Larry Vickers, author Denise Woods ( who was the very first person to SAY YES!), Andrew Zaeh and Eshe Zampaladus, your compassion, deep listening & kindness makes my heart sing!
To Linda Murray, dance curator at NYPL Performing Arts Lincoln Center, Tiffany Patrick, and the NYPL team for hosting our book launch, It was just my imagination but WOW! You made it happen. Thank You!
To My Life Supporting Compassionate, Global Tribe…
Kojo Ade, James Aloway, Jrome Andre, ChiChi Anyanwu, Deborah Ballard, Brian Scott Bagley, Jon Batiste, Suleika Jaoud Batiste, Cherokee Black, Bruce & Patricia Blakey, A Gandhari Bouligny, Stephan Broadus, Pamela Buckner, Priscilla Burgess, John Butler, Marie Brown, Nitanju Casel, Norma Caquato, Esq., Donna & John Chernoff, Andrea Christofferson, Jane Collins, Martha Richards Conley, Esq., Rev. Cheryl Cotton, Verna Critchlow, Sage Crystal, Luna Diagne, Gayle Hodnett Dobbs, Naima Renee Dobbs, Dr. June Pickett Dowdy, Ger Duany, Dr. Lucenia Dunn, Marsha Ekunfeo, Kim El, Lawrence Evans, Kewe Faye & Family, Dale Fielder, Owen Gambill, Rev. Dr. Sedrick Gardner, James Gillard, Sylvia Golbin Goodman, Donald Muldrow Griffith, Marian Hartsfield (aka Grandmother Dawn SkyWeaver), Dyane Harvey-Salaam, Jason Hee, our website designer, Elizabeth Anne Hin, Leslie Howard, Anthony Howell, Bro Melvin Hubbard El, Leona Hull, Joan Jai, Joseph H. James, Jr., Brian Anthony Johnson, Dr. James & Pamela Johnson, Mark Randelle King, Adam Khan, Dr. Martha Llanos-Zuloaga, Charisse Lillie, Esq, Dr. Marsha Lillie Blanton, Carol Maillard, Rev. Donald L. & Sheila Marbury, Stanley Wayne Mathis, Evelyn Nelson, Rev. Rhonda Mclean Nur, Angela McKee, Dr. Buba Misawa, Valerie & Saihou Njie, Olivia & Yamin Majdi-Panella, Regina Chow McPhie, Dale & Jean Miller, Lewis Nash, Evelyn Nelson, Joyce Nelson, Theresa Nugent, Gabby Russell, Armando Ocando & Family, Herman Pike, David & Donna Baxter Porcher, Carl & Tawnya Redwood, Muhammed “MO” Rum & Family/Scent Elate, Jan Schmidt, Carlton Scott, Arthur Seabury, LCSW, Margaret E. Self, Lamine Sylla, Louise Robinson, Delored Southers, Joy Southers, Mark & Neicy Southers, Dr. Thupten Tendar, Dr. Bill & Bernice Tita, Rev. Charles E. Timbers, Jr., Michael Vann, Dr. Glory Van Scott, Denise Woods, Dr. Robert Woods, those whose names I have forgotten to mention, (please forgive me) twelve anonymous tribe members… & All of Our Readers…
I Am Forever Grateful. Through your compassion, generosity and sharing, we are building bridges of cooperation for future generations and showing the World that GOOD IS POWERFUL BEYOND MEASURE! This Is Our Collective Legacy!
With Loving Appreciation…
Rev. Melony McGant